"Mark my words, it is quite possible that one day soon, some green political organization is going to suggest that all cars in the auto racing industry be replaced with hybrid vehicles. Actually, it will probably start with some super green nutcase (like a certain musician, who thinks everyone should use one square of tissue paper only) who will suggest that instead of racing cars fueled with a gas, races should be with solar cars or just bicycles. Imagine a Daytona 500 like that."
Well it's a bit less than 2 years later, and it seems that part of what I imagined is on it's first legs to start.
Yep, race cars made out of plants and fueled by chocolate. Sounds like a joke doesn't it? But it's not. Because in London a group of scientists have done it.
Called the WorldFirst Formula 3 racing car, it is claimed but unproven to reach speeds of 145 mph. It runs on used vegetable oils and chocolate factory refuse as a biomass fuel. It has a steering wheel made from carrots and wheels made of soybeans. It will be featured in the European Grand Prix and Britain's Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Now there are 2 thoughts I have about this car. The first is what will happen when it is in a race. If this car finishes anywhere above dead last, you can be assured that there will be a huge cry for more to be built, and an end to all other styles of race cars. Monster Trucks will be replaced with monster cabbage, and NASCAR with broccoli inspired stock cars. It will be the example of green entertainment, and the prototype for everyday vehicles.
There is a good and bad to this of course. The good is the eco-fanatics dream. A world of vegetables and speed, or at least just vegetables. The bad might be the damage drivers will endure from cars that are not strong enough to be safe, or more flammable. And of course there ever present problem of rabbits.
But the more serious thought is something far more dangerous. Let's say this Willy Wonka inspired contraption works. Maybe even wins a race. And it inspires a slew of other vehicles and changes the entire auto racing industry. Even the personal vehicle industry (especially if President Obama continues on the path of privatizing the auto industry).
The result is that the cost of food will skyrocket. Most haven't noticed, and the major media has yet to seriously report that ethanol, especially corn-based ethanol as used in the U.S., drives up food prices. All the food we have costs about 10% more today just because of corn-ethanol. And that is rising.
Imagine cars made out of food, with engines fun on biomass derived from food. Of the hundreds of millions of cars just in the U.S. alone, with billions of gallons of fuel consumed. Of the thousands of race cars in the auto racing industry and the fuel they use. If the use of ethanol, which can't be bought by 95% of American citizens, has risen food prices 10% already what might this trend cost us?
Auto racing, NASCAR in particular in the U.S., is not going to go away. But this Wonka-mobile will start a trend, similar to what I imagined 2 years ago. So get ready. Things are about to change I think. And all the change may not be as fun, healthy, or affordable as some will claim.
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