Zero Emissions Racing Comes to The Isle of Man TT

I know, it’s bikes, not cars, but I’ve noticed, historically speaking, bikes can lead the way in a bunch of interesting ways.

As I have longed hoped for, someone has decided to make saving the planet, reducing carbon emissions and generally being green a whole lot more interesting: They’ve decided to put their money (and their sentiment) where the ground is and go racing.

In this case, said loony with a vision is Azhar Hussain, founder of a gaming company, and a guy, it would seem, who likes speed as much as you or I. As an eco-conscious motorcycle fanatic he has established the world’s first high-speed zero-emissions grand prix, titled the TTxGP. It will showcase motorcycles and three-wheelers fueled by anything that doesn’t emit tailpipe pollution. And wait, it gets even better, because this is no demonstration run that takes place as a side show. The green bikes will be racing on the same 38-mile mountain course where conventional bikes hit speeds that make John Surtees blink.

And if you haven’t checked out this course, you really should. It’s 38 miles up hill and down, through quaint little towns, look out for that sidewalk, ’round the pub, under that bridge, down that seemingly endless tree-lined lane, up and over the mountains (careful in the fog now), back down past another pub, past another pub, past another pub, slow through this section … if you think The Nürburgring is hairy, you have GOT to see this.

Safety?

Dear lad, that twist grip goes both ways – oh, and try not to contact any of those hay bales.

And so, Azhar Hussain takes his vision of a green, fun future to The Isle of Man. Says Hussain, “This is an event where cutting-edge technology, systems and designs can be tested against the best in the world and rapidly refined and improved. All of this means that clean tech is delivered to the consumer faster than it would otherwise.”

Or, to put it another way: racing improves the breed.

Now all we got to do is build this into a series … and then propagate it into a series for cars … and then make street versions of those … and then …

TTxGP via Wired’s Autotopia.

Filed Under: Racing