Time to buy a Brammo

Perusing eBay a couple weeks ago, I found someone selling many different automotive and motorcycle-branded clocks.  Imagine my surprise when I came across an item with the title: Brammo Motorcycle Dirt Bike Logo Wall Clock Sign.

What on Earth?  Sure, we know that Brammo has delved into the dirt bike genre:

But those bikes were specially made for a Jackie Chan movie.

When I saw what the guy was selling, I had to have one of my own.  Here it is, hanging on my wall, in all of its copyright-flaunting glory:

Brammo Time

Actually, I’m not sure if the design was ever properly copyrighted, but it was, nevertheless, familiar to me.  It was one of the finalists in the infamous Brammo Logo Design contest, from September 2009.  This entry, although it did not win the actual logo contest, was awarded one of the $1000 prizes, and was marked as the “favorite for t-shirt use.” I don’t know if the designer of this logo, a user on the CrowdSpring site who called himself “cre8tiv”, knows about this current use of his design, or if he would care, but it makes for a cool clock for my office.

I just checked the contract that covered this design contest, and it specifies that the design is a “work for hire” under the copyright laws, and that the “buyer” is, not Brammo, but “Crispin, Porter and Bogusky.” CP+B, as I’m sure you Brammo Fans remember, is the agency behind the “Shocking Barack” saga and the home of the interns who were purchased by Brammo in an eBay slave auction.

The partnership between CP+B and Brammo isn’t what one would call “active” right now, but I still have hope that one day they’ll get together for another great campaign like the Shocking Barack trip.  Maybe when the Empulse begins production we’ll see another of those trips that increases awareness of EVs, while at the same time, points out the shortcomings of their limited range.  I’m starting to get a bit misty eyed over the memories of that trip, so I’ll break here and

Laguna Seca to Feature Empulse… and Brammofan

Now that the news is out about Brammo racing at the e-Power electric motorcycle race next week during the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, Mazda Raceway (Laguna Seca), I get to spill my own little pot of beans:  I’ll be there.

Brammo will be doing a formal “handing over of the keys” to me at some point during the weekend.  In case you’re new around here, I won the title of “Brammo Evangelist of the Year” and received the prize – a 2010 Brammo Enertia. Although I’ve already taken delivery of the prize, Brammo wanted to do it up right.  The challenge, of course, is going to involve me handing the existing key over to them, so they can hand it back to me.  It’s all about trust. (note to self- leave extra key at home).

I’ll be at the Brammo Paddock/Tent/Headquarters along with the usual suspects: CEO Craig Bramscher, Product Development Director (and designer of the Enertia and the Empulse) Brian Wismann, Marketing guru Adrian Stewart, and the rest of the Brammo minions.  Aaron Gobert, Brammo’s rider and AMA speedster might be hanging out as well.  I hear that, along with the Empulse-based race bike, they will be bringing the Empulse prototype, the Shocking Barack bike, and maybe an Enertia or two for test rides.

Will Ali Afshar and the ESX Motorsports crew be there?  Likely.  Lady Gaga?  Not so likely.  Jay Leno? Possibly. Jackie Chan? I couldn’t say.

I may even be accompanied by Ms.Brammofan, but she’s been scouting out some shopping venues in nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea (sounds Hazardous-to-my Wallet), so no guarantees you’ll actually get to meet her. If you’re going to be there, be sure to drop by Brammo HQ.  If you say “Hi! I’m a Brammo Fan, too,” I’ll even waive the usual surcharge on having your picture taken with me.  Unless, of course, you’re a certain EV advocate who still owes me the surcharge plus interest and penalties from the last time I agree to have my picture taken with her:

For some reason, Ms.Brammofan is very interested in meeting Ms. Sexton.

Drop on by, see the Empulse, meet the Brammo Boys, and let’s watch some great racing together.

ShockingBarack, Redux

After months of silence, the ShockingBarack channel on YouTube posted a new video, moments ago.  It does a great job of capturing the excitement and momentum of the story of Brian Wismann of Brammo and Dave Schiff of CP+B traveling from Detroit to Washington, D.C., to try to give a Brammo Enertia to the President.  I’m not sure who decided to resurrect the story, but I’m glad they did:

Tesla: “2700 mile road trip!” Brammo: “BTDT”

According to Automobile Magazine:

Most automakers at the 2010 Detroit auto show will likely ship their wares in by truck, but not Tesla. The California-based EV company is planning on driving its electric Roadster Sport all the way from Los Angeles to the Motor City, proving the car is capable of long-haul road trips through even the most inclement weather.

The trip will cover some 2700 miles, and Tesla’s employees plan on stopping in (at least) 19 cities along the way. With the respectable — yet limited — 244-mile range of the Roadster, the trip will be broken down into several short segments, and 16 different employees will pilot the car to Detroit. We wish them the best of luck, especially when it comes to charging — plugging a car in may be simple enough, but as the folks at Brammo Motorcycles discovered, finding a free, accessible power outlet may take some cajoling…

Tesla plans on departing Los Angeles on December 17, and hope to arrive in Detroit by January 8 — just in time for the press days. Keep track of all the progress at Tesla’s website.

EV roadtrip? That is SO last October.  One thing is for sure: Tesla will not be able to round up the kind of talent that Brammo had on the ShockingBarack trip:

Enertia, Enertia, and Inertia

The Powercycle Diaries

Not Nathan, not an Enertia...and not (legally) possible on the single seater.

Nathan is getting ready to fly to Portland tomorrow to pick up his Brammo Enertia at Best Buy.

He will then start riding it home.  He may even ride it a bit farther.

Home, for Nathan, is Atlanta, Georgia.

Here’s his planned route:

Nathan has called himself a “Brammo Fool” and an “idiot.” Here in Brammofan Central, we’re withholding judgment, (although if anyone wants to get in the betting pool on 1. number of days until voyage ends; 2. number of total miles traveled; or 3. amount of ransom requested by the banditos that capture him in Juarez, please leave your contact information in the comments, below.)

Nathan says that part of the inspiration for his ride was the ShockingBarack trip, from Detroit to Washington, D.C.  Brian Wismann wasn’t available for comment, but I imagine he’s hoping for a “fairy tale ending” to this one.

I will, of course, follow his grand adventures across the nation.  What’s not to love about this story?

T-minus 1.5 days until this little 3800 mile, 300 kilowatt, cross-country electric folly kicks off. 49 degrees & raining in Portland but I couldn’t be more excited. Yeah, water & electricity aren’t BFF but when you think about it, life is a risk… and maybe the greatest risk you run in life isn’t dying, but never making time to be alive. Whatev. It’s not every day you get to ride a 65mph computer across the country. Sh**ty motels, here I come. It’s carpe diem time.