Rocket Racing League?

[racer2c]

That's the vision of space entrepreneur Peter Diamandis and former Indy Racing League team co-owner Granger Whitelaw, co-founders of the Rocket Racing League (RRL).

The duo formed the league last year with the idea that automobiles tooling around a flat, oval racetrack are so last century. The RRL plans to debut the first of the bigger, badder rocket planes, called the X-Racers, at the 2006 X Prize Cup this October and to fly up to 10 of them in races around the country in 2007, leading to a championship race at the 2007 X Prize Cup.

Diamandis and Whitelaw hope to draw NASCAR and IndyCar-size crowds and home viewers. They'll be watching on major network shows sponsored by top corporations.

Of course, it all depends on raising millions in start-up capital, attracting team owners willing to pay just under a million bucks per X-Racer, building the airplanes, and, perhaps hardest of all, convincing sports fans to spend money on yet another event competing for their attention.

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/TECH/10/11/popsci.rocket/story.xrocket.jpg

Link (http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/10/11/popsci.rocket/index.html)

[pchall]

The duo formed the league last year with the idea that automobiles tooling around a flat, oval racetrack are so last century.

That is so passé already... the IRL proved that there was no real market for oval racing in 3-D as early as Atlanta 1997. :rolleyes:

[RichK]

Hm....airplane racing. Nobody's ever thought of that!

[G.]

Someone posted this here a while back...

[Wabbit]

"hope to draw NASCAR and IndyCar-size crowds "

One draws tens of thousands of people to races, the other draws tens of people to races. Which one is it?

I hate multiple choice. :mad:

[Lizzerd]

"hope to draw NASCAR and IndyCar-size crowds "

One draws tens of thousands of people to races, the other draws tens of people to races. Which one is it?

I hate multiple choice. :mad:

:rofl: Good one!

[Don Quixote]

The duo formed the league last year with the idea that automobiles tooling around a flat, oval racetrack are so last century.

That is so passé already... the IRL proved that there was no real market for oval racing in 3-D as early as Atlanta 1997. :rolleyes:

Yea baby! Does this mean that the dentist is likely to get a ride due to his prior experience?

[oddlycalm]

Where's Franklin? The time is near for the rocket car racing league :gomer:

oc

[cameraman]

More mergification:gomer:


Rocket Racing League® Announces First Exhibition Race, Upcoming Race Schedule, Key Partnership and Acquisition

New Entertainment Sports League to Stage First Exhibition Race at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh August 1st and August 2nd

Armadillo Aerospace to provide LOX Engine for Rocket Racer

Rocket Racing Composite Announces Acquisition of Velocity Aircraft
NEW YORK - April 14, 2008 )-The Rocket Racing League® (RRL TM), the new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines, today announced that the First Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racing League® will take place on August 1st and August 2nd at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. In addition to announcing the dates of the First Exhibition Races, the Rocket Racing League® also announced the remaining series of exhibition races for the rest of 2008, the acquisition of Velocity Aircraft by Rocket Racing Composites Corp., and announced that Armadillo Aerospace will manufacture liquid oxygen (LOX) engines for the Rocket Racing League® .

First Exhibition Race
On August 1st and August 2nd, the first Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racing League® will be held at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI, the largest air show in the world. For the first time ever, two Rocket Racers will compete head-to-head in a demonstration race in the raceway in the sky. The Rocket Racer pilots will view the "raceway in the sky" via in-panel and 3D helmet displays and the 700,000 people in attendance at EAA AirVenture will witness the racing action live on multiple large projection screens.
"The first Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racer is an important milestone in the progression of the Rocket Racing League® ," said Granger Whitelaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Rocket Racing League® . "We look forward to sharing the experience and thrill of rocket racing with the public."
"EAA has followed the development of the Rocket Racing League® concept with great interest," said EAA President Tom Poberezny. "We are excited about the opportunity to develop a whole new audience of aviation enthusiasts, while at the same time promoting aviation innovation."

Exhibition Race Schedule
Following the first Exhibition Race at EAA AirVenture, the RRL will hold exhibition races at venues around the country, including:
Reno National Championship Air Races (Reno, NV) - September 10-14
X Prize Cup (Las Cruces, NM) - TBD 2008
Aviation Nation, Nellis AFB, (Las Vegas, NV) - November 8-9

Velocity Aircraft Acquisition
Rocket Racing Composite Corporation, a subsidiary of the RRL , announced the acquisition of Velocity Aircraft of Sebastian, FL, a leading manufacturer of four-seat canard pusher experimental aircraft. Under the terms of the agreement, Velocity Aircraft will become a wholly owned division of Rocket Racing Composite Corp. and will produce an airframe that will be consistent for all competing Rocket Racers . Through a rigorous research and development, all Velocity-constructed Rocket Racers will be equipped with the safest-possible airframe for any kind of aircraft. The cockpit seats for all Rocket Racers will be reinforced to withstand impacts up to 20G load and other safety measures will be added using a methodology similar to that of F-1 and Indy Car to better protect pilots and passengers alike.
Scott Baker, president of Velocity, Inc. offered his enthusiastic remarks that, "Velocity is truly excited to be a part of Rocket Racing. Many of the technology advances that are planned for the Rocket Racer models transcend and offer performance and comfort benefits to Velocity owners who use their aircraft for personal and business travel."

Armadillo Aerospace
Rocket Racing is also pleased to announce that Mesquite, Texas-based Armadillo Aerospace will be providing LOX engines for the Rocket Racing League® . A leading provider of reusable rocket-powered vehicles, Armadillo Aerospace is focused on vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) suborbital research and passenger flights, with an eye towards eventual paths to orbit.
"Flying people on our rockets has been our goal from day one, and we are excited to work with the Rocket Racing League® to provide a system that will be safe for the pilots, cost effective and robust for the teams, and spectacular for the crowds," said John Carmack, President of Armadillo Aerospace.

About The Rocket Racing League
Founded in 2005 by two-time Indianapolis 500 winning team partner Granger Whitelaw and X PRIZE Chairman and CEO Peter Diamandis, the Rocket Racing League (RRLTM ) is a new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines. To be held at venues across the country, the Rocket Racing League will feature multiple races pitting up to 10 Rocket Racers going head to head in a 4-lap, multiple elimination heat format on a 5-mile "Formula One"-like closed circuit raceway in the sky. For more information on the Rocket Racing League , please visit www.rocketracingleague.com.

[dando]

More mergification:gomer:

Did someone say Franklin? :gomer:

-Kevin

[Wheel-Nut]

Somehow I just can't grasp hold of the notion of buying my rockets from a company called Armadillo Aerospace. :laugh:

Interesting stuff.

http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/Gallery/Images

[oddlycalm]

DP

[oddlycalm]

Somehow I just can't grasp hold of the notion of buying my rockets from a company called Armadillo Aerospace. :laugh: Word is they used to be called Acme Aerospace until Wile E. Coyote sued them forcing them to change their name.

Mr. Coyote had assumed sole ownership of all Acme assets after The United States District Court, Southwestern District in Arizona handed down a verdict in his favor in Wile E. Coyote v. Acme Products Corporation (http://www.legalnews.net/quotes/wilee.htm). Acme subsequently declared bankruptcy and the owner Square-deal Sam aka Yosemite Sam vamoosed leaving the assets in the paws of Mr. Coyote.

Mr. Coyote had no comment, however, rumor has it that he plans to compete with Armadillo Aerospace using the various Acme technologies including the Acme Rocket Sled, Acme "Little Giant" firecracker and Acme 200ft. rubber band.

oc

http://foreignerinformosa.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/wile_e_coyote.jpg

[Wheel-Nut]

I think Wile E. Coyote had a step on them. This is what they were going to submit for the X prize.

http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/2006_09_30/pixelAndTexel.jpg

http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/2006_10_20/attempt1_c.jpg

[JLMannin]

I think Wile E. Coyote had a step on them. This is what they were going to submit for the X prize.

http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/2006_09_30/pixelAndTexel.jpg

[safety soapbox]It's nice to see gas cans sitting on top of the flammables cabinet in the background. That kind of defeats the whole purpose of having a flammables cabinet[/safety soapbox]

Are you really sure that's a rocket??? Could is be a cryo-chilling accessory for a newest generation of nvidia video cards?? :D

[Andrew Longman]

[safety soapbox]It's nice to see gas cans sitting on top of the flammables cabinet in the background. That kind of defeats the whole purpose of having a flammables cabinet[/safety soapbox]

You beat ElmoT to it. ;)

[oddlycalm]

Could it be a cryo-chilling accessory for a newest generation of nvidia video cards?? :D :rofl:

Yup, that's the shiz for the all-dude "my vid card is faster than yours" LAN party set. Roll up with your flatbed truck and smoke everyone playing Crysis....:gomer:

oc

[emjaya]

[safety soapbox]It's nice to see gas cans sitting on top of the flammables cabinet in the background. That kind of defeats the whole purpose of having a flammables cabinet[/safety soapbox]



And they have all that hi-tech machinery, and it sits on a dodgey wooden pallet.

[Gnam]

:laugh: @ oddlycalm

They better copyright "Rocket planes in a gymnasium" afore Biff do.