Mondo Spider - Electric Powered 8 legged walking machine

Mondo Spider

The Mondo Spider is a 1600 lb, 8 legged walking machine originally built by a Vancouver-based team of artists and engineers in 2006. Initially gas-powered, the spider has been converted to run entirely on battery power, making it the world's first 100% electric, zero-emissions walking vehicle. This vehicle will be at this weeks Maker Fair


Mondo Spider from flimflamfilms on Vimeo.

Squirly Whirly Art Car by Tré Taylor

Squirly Whirly Art Car by Tré Taylor


Squirly Whirly Art Car by Tré Taylor was first seen at last weeks Maker Faire in San Mateo CA. It was one of the many art cars that came, but it was the only one that had never been seen before. Tré told me that she and her friend had just put the finishing touches the night before and drove it Saturday morning to be at the Maker Faire. She drove Squirly Whirly the slow way up El Camino to San Mateo from Santa Clara since Squirly had not been road tested for highway speeds. Squirly Whirly is actually the car formerly known as the candle car and Tré is also the creator of the famous Fahrvernpüssy Lounge now in the shop for some repairs. Squirly is covered in fans and the giant Squirel holding a nut is named Larry. Check out the video, its much better live.

Scraper Bike - By Tyrone Stevenson Jr

Photos by Jacob Fenston



The scraper bike was birthed in Oakland by Tyrone Stevenson Jr., a 20 year old. AKA Baybe-Champ Da Scraper Bike King/Creator/Inventor. The idea came from cars that ride in Oakland called scrapers — basically an old model car, such as a Buick, that's painted a custom color to match the bright rims that are so big that they scrape the inside of the wheel well. Stevenson and his friends took those aesthetics and applied them to bicycles, fitting large wheels on small frames.The movement went viral when a video about scraper bikes when up and went global with 3 million views. Tyrone is right now working on getting his own store front and working in is his community to help keep the youth out of trouble and in a positive frame of mind.

"The Scraper Bike Movement seeks to capture the creativity of youth living within dangerous communities. It gives them a positive outlet that is fun, educational, and promotes healthy lifestyles. The Scraper Bike Movement offers youth a sustainable group of peers that is positive and motivating. They want to expand and enlighten young people's perspective on life through fixing and painting bicycles. Our goal is to support youth entrepreneurship and cultural innovation. The Scraper Bike Movement has been around for about 5-6 years and is now starting to get exposure worldwide."

-Tyrone Stevenson Jr

The Scraper Bikes will also be at this years Maker Faire

Mercedes Pens Art Car at Maker Faire 2009

Costas Schuler aka The Pen Guy is a graphic designer, artist, motivational speaker comedian, husband and proud father of three beautiful girls. Life has always been interesting but never quite the same ever since he started working on his Mercedes Pens Art Car now covered in 10,000 pens that was inspired from reading a book called "Art Cars" by author Harrod Blank. Now that the car is pretty much done he has set his sights higher and want to collect a million pens in the next five years to make more pen art.

Hennepin Crawler by Krank-Boom-Clank

Hennepin Crawler at Burning Man

Hennepin Crawler at Handcar Regatta 2008

This four wheeled pedal powered monster is called the Hennepin Crawler and created by a group called Krank-Boom-Crank . They are a kinetic industrial arts collective located in Santa Rosa, CA, who made this giant mutant vehicle from about 90% recycled material, such as:

• Discarded lawn furniture
• VW Bug & antique Cadillac parts
• Old wooden furniture
• Industrial culvert pipe & aviation wire
• Plenty of old bike bits
• Other minor found parts

Maker Faire 2008 - Vehicles , Art Cars and More

Whirlygig Emoto - Battery Powered Steam Punk Electric Scooter

More photos via flickr

Tom Sepe is the creator of Whirlygig Emoto Art Bike, a Battery Powered Steam Punk Electric Scooter. And if you think that's a mouthful, lets break it down for you one piece at a time. Yes this is a scooter that looks like its steam powered but in fact runs on a couple of batteries. Its also made to look like something made in the early 19th century around the Victorian era called "Steam Punk", look it up because its too long to go into it. Tom is also a multidisciplinary artist, performer, video editor and chef who also worked on Draka the Dragon, a 140-ft Flaming Metal Dragon, and The Runamock Fishvan. He also does custom fabrication work that can be seen in clubs, restaurants and private homes throughout the Bay Area. Check out Whirlygig Emoto in action.

Lego Jeep Art Car - On the road again headed to Maker Faire 09

LEGO Jeep at Maker Faire almost done

by bonniegrrl

LEGO Jeep Art Car with climbers

by Paula Wirth

LEGO Jeep Hood Close Up Art


I cant believe I have not posted the famous Lego Jeep Art Car on ACC. Here in all its glory entertaining kids of every age, who are all over it having fun. Legos are for everyone and Kevin Mathieu creator of the Jeep Lego Car has apparently not left his inner child behind. How awesome it is to be able to just pull over any time and play with your legos. Those famous Bay Area traffic jams seem less insane now that the lego car is on the road headed to this years Maker Faire.

Hand made bikes of a very unusual nature

Office Chair Bike

Wood Bike

Drift Wood Bike

Wood High Wheel

Compact Bike

Triangle Bike

Scooter Bike

photos via woodenbikes.com

Tom Kabat is a former serious cyclist who still loves bikes. An engineer, 30 year bike commuter and bike tourer (Trans America 1976), Tom was inspired to build bikes after seeing other great home built pedal machines at Kinetic Sculpture races and a wide variety of antique bikes on display in museums. I had the weird pleasure of riding on a few of these bike at the maker faire last year and trust me, they don't ride like a "regular" bikes. But the beauty of these strange contraptions is that you get to see your life flash before your eyes over and over again. Once you get the hand of it then you are free to ride around maker faire as much as you can take. I know I am going to try it again this year.

Neverwas Haul - Self-propelled 3-story Victorian House

Neverwas Haul at Burning Man



Its the week before Maker Faire and I want to dedicate this week to all the cool art vehicles that will be attending. The first is the Neverwas Haul a self-propelled 3-story Victorian House inspired by the works of Jules Verne. Its made from 75% recycled equipment and materials. It measures 24 feet long by 24 feet high and 12 feet wide and is built on the base of a 5th wheel travel trailer. It was created and designed by Shannon O'Hare, and will be appearing at this years Maker Faire in San Mateo California. Whats amazing about it is that it is mobile as you can see from the picture above. You can also go inside and be instantly transformed into another world.

Car Runs on Garbage - Magical Gasifier Budget Mod

Finally a car mod I can get excited about, turning garbage into fuel for my car. Do you remember the Movie "Back to the Future" well this guy pretty much did and his entire 24 step process is outlined on instructables. This "magical" device is called a gasifier and what it does is called gasification. Dude you rock!!!!!!
Gasifier


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