Saw your show 'Gone Postal' on cable last night. Drag racing elecrtic autos WOW! If you were going to buy yourself a production electric car or a hybrid today, what would you choose? Thanks again for bringing us out of a 'gas minded fog'. Dan D.

Dan Debenport

RE: Just visited Suckamps.com... GONE POSTAL ADVICE from a creative amateur

So, when you all "pulled someone from the stands" to weld the hub… was it TOTALLY coincidental that Gadget happened to be there and was the guy that did it? Or was he there as part of the Discovery team? I saw him as your "random audience welder" and was the only one in the house to notice he was someone somewhat famous. I had to tell everyone how he was on Monster House and all…

You guys all know each other from these shows?

Howdy,

I had never met Gadget before Las Vegas. I had heard of him through our EV List online as he has an interest in electrics. He was there with his lady and a friend who was a reporter covering the story for the LA Weekly. It happened just as depicted. When he volunteered to do the welding I didn't know that he was Reverend Gadget as I had not seen him on TV and didn't know what he looked like. After the track closed we all went out to dinner and I got to know him a bit. He is the one who was responsible for getting the show "Big" to purchase components from us for the giant blender.

Roderick Wilde

Hey, I just saw your show on Gone Postal on TV last night. I think you guys are innovative as hell!! I really love the van and its performance capabiliy is amazing. I was like you though I was dissapointed in the paint, it would have looked better white. I would have never thought an old mail truck could look so cool though.

Anyway I was just curious, Did you get it re-painted? If so could you send me some pics? And did you get the rear drive-train figured out yet? If so (and you have run it) what will it do speedwise?

I think what you guys are doing is really great, I would love to see EVs frequent the roads in the near future, especially the way gas prices are. And now that I see EV's wont effect the hot rod and customizing industry. It will be as exciting as ever, maybe even more!!

Thanks for reading my horrible grammar, lol Im a construction guy, not a secretary.

Ill keep my eyes peeled for updates on Gone Postal and any of your new projects.

Sincerely

Jackie Dees

GOOD AFTERNOON , COOL STUFF JUST HAVE A SUGGESTION , BEING THE OLD DRAG RACING FORKLIFT SELLING FOOL I AM , YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT IDEA YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THE AUTO JUNKYARD AND GO TO THE FORKLIFT JUNKYARD FOR YOUR DRIVE MOTORS LIKE THE NEW AC BLUSHLESS MOTORS NOW OFFERED BY YALE AND HYSTER , MORE RPM AND TORQUE LESS AMPS TO DO SO , ALSO DRIVE AXLES THAT NEED NO BELTS AND NO SET SCREWS TO COME LOOSE, DIRECT DRIVE USING SPEED CONTROLS MUCH LIKE THE ZILLA CONTROL YOU HAVE TO LOOSE THE SHIFTING TRANS GO PROPORTIONAL CONTROL WITH EV1 DIRECTION , ONE LARGER MOTOR LESS WEIGHT AND CHANCE OF BREAKING DOWN , HOW IN THE HELL DID A BUNCH OF OLD BIKER GUYS GET INTO BUILDING A ELECTRIC POSTAL DRAG RACING MACHINE , STRANGE BUT COOL , LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT SHOW .

JOE CARR
IRVINE KY

Discovery show

I saw your show on the Discovery Channel last night. I liked it! I'm extremely happy that the show's producers did not portray a scientist with pocket protectors in a sterile laboratory environment building EV's. For years I've been interested in Electric Vehicles. I like the thought of not being dependant to OPEC and their evil ways of oil pricing. They got us by the short-hairs and they know it! The USA needs an alternative to transportation. The first step is to make the public aware of EV's. I think this show has the potential of doing this, or at least getting the ball rolling.

The biggest problem is getting the general public to think differently about EV's. When mentioning this topic, a mental picture is painted portraying a dorky little ugly box with four wheels being passed by a high power Corvette. I've always been disappointed in manufactures renditions of an EV. They have managed to develop a very utilitarian version without body lines or style. If they want to sell EV's, that "look" has to be the first to go. What we need is a sporty convertible/topless model that can do 100 mph down the quarter mile with a decent amount of torque to push the driver back into his or her seat!

Last night's show, even though the van had technical difficulties, led me to believe this dream is possible. Do you have any plans to develop a two-seat roadster with an aluminum frame, independent suspension and a great paint job? Oh, by the way, I hope you didn't pay that guy for the paint job on the van. My 6 year old son with a spray paint can could of done better!

Thanks for reading this, I will look for future episodes of Sucking Amps. I also have your website bookmarked. Your show has inspired me to start designing my dream EV.

Jim Zavadsky
GE Healthcare
MRI Systems Engineer-OnLine Center

i whant in on it

make me an amp head please that was so cool with the gone postal van my name is richie and i like electronics.

Caught the show...

I'm writing you guys from the Cape Canaveral Florida area (rocket town) & just wanted to say I enjoyed watching your show very much. I had no idea that you could use the words "fast" & "electric car" in the same sentence! The funniest damn thing was when the car was delivered from the paint shop & Roderick started going nuts!! All I could think of was how uncomfortable that poor kid who delivered it felt! There were a couple of quick pans of his face during the tirade & he looked scared #$*$less!! It was classic!! Anyway, keep up the good work. Your intense passion for what you do is motivational.

- Jon DeJulio

Hey Roderick,

I have been interested in electric vehicles for a long time now but they were always too slow to me. After watching your show I have become very interested in the work that you do and love your golf cart and the postal van. I was wondering if you build custom electric vehicles for people like me to purchase? I have an idea to take a 1969 Camaro and transform it into a ground pounding electric muscle car. I have a 600hp gasoline powered one and would love to have a electric one to add to the collection. Let me know what you think. I would also love to have the golf cart like yours, what would it cost me to have you build one for me? Talk to you soon.

-Jake

The Postal Van is really COOL, I worked for the Postal Service for 33 years in the Vehicle Maintenance Dept. and our Grumman Vehicles never ran like that !!. I also love Drag Racing so it was a real kick. What is you best ET and Speed so far and what do you predict for the Van ? Hope to hear more about it.

Thanks

Ralph Esposito
Retired Postal Employee

Just visited Suckamps.com...

And thank you!

I am renewing my EV research now that I know there are real men doing this kind of work.

Rock on,

Race Vanderdecken
Vice-President
Presson Farms, inc.
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Way to Go!!!

I watched the show last night and WOW was I impressed! I don't know much about electricity but I have a desire now to know more. I hope you have more shows to come.

Great Job guys!!

Don Cochrane

AWESOME WORK!!!!!!!!!!!

No doubt you guys are getting emails from EVERYONE right now.

I just wanted to say I saw the show! Holy $hit! Had to say congratz on that vehicle you guys put together. Amazing as it is and you did it in a month? You guys are F'N INSANE!!!!!!

I'm sure you've made many improvements since the show aired and you must have needed some rest to evaluate how to move on. I just can't believe it, 15@90 mph in an electric! That beats me in my 162 whp V6 gas hog! That torque doesn't rise does it? Just ALL there right away, wow!

I wish SuckingAmps all the luck in the world with the next record you set. I only wish I had that battery set up to power my stereo system. You guys are probably the people to talk to about how to maintain 14 volts in my car during SPL competition... Pulling 400 amps is nothing to you I'm sure but my little 130 amp alternator is sweating it's ass off. I can only hope the two 100 farad caps I'm going to add will support the SPL bursts.

Thank you for something "different" to watch with my family.

Jason

This quote is from Monte Kev. He is a seven second street car racer with the NSCA. Here is what he thought:

Me and the old man watched it and honestly were very interested, simply because it was something we do mixed with something we have no clue about.

When I think electric car the first thing I think is "nerd" but there guys were bikers.. I loved the show, I would have like to see a full power pass but we all know the t-n-t time can have its tolls.

I have often wondered what the future of drag racing will be when petro is gone and we have to rely on electric or solar, perhaps alterative fuels.... and this was one look into it... I enjoyed it for sure.

BTW, loved the nick name "Father Time"... That was too funny.

Raymond Knight

Hey Roderick and EV Racing team,

I've long been a fan of alternate sources of power than the internal combustion engine. From the basic electric motor to futuristic hydrogen cell designs, anything in hopes of cleaning up the road and breathing fresh air again is something to behold. I'll admit, I'm a bit of a hypocrit, seeing as I've been rebuilding my first "car", a 1948 Willys Jeep, since early January. I'm 19, and hadn't done much mechanical or engine work until coming across the Willys, which had been sitting in a barn the last 30 years of its life. After a complete engine and mechanical overhaul, the 1920's tractor engine is running beautifully. I can't imagine ever trying to pass an emissions test, but being an antique, it doesnt have to. Still... at least it doesnt blow black smoke like some cars today.

I'm writing to congratulate you on your somewhat different approach to a "hot-rod" tv show. I like the "reality" aspect of it, but most of all, I like the clean and cool attitudes you and your team keep. Some of these hot-rod and chopper shows, while somewhat amusing, appear to be run by absolutely brainless lug-heads. Sure some of them know quite a lot about engines and machinery, but quite frankly, the shows are repulsive to watch (I usually end up laughing at the guys). While watching your team on the otherhand, I didnt feel the need to hit the mute button, nor the need for a break to regain my intelligence.

On your racing van, I was curious as to why you chose a rubber belt drive over a chain link. I was a bit suspicious of using a rubber drive on a motor of such high torque, to be used for a high-acceleration straightaway. After looking over your site it appears that you did eventually convert to a chain link drive. I wish I'd been able to see that on the course!! I'm sure it will beat the speed record of the Willys Jeep:: 0-60 in about 30 seconds, or so the specs say (thats also depending whether the old engine will sustain itself at such high RPMs).

Thanks again for providing an enjoyable, fun, and even educational show. Perhaps someday the tired L-134 engine in the Willys will need replacing. I wonder how the world's first 4x4 would handle as an electric vehicle?? Time will tell!! Thanks for your time!

-Eric von Aschwege

In reply to Eric from Roderick

Hi Eric,

We originally chose the belt design because of my belief that EVs should be totally silent. Frankly there were other factors that led to the demise of the belts. Alignment is very critical and we had some aftermarket bearing blocks which were not holding true. They had calculated out to hold the load but they were on the edge. Part of the problem was having to use the smaller toothed belts in order to attain our desired gear ratio. We were limited by the size of the box. We knew the ultimate set up but did not have the time or the money to implement it. We wanted to build our own differential housing running a custom Quaiffe differential with two gears on it, one on each side. The motors would mount the same with a gear on each motor. If we ever get a major sponsor we will do this. It requires quite a bit of machining and a great deal of money.

Concerning acceleration, we have turned a 1.89 sixty foot time. This is accelerating over two tons at over one "G" or 0 to 44 mph in 1.89 seconds. To put this in perspective, our "Maniac Mazda" turned a 1.98 slower sixty foot time the first time it broke 100 mph and it turned a 12.47 second ET in the quarter mile at 109.66 mph. We are definitely on our way. The last time to the track we launched with a full 2000 amps on each motor and our new 300M axles and our new CVs from "The Driveshaft Shop" of Islandia New York held up just fine to the massive torque. When we launched we took off in second gear. We had just done a front wheel burn off to get the front tires sticky. This burn off left the van sideways in the staging lane so I had to get her straightened out. When I launched and hit third gear we twisted off our right front axle. The Driveshaft Shop is in the process of making us new ones. We hope to be out on the track again in the next couple of weeks.

Roderick
"Suck Amps EV Racing"