Revs Program at Stanford - preserving the meaning of the Automobile

Recently Stanford University hosted a gathering of experts, collectors, racers, historians, philanthropists and others to discuss the importance of the automobile. Not just the past, present or future, but what it means to society from a cultural and technological standpoint as well as technology in itself.

This was not a gathering of actual cars although there was a special Bentley on display, a 1933 “Eddie Hall” boat-tail of which an innovative “auto” biography was created. For the modern fans of speed, a Lamborghini SV670 happened to be nearby too. It was not an art display although past literature and advertisements are sometimes art-worthy. What it was is a series of presentations about the impact of the automobile and preserving and celebrating its history and future.

The intent of Revs is to continue research and teaching of automotive topics across various schools such as humanities, fine arts, social sciences, design, science and engineering. Also, it is to encourage the crossover and interaction to professions, enthusiasts, collectors, scholars, scientists and students. The automobile is an understudied icon of our culture. We live and die with, from and because of The Car.

The Revs Program at Stanford and The Revs Institute of Automotive Research in Naples, Florida were founded by Miles Collier. Among other accomplishments and talents, Mr. Collier is an investor, philanthropist, and a noted authority on vintage automobiles. He is obviously a visionary as well.

The Executive Director of Revs is Sven Beiker who also holds the title of Executive Director Center for Automotive Research at Stanford. He also holds teaching positions in Stanford's School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Business and previously, Dr. Beiker was with the BMW Group for over 13 years.

Besides other notable contributors and scholars, two other affliates that are more likely known to automotive enthusiasts are Duncan Dayton, professional race car driver and American LeMans Team owner. The other is noted racing journalist, author, consultant and film producer Doug Nye.

A multi-faceted, multi-media library is the resource that will be utilized to preserve and share the knowledge of the automobile. Take a closer look at http://www.stanford.edu/group/revs/.

Comments

Sixth generation Camaro V6 review

Chevrolet updated the chassis of the Camaro for 2016 with the new Alpha platform and by all accounts the approximately 250 to 300lb weight reduction was a huge improvement. Despite having a brilliant chassis and three powerful engine choices, the interior and outward visibility hardly improved at all. I wanted to like this car, I really did. It has some really good aspects but overall it’s only good for going in a straight line, not reverse or backing up out of any parking space, on public roads or modified into a track-only car. You decide if the interior justifies a $29,000 MSRP. The 2017 model is essentially the same. The 335hp V-6 is a great engine, responsive, sounds good and with the quick shifting 8 speed automatic, the car is capable of mid-high 13 second quarter mile ETs. It feels every bit as quick as the numbers suggest. It has no appreciable dead spots and has an excellent pull. The 8 speed auto is finicky on the highway though, downshifting at the slightest provocatio...

The San Francisco Auto Show is rolling at the Moscone Center

The 59 th annual San Francisco Auto show returned this past Saturday, November 19 th through November 27 th at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco. Always a bargain to view over 800 vehicles at $10 for adults and children under 12 free. This year expanded further the emphasis on electric, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. Test drives are offered with thirty vehicles by six different manufacturers including Mercedes and Fiat. Multiple special guests are scheduled throughout the week such as local sports mascots, the Raiderettes, radio and television personality Gary Radnich and more. The Auto Salon which featured modified cars, trendsetters in an eclectic collection. It is in the south hall on the upper level. The signage needs to be increased, but it’s worth a visit. Yes, there were the broken-axle appearing stanced cars and plenty of lowered sedans, but there are some gems as well. Photography is a bit of a challenge due to the cars being too close together, but it’s a...

Mazda Miata MX-5 Grand Touring review

Introduced in 1989, the Mazda Miata went on to become the bestselling convertible in history. And particularly because of the Miata, the most raced brand in the world. Now recently into the fourth generation, the Mazda MX-5 Miata dropped a couple major things from the previous generation like horsepower and weight. A surprising 12 horsepower and a shocking 150 pounds trimmed away to a total of 2,324 pounds in an age where weight gain is the norm, including on vehicles much larger and at least one thousand to two thousand pounds heavier. Truly the modern quintessential “driver’s car”, this 2017 Grand Touring model with the 6 speed manual transmission extremely light, very nimble, rear drive, quick enough for many. As stated earlier on social media, it’s not about guys, it’s not about girls, it’s about having fun. Because it’s a convertible and quite small, some call it a girl’s car. But seriously, the complete antithesis of this car, something like a Dodge Charger Daytona, is a tot...

Review Your Cars

Search This Blog