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Escape from Berkeley

Posted in GETV Episode by ekai on the October 27th, 2008

By any non-petroleum means necessary. That is the motto that propels a dozen vehicles of various design along the “Escape from Berkeley” road rally from Berkeley, California to Las Vegas, Nevada. Part Cannonball Run and part Mad Max, these NASA scientists and junkyard fabricators aim to complete the rally, win the $5000 prize and forever cement their place in history. All fuel has to harvested along the route, none of it can be purchased. GETV’s Roving RoboReporter Violet Blue chats up a few of the eclectic participants who run their vehicles on switchgrass, wood chips, veggie oil and even a tasty bio-salad. The brilliance of the event has even put Stephen Colbert on notice.

Episode links: Escape from Berkeley, The Shipyard, Michael Michael, The Green Team, Prisoners of Petroleum, All Power Labs, The Spooning Cruisers (music), Photos (Laughing Squid), Colbert Report clip, Violet Blue

8 Responses to 'Escape from Berkeley'

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  1. DocPop said,

    on October 27th, 2008 at 11:42 am

    Great episode!
    The roadster one, right?

  2. ekai said,

    on October 27th, 2008 at 11:50 am

    The roadster one did win, yep. Green Team was the only other to finish the grueling trek. From the Escape website:

    “1st Place Rally Winner – Grand Prize $5000 – PRISONERS OF PETROLEUM – from Cave Junction, Oregon. Jack McCornack and his rugged navigator Sharon Wescott in their homebuilt, high mileage sports car gussied up to look like Number Six’s Lotus Seven, KAR 120C Won the first ever Escape from Berkeley race. Read more about Jack Kinetic Vehicles.

    2nd Place Rally Winner – GREEN TEAM – from Alabama, and supported by Auborn University, Wayne Keith, Dave Gamble, David Bransby in their gasified Dodge Dakota. Using Biomass – mainly wood scrap as their fuel they competed fercly for the Grand prize, but the re-route on the seconday, a trailer wheel blowout, and fuel issues put them behind, but they just might come back next year, and I put them as a favorite to win.”


  3. on October 27th, 2008 at 12:49 pm

    […] memory now people are still paying attention to what we did. A nice bit from Violet Blue And Eddie at Geek Entertainment TV. Our own Judge Brian Doherty has an article out about our Racing to a Non-Petroleum Future. Also a […]


  4. on October 27th, 2008 at 1:25 pm

    […] has just posted their episode on the recent Escape From Berkeley […]

  5. cisc1970 said,

    on October 27th, 2008 at 7:00 pm

    I really admire indomitable creativity of people. Contrast it with General Motor's greed & having no interest in the Sunraycer & EV-1. GM would rather not innovate when they get greedy.


  6. on June 8th, 2009 at 3:01 am

    I really admire indomitable creativity of people.


  7. on June 8th, 2009 at 3:02 am

    Jack McCornack and his rugged navigator Sharon Wescott in their homebuilt, high mileage sports car gussied up to look like Number Six’s Lotus Seven,

  8. erandomthree said,

    on December 5th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    Purely amazing ! I just love people's creativity !