A Few Storms That Bring Back Memories

What's your vehicle of choice during a storm chase? I'm guessing most by car, other by plane, maybe other by boat. For a few years during High School and my first few years in College my vehicle of choice was a bike. I'm not talking motorcycle, I'm talking human powered bicycle. Since I got my Mercury Grand Marquis I converted to a faster and safe method of storm chasing. This past evening I threw safety to the wind and took off with one of my bikes.  Mobile technology has advance enough so that I can track the storm w/ my cellphone and stay relative safe, but that's not why I chase. Watching the storm form over the horizon as it runs through it's many life cycles. A golden sunset casting it's rays over a darkened rain shaft from the base of a storm. Energetic bolts of lightning skirting across the base even once and a while striking the ground below. It's in those moments where I'm glad I chose this path in life. Keeping the desire to understand storms, understand their interaction w/ the roadways, cars, and such. That holds true even in the so call less glamorous winter time blizzards, white-outs, and deep freezes. I'm glad I'm a meteorologist I wouldn't trade it for the world.

May 29, 2010 From Bismarck to Grand Forks

Below are a few pictures that were taken when I was coming back from a wedding in Bismarck, ND. In a nutshell I was chasing storms back going down Interstate 94 and 29 while trying to pay attention to traffic and road construction.


-Dan

A few cloud pictures w/ my cellphone.

A few pictures from when I've been out and about on my bike. I'll try to get some photos up when I went out to Bismarck, ND.

-Dan K

Sad Day Ford Finally Kills off Mercury.

The title says enough so long to any hope of the rebirth of the Cougar, Capri, Tracer, Marauder, or Messenger. RIP Mercury!!!

-Dan

On The Open Road

Updates have been sparse for a few reasons. One its summer, two I'm working two jobs, and three I've been traveling a lot.

That said I've got a few minutes to post something before I call it quits for the evening. It’s actually summer finally!!! Last year living in Grand Forks was blah... it was perpetually below normal and cloudy. This year it's been a complete one 180. Temperatures have been mid 70's to 80's on a regular basis; it's been sunny, and really windy. Even though its blows up here. The weather has been perfect for cycling. My LeMond bike and my Iron Horse Mountain have seen more miles this summer than the past two summers combined. So far I've clocked in about 400-500 miles in April and May. That's including the one hundred and six I clocked in the last four days.

The LeMond is in the middle of its transition from racing bike to touring bike. When I'm done will probably come to the tune of 300-400 dollars. Things that are changing include the addition of fenders, new tires w/ slime filled inter-tubes, new chain, rear mounted rack, more bike bags and most likely a break pad upgrade.

I was hoping to participate in the RRIBT (Red River International Bike Tour) this year, but point two put that dream to rest. I had been cleared to go by both of my managers, but during a meeting an Intellidrive online workshop/webinar occurred on June 22-23 right in the middle of the bike tour. Oh well I'll still have a chance to put some serious miles during Memorial Day. Right now I'm shooting for either a half century which would be really easy or a Century, which will push me to my max endurance.

Traveling wise I'm going to a wedding in Bismarck, ND tomorrow for a day trip out and back after the reception. The week earlier I was back home visiting friends and cousins.

That's all I know right now I'll try to post some storm pics from Monday of a shelf cloud along old 81 in a few days.

Best Regards,

-Dan

Classes done, new cell phone and update

The semester has finally wrapped up and things are starting to wind-down in some regards and spin-up in others. I took my only final this morning which went ok I answered everything, but if was right or not is up to Tony. The thing I need to finish up before the end of the semester is my topic proposal which is coming along slowly. Regarding the internship I'm helping with the HD Flip cameras the interns will use are coming in later this week and I have a meeting w/ Fred to hammer out the rest of the media section and start working on the observed surface trends section. I start at Meridian on May 17th to go over basic employee items :-).
Finally my old cellphone (Palm Treo 800w) finally died last Tuesday and I had to was given the opportunity to upgrade to a new cellphone. Good old windows mobile 6.1 was really starting to wear on me with the numerous issues that plagued my Treo so I abandoned Palm and went to a company that I've heard overall good reviews about and had a phone that was running android. I ended up with the HTC Hero w/ android 1.5 and I'm overall impressed with the phones capability and I just love the built-in GPS. The 2.1 update from HTC and Sprint can't come soon enough so Google maps has audible turn by turn directions :-D and a few of the weather apps I use can be used to their full capability.

Best Regards,

-Dan

P.S. The blog went through a minor revision a few days ago graphically.

400 Visitors

Wow! The long winding road just hit 400 visitors. Thanks again for stopping by. As the summer months begin to spin up and classes begin to spin down I should be able to have a more time for blogging once again. Focus will still focus on road weather but it will also focus on automobiles, bicycles, and maybe some cooking.

-DK

Update

A quick update on what I've been up to.
My departments banquet was last Friday and I was in charge of the slide show, which turned out alright. Other news the Newman Centers bike race UND Vs NDSU was on last Saturday. UND won by raising $78,000 over NDSU's $72,000 and UND had 14 of the fastest 20 times. NDSU had more riders 280ish Vs 230ish UND so it wasn't a complete landslide victory. Finally I had a interview for a part time position as a road weather specialist for a company in Grand Forks, ND.

That's the latest

-DK

A Step Back Looking Foreword

This blog might be taking a few more detours before it actually gets back to the original track it was on.

-DK

Little Update

Over the past 3 year's I've owned a couple different cameras most have been mega-zoom (Canon S2 IS) or DSLR (Canon Rebel XT) cameras which in general are rather big and at times a pain to carry around. A while back I had a awesome point and shoot Sony DSC-W5 and I use to take that thing everywhere. Overtime though, junk got on the CCD and it became inoperable for the type of photography I would take. Well I finally broke down after some frustration at not being able to carry around a decent camera (cellphone doesn't count as decent camera) I picked up a Canon SD980IS. Its a 12.1 MP plus has a few other features that are nice. Reading some of the reviews people are split on the quality and complexity of the menus but in general the menus are far easier to navigate than my XT and S2 IS and quality... it's a point and shoot so I'm not expecting DSLR quality but it's good enough for taking shots on the go and w/ friends.

-DK

Happy Easter

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.” Matthew 28:6 - - Happy Easter!!

-DK

Offline for the time being

I'm turning the lights off at the long winding road for a time being. I stuff is starting to pick up over at the university so I'm going to slow down my posts to maybe 1 a week to 1 every month. I'm sorry for anyone who actually read this.

-DK

Quick Snap shot of the Minneapolis Autoshow

Getting back on to the main road after a little side trip. Here's a small collage of a few pictures I took at the auto show the number is down from years past, but also it was more crowed this time around than in years past.

Here is a link to the Album.

AutoShow 2010

-DK

Pizza picture

I knew I forgot something... Here is the picture of pizzas I was talking about.

Eat Well

-DK

Pizza Crust Tips

After baking bread often last year (my roommates can attest to the many different kinds loafs of bread) I tried to take it one-step further. What came about was well rather flat in one respect, fun, and unique in the other. It's amazing how one basic dough recipe can transform into when you take it a step further. When it comes down to it, I've learned more than my fair share of mixing flavors in baking pizzas. Talking to a few friends, most people say what makes a pizza is the sauce. I'll agree with that, but for me that's not the pivotal point on a pizza. For me it's the Crust. Thin, Thick, Stuffed, or dessert or whatever way you like to throw it.  The crust is one thing people will remember because it's "usually" the last thing their taste buds will remember. Unless they eat it backward, but that's whole different discussion. Therefore, here are a few tips I've come to live by through trial and error when making pizzas.

-NEVER, buy a pre-made or packaged instant crust. If you want to make a pizza right put some time into it!


-If you’re going to add spices to a crust, know what the toppings on top and sauce are going to be. Then use spices in the crust to accent them.

-Adding a hard cheese (Parmesan, Romano, or Asiago) within crust can help make it softer

-Milk can add just the right amount of creamy texture while corn meal can add that just right pizza grit.

-Don’t be afraid to mix a little of the sauce into the crust to bring out a little extra flavor and it's something most people never expect

-Blend different flours i.e. Wheat and white flour.

-Sugar or a sweetener is great but not in excess because you risk killing the yeast

-Sea salt over convention table salt

-Use bread flour not multipurpose because throwing will be a lot easier

-If your in a pinch for time us a bread machine to kneed your dough then store it by either freezing it or in the refrigerator until you use it (1-2 days max)

-Ovens are great but if you want to have more control over the baking a "Pizzazz Pizza Oven" is also a useful alternative with no pre heating and can cut down on your energy usage if you want to be "green"...

-For College students I would recommend buying two things if your interested in making pizzas. First buy a bread machine they are usually cheap (5-10 dollars) at a thrift store and most likely not used because the average person who buys one uses it 2 or 3 times. In addition, buy a Pizzazz. Since your usually in a pinched for time this will help by freeing up a little extra time during the prep work.

-Don’t be afraid of trying something new because unique isn’t boring, it either a hit or back to the drawing board.


Eat Well

-DK

Pies anyone?

I'll be taking a little detour from cars, weather, and adjusting topics to something a little different. I'm going to talk a bit about food. A few of my friends along with family have begun to realize I've got a knack for cooking. That said my specialty dish is best described as how they say it over in Jersey, "Pies." For the rest of us my specialty is making pizzas.

The basics of a pizza are dough, sauce, and toppings. Simple, a bag of instant dough by just adding water, tomato paste and some cheese and you’re done. Right... actually, if I made them that simple I'd probably be looking for something else to prepare. From the first time I attempted to make a pizza to one of my modern creations the process that use that goes into one of my pies has not only evolved, but it's never the same.

I'll be the first to admit my first solo attempt making a pizza was a disaster waiting to happen. I had found a package of instant dough and everything else I wanted on the pizza. From what I remember, I did 3-4 thing wrong. First, the pan was too small, the oven wasn't at the right temperature + I didn't bake it long enough, and the dough had too much water put into it. What came out was a pizza with a burnt bottom and top plus doughy middle that was almost impossible to eat. After that disaster, I vowed I wouldn't make another pizza from scratch. That was 7 years ago. Five years later, my sister and cousin wanted to be adventurous and make a pizza. We bought everything at Cub Foods, including a pre-made already pressed crust. My job was simple, cut the crust out of the plastic wrap... yeah simple... long story short the crust went flying and I ended up have to re-throw it, but the pizza overall was really good (macaroni and red pepper topping w/ a Alfredo sauce). After this attempt at making a pizza that actually turned out, I did a little rethinking on that vow I made years back.

From that pizza onward, I worked on different types of crusts. Some with milk, others with wheat, even others with sauce and cheeses mixed in with the crust. With every pizza I make I try to do something different either with the crust or toppings, but something has to be unique to it otherwise it's just like any other previous pizza.

A while back, I wrote a few things down pertaining to things I I've tried. I'll see if I can find it again and post my tips along w/ a few photos of pizzas that have come from my kitchen.

Eat well,

-DK

Spotlight 2010 Ford Focus SES

After seven years of the first generation Ford Focus a overhaul was completed in 2008 to a sedan/coupe only style. For the many of the enthusiasts this was a major downturn for the once hot hatch Focus. For the average consumer it was still a eco-box on wheels, but Ford this was a initial step in bringing some pretty exclusive tech to small cars.


Exterior:
Weighing in at a 2,642 lbs and 175" long, 67.8" wide and 58.6" tall the 2010 Ford Focus SES sedan fits right into the compact category. From the first glance this car has gone through a few subtle revisions from the 2008 version. The chrome side flares are gone and a few other small things were cleaned up. When looking at it from the outside the Focus takes on Fords signature razor chrome grill with only 2 bars instead of the 3 seen on the Fusion and Edge. The headlights blend fairly well with the face of the car and the optional fog lights and heater mirrors are nice to have especially in the northern states.

Ford Focus 2010 From Fords website

Interior:

Stepping inside the Focus the first thing that stands out is that the center stack is similar to the Ford Fusion. The buttons and controls are laid out in a similar fashion except for the Focus has a little message center atop of the console that has radio information along with temperature and time. The dash was nice and clear to read and the different looking dials with a splash of color bring a welcome improvement over the previous generation which were just black with white lettering. The brushed aluminum looking materials add a nice touch to the interior even though they are plastic. For technology in the Focus, SYNC by Microsoft only available on Ford family vehicles is a awesome interface for using voice commands to call people, or play music from a compatible mp3 player. One thing I didn't care too much for on the car I tested was that the shifter seemed a little too far forward to rest your hand on while driving.

Ford Focus 2010 interior from Fords website

Powertrain:

Equip with a 2.0 liter Duratec engine that is good for 140 hp the Focus is fairly spry even with 3 adults in the car. The automatics shifts were on mark most of the time a few times it held in a gear longer than I wanted it to but overall it was a pleasant ride. It would be nice to have a select shift feature, but then again that's what a manual transmission is for.

Thoughts:

Honestly I had major doubts going into this test drive. I had driven a 2000 Focus and a 2005 Focus before driving a 2010. I liked the 2000's suspension w/ how it cornered and the design was pretty good. The 2005 was just bland all around. The 2010 was a shock to say the least. I didn't care when Ford dropped the hatchbacks with the second generation Focus, but instead they made a nice compact that handles rather well absorbs most of the bumps in the road and is very impressive in the inside with technology including SYNC.

Price Tested:

MSRP-$19,995

-DK 

Disclaimer: I signed up at the MSP auto show to receive $50 master card from Ford after completing a test drive with a Ford vehicle.

Three Test Drive's Up Soon

It's been a tad busy the last few days, but I did have a chance to go out and test drive three cars. They were limited on the amount of time, but in the next three posts I'll touch on somethings I liked and a few things I didn't. The three cars are 2010 Focus SES, 2010 Ford Taurus Limited, and 2010 Fusion Sport. All three spotlights will be up hopefully by the end of the week. A quick preview, two of the cars I liked the other didn't meet the expectations I had for it.

-DK

Images from Ford's website.

Week off as of right now.

With spring break coming up in a week I have a few tests to study for and I'm teaching during the latter part of the week so as of right now there will not be a spotlight or a post on tires. Next week I'll try to get everything back up to speed since I'll have some free time.

Also to note the next spotlight will be a car from the Minneapolis Auto Show So a poll will go up probably later on today with some possible choices. The top 5 cars will be chosen as spotlight vehicles for the coming weeks.

-DK

Spotlight of the Week 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

After a rebirth in 1983 with a sleeker body design, the Thunderbird also took on a few new engines one of which seems taboo for the car. During the 1980's Ford was looking to rediscover the idea of the Thunderbird after a failed attempt in the early 1980's. This attempt was to expand it's performance division against the incoming Japanese competitors who were bringing over turbocharged engines that were more efficient and powerful. Enter stage right was Ford's solution known as the Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.

Design:


Exterior:

Known as the aerobird generation the 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe was the last version before a redesign in 1989. On the outside this car distinct in its design. From the shield up front to the long hood and the coupe design it was hard to mistake it for another. Features that are notable include the aero-shield up front and the functional hood scoop that flows air into the inter-cooler.

Photo courtesy of http://www.biocrawler.com/

Interior:

Climbing inside is like stepping back into the 1980's. The best word to describe the interior is plastic. Almost everything in there is plastic some good some bad. The instrument layout is quite nice but when moving over to the center stack that where it looses it. Case in point the print is too small and overall it's too busy with knobs, switches and buttons all over the place. The center arm rest has the window controls, seat controls along with mirror settings some of which are similar to the late Pontiac G8.

Powertrain:
2.3 L OHC 4 cylinder coupled with a turbo and a intercooler outputs 190 hp and 200 lbs of torque. This power was sent to the rear wheels by a 5 speed manual transmission from a Mustang SVO. In the 4 speed automatic variant of this car the output numbers drop to 150 hp because of durability issues.  Other notable items for this car include the automatic ride control suspension between comfort and sport mode and four wheel anti-lock breaks.

Thoughts:

My take on the 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe is a tad bias along the lines that its one of my favorite cars from Ford. That said I do have have some issues with the car and that revolves around the interior. The body is far more futuristic than vehicles of that era and even when you see them on the road they still have a essence with them. The interior on the other hand is classic 80's that tries to be sporty, but misses during the translation between paper and assembly line.

Price:

Then: $17,146

Now: $12,000 - $500 depending on condition

-DK

Tire Design part 1 Basic Tread Design

The contact points between the road and you car consist of four small patches of rubber. The tire too many drivers is probably one of the last things they worry about when driving down the road, that's until one of them goes flat.

Some of you have wondered, others not, why tires have different patterns on the bottom of them. Is there significance in the intricate design molded into them or is it just for looks? A few of you also might not have a clue what I'm talking about.

I could probably argue the reasoning was because of looks, but in reality, some major science goes into those designs. In this post, I'm going to cover the basic design pattern of the tire. In the future posts I'm going to go a little more in depth on how these designs effect performance on dry, wet, and icy pavement along with gravel and dirt.

Symmetric Tread Design
Symmetric tread design is exactly what it sounds like; the design is symmetrical across the center of the tire so that the inboard and the outboard tread patterns are the same. The main benefit to symmetrical treads is multiple tire rotation patterns can be used.

Asymmetric Tread Design
An asymmetric design is used for a mixture of surfaces (dry, wet, and icy). In these tires, the tread design changes across the bottom of the tire. For example, an asymmetrical tire would have smaller pieces of tread by the inboard side of the tire to deal with icy or wet roads. While wider pieces of tread are located on outboard side of the tire for grip on dry roads. These tires also allow for multiple rotation patterns like the symmetrical thread designs.

From tirerack.com

Directional (Unidirectional) Tread Design
They're known as directional tires because they can only rotate in one direction otherwise they don't work properly. Directional are best known for their ability to move water out of the way by single or multiple V-groove(s) located on the bottom of the tire. This helps the tire become more effective at fighting hydroplaning on water at speed. The rotational pattern is limited compared to the symmetric and asymmetric because this type of tire can only be rotated from the front to the back of the car.

Asymmetric and Directional Tread Design
These tires are very similar to directional except that the V-groove(s) is/are offset from the center of the tire. Rotational pattern is same as the directional.

-DK

Tires?

After sitting in a tire shop a week ago, waiting for an oil change, I found myself walking through the ties that they had on display. One display for a performance/premium tire talked about the how parts of the tread increased grip on different surfaces. This got me thinking. There are many different tread designs, rubber compounds, sizes, etc... How much does the average person know about the 4 points of contact their vehicle has w/ the road? In other words, how much do people know about tires? Over the next couple of weeks I'll cover different topics relating to tires from the design of the tread, the compounds used within them, different tire ratings, sizes, along with a few other topics.

The first topic I'll be covering will be the tread design, which should be posted in the next few days.


-DK

P.S. Make sure to vote in the poll on the side for the next spotlight of the week.

Spotlight of the Week 1996 Honda Accord V6

The vote is in and the First Spotlight of the week is the 1996 Honda Accord V6.

After a remodel in 1994, the 1996 Honda Accord received a brief refresh over the previous model year in the front and rear fascia, in addition to a few tech upgrades. The changes loosen up the lines of the car making it look softer looking than the previous year. The inside of the Accord stayed pretty much the same, as the 1995 version, except for the addition of a compliant OBD-II port that was mandated by the US government.

Exterior:
Weighing in at a 3,285 lbs and 188.4" long, 70.1" wide and 55.3" tall the 1996 Honda Accord V6 fits snugly in the mid-size car category. Even though it is a sedan, the Accord still holds some of coupe like design with a long hood and short trunk. The reflector beam headlights help make this car standout as a higher-class car compared to many of the cars during the mid 90's, which still had the Fresnel lens headlights. Standard features that are notable also include a sunroof along with an optional the wing on back.

Exterior of a Honda Accord V6

Interior:
Once inside the Accord, the interior is reminiscent of most mid-90's vehicles. The plastic dashboard materials, flat black gauges and controls all scream 90's car. The console layout is comfortable for reaching the radio and climate controls and the gauges are easy to read. The floor shifter relates information about gear back up to the dash do the driver doesn't need to glance down to see if they are in drive or second.

Interior of a Honda Accord V6

Powertrain:

Loaded with a 2.7L DOHC V6 engine that's rated for about 170 hp and 165 lbs of torque, the accord delivers this adequate power through a 4-speed automatic to the front wheels. To note the transmission is known for its hard shifts that can be sometimes reminiscent of a poorly shifted manual transmission.


Thoughts:
Overall, the 1996 Honda Accord is a nice looking vehicle. It has many details that stand out as a more expensive car for its time. The ride is good not spectacular but just good. At times, it could be described as harsh when going over rough roads, but overall it delivers good feedback to the driver. Really, the only complaint I have is the passenger seat legroom is a tad cramped but that more of a preference over anything.


Price:
Then: MSRP-$25,100

Now: $4,475-$5,700 Kelly Blue book

-DK

One more day before the first spotlight

About 17 hours left to vote. So far it's 1 for the 1996 Honda Accord V6 and 1 for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.

-DK

Spotlight of the week

I'm starting up a new section that should be updated on a weekly basis. In general, it's going to delve into some of the cars currently on the road and some classics. In these spotlights, I'll look at the specs, an overview of the design of both the exterior and interior. Plus I'll discuss the technology that was found on these cars and how much they cost then and now. Along with the basic discussion of the car, I'll throw in my two cents on my general impression of the vehicle so that you can see where I'm coming from.

I'll post my view on the cars, but I'm also looking for your insight on some of the cars I'm discussing and possible ideas for future. Post your comments in the comment box below and check out the poll for your input on what car I'll discuss the coming week.

-DK

How did we get to where we are today?

I read a article over on jalopnik about Beige Bites Back: Is Toyota Paying The Price For Building Dull Cars?. In there they talk about how things that use to be called quirks are now considered huge issues. Ex: Prius abs issue. This kinda got me thinking, consumers have been driving cars for over 100+ years. Why is it seem now that people are helpless when it comes to driving without things like ABS, Traction Control, and Stability Control systems. Whatever happened to the dynamic driver? Is adjusting driving styles for changing weather conditions a thing of the past?


I honestly hope not!

Technology as useful as it can be isn't perfect and at some point will fail. That's when the driver must know what to do or how to react. Grant it ABS, Traction control, and Stability Control have done wonders at reducing the number of accidents on the roadways when the conditions are slippery. At the same time they aren't essential to driving in adverse weather and should only be a backup if equipped. We didn't always have these car technologies. Some have been around since the 1970's while others are fairly new with the incorporation of more sensors built into cars nowadays. To most people in this current day and age a RWD car without ABS or other traction systems installed would be almost taboo to use in winter. I would argue the opposite view. Having experience in both technologically stripped cars and technologically advanced cars, my preference seems to drift to the one with less technology. That said, there are numerous benefits to technologically advanced cars, but at the same time there seems to be a disconnect between the driver, the car, and the road. The systems that control the cars response to a situation does provide some feedback to the driver (dashboard light, rumbling pedal etc...), but in a sense all these systems do is covers up the drivers mistake. Drivers that understand how to be dynamic can enter in adverse weather conditions and effectively make choices, since they understand the limitations of their car, that will get them though safely.  Drivers that believe the car will take care of everything and all they need to push the pedals and steer will be the ones in the ditch or in a accident.

It takes time to learn how to become a dynamic driver and overtime will make you more aware of your situation and overall a better driver.

-DK

Happy National Weatherman's Day!!! To all my fellow meteorologists!

It's February 5 and for most people they found out 3 days earlier that they're in for 6 more months of winter compliments of a groundhog. For Meteorologists though it's National Weatherman's Day. In short, this day honors weathermen and women who are diligently forecasting the changing weather so that the average person knows what to expect today and the next 4-5 days.
This a day isn't just for the forecasters, but also the researchers making breakthroughs in this field through Numerical Weather Prediction, Boundary layer, Meso and Synoptic scale along with Surface Transportation Weather just to name a few.
This day commemorates the birth of John Jeffries, considered one of America's first weathermen. John was born on Feb 5, 1744. He kept weather records for 42 years starting in 1774 and he was one of the first to use balloons for weather measurements.

-DK

Step out of reality for a bit

I talk quite frequently about the technology in cars and future technology coming to them to my readers on here and many of my friends. When you think about it, it's kinda mind-numbing with all the technology we are immersed in on a daily occurrence. I'm going to pick on gamers for a while, more specifically racing simulation gamers. I'll admit I fall into this category of gamer over any other gaming genres. The question I pose is, "Does playing simulation (sim) racing games in turn adjust driving behavior in the real world?" In addition, does it make a driver more situationally aware of their surroundings?

In my personal experience I would say it does have a impact and it does produce a more defensive driver. My hypothesis goes with the "condition", if you want to call it that, that they are using the racing sim for improving driving skills. The games lately that have been labeled as sim racing games include GTR (PC), Race On (PC), rFactor (PC), Forza (xbox 360), GT5 (PS3) and Dirt 2 (cross platform). All of these games allow a driver to attach a steering wheel and pedals to make it more life like. Along with the true to life physics makes the cars feel life like as they go around the digital track.  I'm just barely scratching the surface about these games, but I want you to chime in. Do think sim racing games do have any benefit to a real life commuter or is this some digital smoke and mirrors.

-DK

More Photos of Hoar Frost

I finally got the pictures off my camera and online. Enjoy!

-DK

Hoar Frost

A nice winter fog can mean a few things. Reduced visibility, tricky driving conditions, and some of the most beautiful winter landscapes. By the time this was written Grand Forks has been under 1 mile visibility for the past 18 hours. Below are some pictures along with the metar reports from The Grand Forks airport. Visiblity is the number before SM, FZFG = freezing fog, VV001 = vertical visibility 100 ft, OVC001= Overcast Skies 100 ft, Temperature and dew point in degrees C ex: M11/M12 = -11 C Temperature, -12 C Dew point.

More photos to come later on during the day.

KGFK 191407Z 14009KT 1/2SM FZFG OVC001 M11/M12 A2994 RMK AO2 SNB06E07 P0000
KGFK 191353Z 15010KT 1/4SM FZFG OVC001 M11/M12 A2994 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1/2 SLP157 T11061117
KGFK 191253Z 15011KT 1/4SM FZFG OVC001 M10/M11 A2994 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1/2 SLP157 T11001111
KGFK 191207Z 16009KT 1/4SM FZFG VV001 M09/M11 A2993 RMK AO2
KGFK 191153Z 15008KT 1/2SM FZFG VV001 M10/M11 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP153 4/009 T11001111 11089 21106 58009
KGFK 191053Z 14009KT 1/2SM FZFG VV001 M10/M11 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP157 T11001111
KGFK 190953Z 16007KT 1/2SM FZFG VV001 M10/M11 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP158 T11001111
KGFK 190853Z 18009KT 1/2SM FZFG VV001 M11/M12 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP162 T11061117 56005
KGFK 190753Z 19008KT 1/2SM FZFG VV001 M10/M11 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP164 T11001111
KGFK 190737Z 19007KT 1/2SM FZFG VV001 M10/M11 A2996 RMK AO2
KGFK 190653Z 20007KT 1/4SM FZFG VV001 M10/M11 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP165 T11001106
KGFK 190553Z 17004KT 1/4SM FZFG VV001 M09/M10 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP168 4/009 T10891100 11089 21094 410221161 55002
KGFK 190453Z 16007KT 1/4SM FZFG VV001 M09/M11 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP167 T10941106
KGFK 190353Z 18008KT 1/8SM FZFG VV001 M09/M11 A2997 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1/2 SLP172 T10941106
KGFK 190253Z 18009KT 1/8SM FZFG VV001 M09/M10 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP172 T10941100 58001
KGFK 190153Z 18008KT 1/8SM FZFG VV001 M09/M10 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP173 T10891100
KGFK 190053Z 18009KT 1/8SM FZFG VV001 M09/M10 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP172 T10891100
KGFK 182353Z COR 17006KT 1/8SM FZFG VV001 M09/M10 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP170 4/009 T10891100 11072 21094 53006
KGFK 182253Z 15007KT 1/8SM FZFG VV001 M08/M09 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP167 T10831094
KGFK 182153Z 16007KT 1/8SM FZFG VV001 M08/M09 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP164 T10831089
KGFK 182137Z 18007KT 1/8SM FZFG VV001 M08/M09 A2996 RMK AO2
KGFK 182130Z 17005KT 1/8SM FZFG VV002 M08/M09 A2996 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 1/4

-DK

What I'm reading...

With taking a few classes this semester I've been able to start reading more articles and papers based on my thesis. Here is a growing list of current articles I have read.

Read:
METRo: A New Model for Road-Condition Forecasting in Canada, Louis-Philippe Crevier adn Yves Delage 2 may 2001, Journal of Applied Meteorology

Weatherwise Wheels, David Hosansky, Spring 2009 Ucar Quarterly

Intellidrive Road Weather Research & Development - The Vehicle Data Translator Sheldon Drobot et.al., USDOT-FHWA

Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) Concept of Operations, Booz, Allen, Hamilton September 2006, USDOT-FHWA

DSRC Technology and the DSRC Industry Consortium (DIC) Prototype Team, SIRIT Technologies, January 2005

Clarus System User Guide, Mixon Hill, January 2009, USDOT-FHWA

Road Weather Information System Environmental Sensor Station Siting Guidelines, Manfredi et al., April 2005 USDOT-FHWA

Implementation and Evaluation of RWIS ESS Siting Guide Final Report, Garrett et. al, November 2008, USDOT-FHWA

This list will be growing within the next couple of weeks when I finish reading a few reports that I've started reading.

-DK

Classes winding up again

Since my semester is starting once again I'll have some more time to read articles on surface transportation and also pose some questions to my readers. Be sure to check the side bar once and a while for a weekly pole or question surrounding a post or hinting towards a future post.

-DK

CES Keynote Address by Alan Mulally

Even if your not a fan of Ford, Fords new myFord and myLincoln is something really awesome to connect driver and their car when their driving to the world around them. It's easier to watch than explain.

Watch Here

-DK

Fuel Efficiency Adviser Review

How much information do you get from your car? I'll admit I'm kinda fortunate with my 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis that I have ford's digital dash. Ford allowed the driver to see what the fuel economy both average and instant w/ this digital dash. At the same time, it's limiting to the point where it is frustrating. Many cars display the tachometer, some display voltage and other temperatures besides water temperature. Linear-Logic seems to have a solution to the lack of information for the tech driven drivers. The unit is called ScanGaugeII or the one I'm specifically talking about is called the Fuel Efficiency Adviser. From what I can tell, it's the same unit with a different sticker on the front.

Design: When looking at it from the outside it isn't a pretty device. It's black with a changeable color backlit display. Dimensions are about 5" X 1" X 1.5" small but it can be hard to find a place to mount if your gear is located just above the steering column. It has a 6' black cable, which looks like a network cable on one end and an OBDII port connector on the other.

Utility: The guts of the Fuel Efficiency Adviser are where this product becomes useful. Once attached to the car it's very simple to be interfaced. Just turn the car to the on position and wait usually 5-10 seconds and it's connected. The Fuel Efficiency Adviser's main screen shows Primary information, Gauges, and Trip. Primary information is mainly information for fuel efficiency like Current Trip Cost, Total cost so far today, Instant MPG, and average MPG. Its good information, but I prefer more gauges. The Gauges are cool because it gives a possible of 16 built in gauges to look at including the ones from primary. These gauges include RPM, intake temperature, water temperature, battery voltage, engine load, etc... Trip is a useful trip computer when you want to look back at stats pertaining to you current trip, so far today, yesterday and tank. Information you can get includes max speed, max RPM, average speed, Driving time, distance, and amount of fuel remaining to name a few. For the current version of Fuel Efficiency Adviser, it also has the program called X-gauges, which allows a user to program in different gauges that are not a part of the default 16. Depending on how many sensors you have on your car the information from these gauges can be vast or limited.

The Fuel Efficiency Adviser also allows a user to check error codes on their vehicle. I didn't have a check engine light on so I couldn't test this feature.

So what is my overall opinion of this car computer? In general I believe it's a very useful tool for both the enthusiast along with those who hyper-mile. It gives information that is usually hidden from the driver but can be very useful to the driver if they know how to apply it. It does transfer from one car to another easily but when it comes to measuring fuel efficiency when it is going from car to car it ends up lacking. From what I can tell, it uses a calibration reading based off tank fill ups and estimated fuel used. Well if it was transferred to another car and used, it accounts that information for the original car and when a fill up is done throws off the MPG and averages for fuel consumption immensely.

If your using it for one car it's very good at being calibrated for fuel consumption and estimating MPG, but fuel consummation estimation by using it on multiple cars doesn't work very well even if it is adjusted for engine size and tank size.

Overall, I would give the Fuel Efficiency Adviser 4.5 out of 5. It's well worth the $150 price tag and can be usable across multiple cars for gauges if you’re not worried about what your MPG and Fuel usage are.

Fuel Efficiency Adviser called by another name

For most car geeks or performance enthusiasts knowing what your car is doing / can do is usually high on priorities. Since 1996 cars / light duty trucks have been equipped with a On Board Diagnostic version II (OBDII) port or sometimes written as OBD2 port. For the average driver this is some random looking computer port hidden out of site and usually out of mind. For drivers who want to know what their car is doing this is a gold mine of information that just needs to be tapped. Now a day’s most cars have a on board computer that will tell you avg mpg, temperature outside, gallons used, gallons left, etc... That information can leave some drivers especially those who hyper-mile without the information they want most. Linear Logic seems to have a solution to those who want it all... data that is. Linear Logic has developed a unit called ScanGauge and over the years, it's been updated to ScanGaugeII along w/ some nifty software on the device called X-Gauge that allows users to make their own gauges. Therefore, what is ScanGaugeII well it's a compact automotive computer that connects to a OBDII port. When connected it reads the basic trouble codes like most other automotive computers and it reads the streaming data coming from the car. Fuel Economy, Fuel Rate, Intake Air Temperature, Engine speed, Engine Load, etc... In addition, with the latest version of the software it allows users to create their own gauges with X-Gauge.
Will this computer make you more fuel efficient... That depends; if you can process a plethora of numbers quickly and curve your driving habits then sure it probably will make you more fuel-efficient. On the other hand, if you could care less of about the environment and you driving habits then this device will probably not help too much.
There are a few places you could pick one a scangaugeII. One is over at the manufactures website http://www.scangauge.com/.

The other is over at Fuel Efficiency Centers http://www.fuelefficiencycenters.com/. It is the same unit except that instead of saying ScanGaugeII on it, its label says Fuel Efficiency Adviser.  The other plus through buying it the Fuel Efficiency Centers is that it costs $20 less when you punch in the Star Driver discount code.

Check it out and find out all the information you can get from your car.

Review will be up in a few days I finally had a good trip w/ it and found out a lot about the unit during the trip.

-DK

I personally paid for the device so opinions I share are not influenced by the manufacture.

Happy New Years!!!