Car Archives - Shane Walters

Integrated Roadways Smart Highway in Missouri

Integrated Roadways Smart Highway Photos

August 28, 2015 by Shane Walters

Missouri Smart Highway Project on I-70 by Integrated Roadways

The ultra futuristic Missouri smart highway project is gaining steam. The project has been proposed by Integrated Roadways designer and engineer Tim Sylvester. It’s the solution to a big problem that myself and all Missouri transporters are fully aware of, our roads are bloody pot-holey trash.

Why is this smart highway so awesome? The roads are no longer just poured concrete. These pre-fabricated slabs are embedded with intelligent transportation systems. Beyond technology, it’s cheaper to build and cheaper to maintain.

What does that mean? It means our roads could have technology matching and beyond our smart phones.

It won’t play ‘Orange is the New Black’ on Netflix but the road itself could report the condition of the roads lying ahead. This technology includes Wi-Fi built into the road itself so if we want to get technical it could play previously mentioned jail show. If the kids need Wi-Fi to update their Tumblr page on the family trip from St. Louis to Kansas City, than you can pay a fee and get it from the concrete below.

The roads could also be heated for quick snow & ice removal. Not only does ice cause cracks, traffic and accidents but so do snow trucks. If the road heats itself, none of that applies and roads now last much longer, 4 times longer as claimed by Integrated Roadways.

Wireless EV charging is also possible. Telsa has taken off in recent years, even in the MidWest. So those battery powered machines could charge on the go, the days of the recharge station could come to an end.

Driverless cars and trucks could take action on a 200 mile stretch between Kansas City and St. Louis. Corporations would likely embrace this technology with open arms. A large portion or all of the road bills could be taken care of via subscriptions for allowing driverless trucks.

In fact, most of these above services above could be subscription based. Meaning the road could very literally pay for itself as car technology catches up to the road beneath.

A majority of the transporters will use the road free of charge as most of us lames lack electric or driverless cars. As more and more people have these things regular transporters will pay less and less in terms of tax dollars or worse the proposed toll booths.

The construction speed is about five times faster than traditional pavement

– Tim Sylvester

It sounds futuristic, which it is. However, the future is here and it should be embraced especially when it’s cheaper. The technology has already been installed on a stretch of Interstate 35 and a new building at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

As a Missouri native myself I can tell you first hand MO isn’t known for embracing modern design of any sort. I could strongly argue that in 1972 modern architecture was officially rejected by St Louis residents as Pruitt-Ego came crumbling down but that’s another story entirely. However, we can still flip that entire script and prove hick stereotypes to be false.

The possibilities are endless for the smart road technology. As technology improves, which it will, software can be updated and new systems could launch immediately. It’s adaptable.

Tim Sylvester told the Kansas City Business Journal that IntegratedRoadways estimates a smart highway would cost $3.6 billion. That price is within MoDOT’s range of $500 million to $4 billion for road repair. A smart highway, which uses precast concrete slabs, is faster to install and has a longer life than a traditional highway, which means reduced maintenance costs, he said. An estimated 40% savings on road construction and repair.

MoDot doesn’t know where they will find the money to repair the crumbling roads in Missouri. The problem is now thousands of miles long. This smart highway solution by Integrated Roadways and Kansas City resident Tim Sylvester is cheaper and could offer adaptable integrated subscription services, what are we waiting for exactly?

Author: Shane Walters

Integrated Roadways Smart Highway Photos

Integrated Roadways Smart Highway Video

Tim Sylvester Presents Smart Pavement for I-70 Highway Project

Photo/Video Source: Integrated Roadways

25 Year Rule White House Petition Allow Skyline GT-R

DOT:EPA 25 Year Rule White House Petition Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 Wallpaper

August 8, 2014 by Shane Walters

25 Year Rule White House Petition In Place

Read about the 25 Year Rule White House Petition here. Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 and R33 fans of the United States get excited as petition hits the web.

Most Nissan Skyline GT-R fans have come across the idea of owning one at some point in their life. You quickly find out there is a huge hurdle just getting one across the border. It’s near impossible.

If you’re one of the lucky few who can make it happen, illegally. Everyday after you risk the Skyline GT-R being impounded and crushed, for no good reason.

It’s illegal to bring a Skyline GT-R into the United States if it’s not at least 25 years old. There are very expensive ways around this. Such as shipping the car in as individual parts in different containers from Japan. Then assembling it yourself in America as a kit car. From that point, some have even registered it.

However, showing the true incompetence of the Department of Motor Vehicles, this still doesn’t make it legal. Registering your Skyline GT-R only tells the feds exactly where the Skyline’s are. Likely it will some day be crushed when they get good and ready to come collect a batch of them. Every few years you’ll see headlines about a batch of Skyline’s being crushed.

You could label it as a car for show purposes only and never drive it on public roads. Even then you have hurdles, it’s a mess.

Just this year the 1989 Skyline became legal. The problem is, this is a car with a strong cult like following. The prices on the 1989 Skyline’s went through the roof in Canada. People began buying them instantly and bringing them in from Canada.

Several people purchased them month ahead of January 1st. The cars then sat in storage containers at the shipping yard until it was legal to drive them off the lot.

If the official White House petition hits 100,000 the United States President Barack Obama will have to address the issue. Right now it has nearly 35,000 signatures. 65,000 more are needed in the next month to make it happen.

It’s beyond silly to crush a car for really no good reason. They say you can’t fix stupid but lets give it a try.

Author: Shane Walters

The DOT/EPA 25 Year Rule White House Petition Info

The Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 ended import of grey-market vehicles to the USA. No evidence was presented that grey-import vehicles’ safety performance differed significantly from that of US models.

* Differences between U.S. vehicle and the rest of the car producing world are shrinking all the time. Most 15-year-old cars coming from Canada, Europe, or Japan will not be significantly different in safety or emissions

* Importers of grey-market vehicles have been targeted by monies taxpayers have intended to be used to secure our country against terrorist activity.

*There’s no reason why rules couldn’t be relaxed with no real detriment to safety or environment.

The DOT/EPA 25 Year Rule White House Petition Link

Click here to cast your vote on the DOT/EPA 25 Year Rule White House Petition.

The DOT/EPA 25 Year Rule White House Petition ( Nissan GT-R Photos )

Lamborghini Police Car

May 24, 2014 by Shane Walters

Lamborghini Police Car Huracn LP 610-4 Polizia Car

Lamborghini Police Car When Things Go Wrong

The Lamborghini Police Car shown below takes all the fun out of owning that new Ferrari FXX, purchased for 1.5 million euros. You thought you were in the clear from the man and any stubborn authority figure. Now, you’re laying face down chewing into the dirt with a knee pressed to your back.

Let’s backup and I’ll set the nightmare scenario for you. You’re an italian wine maker who just hit the lottery courtesy of your new batch of fancy grapes.

Now you can comfortably purchase that shiny new Ferrari. Perhaps a matte Ferrari if you’re up on the latest design trend. You’ve been staring through the window at that Ferrari FXX since you were little. Now, you get to own one of your own.

You walk into the dealership door, decline the cheese and the wine. After all you can’t enjoy your wanker competitor wine makers product. Cheese just doesn’t work without wine. Besides is it really a good idea to drink and drive off in your new supercar? Who’s idea was this anyway?

The cash only purchase puts you driving out of the lot in your Ferrari. Stepping on it is the only option. If you didn’t already wreck.

A complete lack of understanding when it comes to the led lit traction control button can get you in trouble. If all fenders remain then you’re on your way to the highway.

160mph later, those other cars are like a Caterham F1 car in qualifying. Those things are flat in the way. The freeway shoulder is now a passing lane. Cops, what cops? I can’t be caught. Helicopters cant even catch me, vigilantly.

A dot in the rearview is getting bigger. That’s not possible, what’s this?

It’s a baby blue Lamborghini coming into view via the rearview mirror. You guess the feisty guy wants to race so to high gear you go. Lights come on. You’re being pulled over by the Lamborghini Police Car and now you’re laying aside the highway with a load of dirt in your face.

That Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia really killed your fun. What a terrible day. That Lamborghini Police Car really is a vigilante’s nightmare.

Don’t sweat it though, other than the possibility of your now revoked license you’ll be ok, off with community service.

Author: Shane Walters ( Racing News Network )

Lamborghini Police Car Photos