Gizmodo: van

Games2U Brings a Portable Arcade To Your House

Jason Chen — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:20:00 EDT

The only time people visit arcades these days is when they're waiting for the 8:30 showing of Transformers to start. Whether it's convenience of quality of games, people just aren't going. But what if it came to YOU?

Games2U puts PS3s, Wii and Xbox 360 games inside of a van and delivers it, letting 20 people play no matter where you are. We can imagine it being useful for kids' birthday parties, tailgating parties or funerals; especially since the company also offers laser tag and giant hamster balls.

And if you think this is a good and viable business opportunity, they even offer franchise options to set one up where you live. [G2u via Kotaku]

I Pity the Fool Who Doesn't Get this A-Team RC Van

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:27:53 EDT

Listen up you fools! I know that you cry and cry because you can't get a cool van like mine! Stop whining now and get the RC version for just 60 Washingtons! Or ask your mama for it if you don't have the money!

And remember, mother there's only one, so treat her right!

Fools! [Firebox via Toyology]

Jet-Powered Minivan Is Probably Batman's Aunt's Car

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:50:09 EST

This van has been retrofitted with a Rolls-Royce Nimbus helicopter jet turbine by Chris Krug, who should really be working for Tony Stark. The jet turbine has about 1,000 shaft horsepower at 2,100 RPM, which allows it to do 1/8th of a mile at 103mph in 7.14 seconds. Not bad for a Dodge Caravan, especially one that can ride with the normal combustion engine, then reveal the turbine flipping its rear window. The turbine exhaust doesn't provide any thrust, however:

The jet exhaust is at wide angles for the helicopter application it was in. They wanted the exhaust to go away from the tail boom and have just enough velocity to keep the hot exhaust from being recirculated into the intake. The exhaust provides no thrust, it's all shaft driven but I do spray fuel into the exhaust to make some smoke and fire. It's funny how people think a jet engine isn't working properly if fire isn't spewing out the back, unless it's the engine on the passenger jet they're sitting in.

According to Chris, it can do the 1/4 mile in 11.17 seconds, and it topped at 113mph because he hasn't adjusted the rear axle ratio yet. "I have about $17,000 in the whole thing," Chris told us, "I got the turbine from a friend who deals in Government surplus. This all came about after being on the TV show 'Junkyard Wars' where i built a jet powered tricycle with a jet engine made from an old truck turbocharger." [RunRyder via Hacked Gadgets]

VW Microbus Chameleon Hippie Bus Gets Gizmodo-ized

Brian Lam — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 15:52:11 EDT

VW R&D must not have enough to do after helping Stanford win the DARPA Grand Challenge. Instead of working on the ever-elusive flying car, they've outfitted this old hippie bus with hidden tech. The drivetrain is all electric, and the surfboards on top have solar cells for charging up the lithium battery banks. Click to Jalop to see the interior's digital dash.–Brian Lam

A New Old Bus: Volkswagen Updates a 1964 Microbus with Gadgets [Jalop-shop]