The Future Of Chasing

[Jason Foster]

Perhaps follow the tour groups

We are all considering that adding a chase partner to split costs will help. Perhaps one or two more chasers in the vehicle will reduce the cost. But perhaps as the fuel goes up, we'll be changing from SUVs/MiniVans to large capacity passenger vans to split costs upto 10 or more folks. Of course that's a lot of forecasting minds to battle through each day to pick a target.

BTW, my opinion on hybrids is that the extra cost of the vehicle isn't made up in the savings of fuels. Plus, over the life of the vehicle, the additional cost of maintainence does not even out. Best bet is a high mileage inexpensive gas vehicle (Corolla, Yaris, Civic, Elantra, etc.).

But either way it happens, whatever way it goes, I'm curious to follow it, and see how our predictions pan out.

 

[fplowman]

I can stop drinking beer.

Dude, Nothing is worth this.That is crazy talk. Now put down the gun and step back. We are only here to help you.

 

[Joe Zemek]

More alternate fuel and higher mileage vehicles are coming. Some are already here. It's mostly a matter of conserving and saving in other areas to have the resources to chase.

The hybrid question is a biggie. It is certainly a good idea for a city commuter, but that battery replacement as well as the upfront additional cost is daunting. With a tax credit and the potential to go full plug-in in the near future, plus the uncertainty of future gas prices, it's a reasonable bet.

I think the better option is the new superclean diesels, and perhaps the best of these--when it comes here from Europe, perhap next year--is the Volkswagen Polo. 62mpg and vastly reduced emissions, plus the sturdier diesel engine tends to boost the resale value of the car. The VW Lupo gets almost 100mpg but has been deemed too fragile to safely coexist with all our SUVs.

Like Shane sez, tho, it comes down to how important chasing is and what one is willing to give up for it. Unless things get seriously hairy and we are standing in lines for rationed gas, chasing will live on, and hopefully with a seriously depleted yahoo herd.

 

[Jesse Risley]

I don't see the high gas prices as being the end of chasing just yet. I agree that it will weed out some of the solo chasers who were already chasing on spare cash, but most serious chasers will just double, triple or quadruple up for the coming season.

I see the rising oil prices as a natural market trend. Those who insist it's all just greed are sadly mistaken. We need to find alternative energy resources, and it's as simple as that. Until then, I'll continue to double up on the longer chases. I've noticed this becoming more of a trend in the past few years.

 

[Adam Lucio]

Higher gas prices wont deter me from chasing thats for sure.

They will cut into other things though that are less important to me...I.E. bar funds, amusement park funds, baseball game funds and whatever else....anyone can budget a chase, its just a matter of cutting back 10 dollars here and there.

I also agree with what was said about more efficient motors....theres no need for grandmas Lexus 200sldpqx5000 to have 325 horsepower...when the max speed limit in the country is 80mph.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Some hope to cling to:

Cheap hydrocarbons from cellulose

Cellulose producing bacteria

 

[Randy Denzer]

In the 70-80's the Honda's got well over 40 MPG and some got up to 65 MPG. We will have to bring those vehicles back if we want good mileage again, but only if the public will buy them and forget being first off the stoplight.

AMEN Gene! I had a 4 banger toyota that got incredible MPG. It actually had some get up and go but it couldn't pull a trailer with more than about 50 lbs on it! I wish I had that truck now!!

Anyone want to buy a super clean loaded Hummer? Let me know!!

 

[Matthew Havin]

I have talked about this before on ST, but with global oil production nearing a peak of 85 million barrels per day (been about the same since 2005 now), we are nearing Act 2 of the fossil fuels era......... the stage where we humans use less and less because less will be available. Unfortunately, due to the extreme price inelasticity of oil, and the recent rise of Chindia, along with Europeans already adapted to $8-10/gallon gas and diesel, we have a long way to go before prices stop rising. I think that within our lifetimes, $10 will seem cheap.

So........ the ideal chase car? There will be only one option in the future: all-electric cars. Not hybrid. Not hydrogen (always will be prohibitively expensive along with infrastructure issues that will never be worked out due to enormous capital outlays necessary). I envision a day where we go to the electric "fueling station"... charging up as the cap begins to break out in Kansas. With a full charge in a chasers suped-up car (with 50% more batteries to extend chase range), a chaser can get 250-300 miles before having to stop to charge up again to head for home or the hotel for the night.

Addition: I know that this may seem rather pessimistic, but it really isn't. I actually see it the other way. Within the next 30 years, America will transition from using liquid fuels (such as oil) to power our transportation system, to one that is electric powered. Air travel will exist only for the rich on a small scale. Suburbs will transform to mixed-use developments that are more multi-modal transportation friendly (walk, bike, rail), and people might actually lose some weight and talk to their neighbors that they have ignored for years. Electrified passenger rail will grow from what we have in the Northeast Corridor (the Acela Express), to a national system we can actually be proud of. Our chasemobiles that we use in Kansas to hunt down a monster tube will be powered by electricity generated by WIND POWER IN KANSAS. How about that?!

 

[Linda Kitchen]

It's funny this came up, my son just asked me if this will effect my chases. I told him no, we may just rent a smaller car this year. Lucky for me I split everything with my chase partner Kathy. My son said gas may be a problem to get sometime in the near future. I think we'll be able to get it but at at a very high price. That said, I will always chase, other things may have to suffer, but I will come up with gas money!!! Linda

 

[Warren Faidley]

Time to upgrade to the really long lenses.

 

[Darin Brunin]

Our chasemobiles that we use in Kansas to hunt down a monster tube will be powered by electricity generated by WIND POWER IN KANSAS. How about that?!

I like your thinking! And that's not because I work for a wind energy company in Kansas or anything.

 

[Simon Brewer]

I suggest diesel turbo-charged vehicles: only car that gets better mpg when increasing horse power!

Also, move to an area where local chasing can be as easy as walking onto your front porch:

1. Bennett, CO: landspout heaven!
2. Del Rio, TX (actually west of Del Rio in Mexico is better): Mexican Supercells!
3. Wall, SD: late spring and summertime Black Hills supercells!
4. Big Spring, TX (area): southeastern tip of Caprock commonly initiates tornadic supercells
5. Childress, TX: mesolow commonly forms WNW of town from sharp topo gradient near Paloduro Canyon, which provides better convergence on strong Cap days
6. Tie for climatological hot spots: OKC/Harper,KS/Hebron,NE/etc...

I prefer Wall, SD as my choice, because I think nothing is more beautiful than South Dakota in June!

 

[Scott Weberpal]

Also, move to an area where local chasing can be as easy as walking onto your front porch:

I've recently begun contemplating moving to the area around Omaha when I graduate. Though in an urban environment you cant exactly chase out your back door in haste, but you're central to the Eastern Dakotas, N. IA/S. MN, KS/OK, and E. CO. My second pick would be Denver. Both areas have a strong economic base, and bode well for chaseable weather.

 

[Derek Weston]

IMO, the future of chasing is hovercrafts.

 

[Tim Shriver]

If fuel prices continue to rise I think folks will opt to chase closer to home.
Making those extended chase trips less and less often.

Remember when fuel prices go up the cost of hauling your food, your clothes,
your cameras, electricity and most of the other goodies in our lives will go up as well. The pressure on our bank accounts will be coming from many different directions.

Thus increasing gas prices is just part of the iceberg.

Tim