REVS at Stanford University

The Revs Institute for Automotive Research, Inc. is dedicated to deepening our understanding and appreciation of automotive history. It is attended to by staff of full time restoration technicians. It supports engineering, science, humanities, social sciences and general historiography fields.
It benefits from use of the Automotive Innovation Facility , which house the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Lab (also known as VAIL). Diego Rodriguez is a founding professor at the Hasso Plattner Institue of design at Stanford University. Diego works across IDEO’s studios in San Francisco and Palo Alto. He focuses on strategic innovation opportunities, including venture design, software and product development, and marketing. He is committed to helping future innovators.
Minddrive will be visiting Stanford University, and I personally would love to visit this university because it of the history of cars. I love cars not only because of how they look, but also because how they work and how they run. They are amazing vehicles and its interesting that some students get to work on them while studying at Stanford. I would love to attend Stanford for REVS institute.

Written by Carlos Bahena

To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org

Final Charge (Team 1 Karmann Ghia) Before and After

Hey, my name is  Charge….Final Charge. I’m here to tell you guys about my life before and after I tried MINDDRIVE. There are things I couldn’t change about myself, like the fact that I’m a Karmann Ghia. But, there are things with MINDDRIVE that could be changed.

To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org

Electricida Update for March 15, 2014

Everyone on the team is particularly busy today with housekeeping!

They are preparing for an upcoming dinner event that will take place in the garage (can you imagine!) and they are making their little shop nice and clean from top to bottom. That also includes the car; from cleaning up oil spills to wiping the grease off the transmission.


When it comes to the car, they are still making small improvements:

• Taking excess metal off the hood
• Taking out the old gages and CD player (along with wires)

To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org

Expanding My Horizons in the West

On MINDDRIVE’s 2014 trip to California, the first day will be pretty much a hit-the-ground-running kind of day. Hopefully drops of coffee will come my way because we are heading to Humboldt State University and Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC) once we are off the plane. I hope we won’t get jet lag from the 2 hour time difference.
SERC is on the Humboldt State University campus which is located in the picturesque town of Arcata, California, approximately a 5 hour drive north from San Francisco. It sits on a hill that overlooks Humboldt Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The University has had its doors open for over 101 years, starting off as a teacher’s college in 1913. Now it offers over 91 Bachelor’s programs, 21 Master’s and 6 different types of teaching credentials.

SERC and MINDDRIVE have plenty in common. Both institutions teach students and the general public about clean and renewable energy. SERC’s facility specializes in developing alternatives to get us off of carbon-based energy. Although the facility has many objectives such as giving energy options to developing countries and collecting data from their projects to further their findings, they have also made the country’s first hydrogen fuel-cell car.
Getting a tour of both facilities will be a great experience for me. I may not be interested in engineering and things of that realm but I am always ready to fall in love with places that are willing to help the Earth become a greener place to live.



To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org

Taejah’s Dreaming Big!

Written by Taejah Davis

On our upcoming trip to California this summer one of the places we will be visiting is the Redwood forest. It is filled with some of the tallest trees in the United States. In the early 19^th century after the Gold Rush there was a huge need of lumber and the giant trees in the redwood forest had a great selection.  By the end of the century a lot Redwood had disappeared as new technology was evolving. Since trees were decreasing day by day in order to protect the trees citizens formed the Save-the-Redwoods League, where they purchased tracts of land with the help from the state. The tracts of land would form four state parks in the 1920s and this began the establishment of the Redwood National Park. It was founded in 1968 and the four parks were joined together in 1994.
On this trip I’m very excited to see all the huge trees. I’ve seen them in pictures, but I think I’m ready to see it up close and personal. I love to see historical scenery. Most importantly I’m just happy to be getting out of Missouri! I have never been to California and it’s only my biggest dream. I’m also excited to drive through this huge tree.

To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org

MINDDRIVE goes to Tesla

MINDDRIVE will be going to Tesla Headquarters on June 6 at 3:00 pm. Our students will be giving a presentation at Tesla and displaying their electric Karmann Ghia. They will also get to hear more about bout Tesla and get a tour of their headquarters. To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org.

MINDDRIVE goes to Stanford University

MINDDRIVE will be arriving at Stanford University on June 6 at 2:00 pm. We can't wait to visit and get a tour of Stanford's auto program. For more information visit our website, minddrive.org.

MINDDRIVE goes to Twitter

MINDDRIVE will be at Twitter Headquarters on June 6 at 11:00 am. Our students will be able to work one-on-one with Twitter's volunteers and will also get a tour of Twitter Headquarters. If that wasn't enough, they will also be able to eat lunch there, which will be provided by Twitter. To learn more visit us at minddrve.org.

MINDDRIVE goes to City Hall

MINDDRIVE will be having a press conference right outside of San Francisco's City Hall on June 6 at 9:00 am. Our students will be displaying their electric Karmann Ghia outside City Hall and will be talking more about their MINDDRIVE experience. We can't wait to be there and meet everyone. To learn more, visit us at mindrive.org.

MINDDRIVE goes to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

MINDDRIVE can't wait to be in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on June 5 at 9:30 am. We will be taking a hike around the park and enjoying nature's adventures. We are also going to eat lunch there while we enjoy the ocean view. For more information visit us on our website at minddrive.org.

Wharf Master’s Inn

Written By: Masiti Jeilani

For many people being able to drive up California’s Highway Coastline and experience breathtaking ocean views, beautiful plants and wild flowers to stay at a hotel that many people can only dream of, is a once and a life time opportunity.  This is exactly what all the students and mentors here at Minddrive have the opportunity to be able to do.  On June 1^st we here at Minddrive will be spending the night at Wharf Master’s Inn located in Point Arena, California which was voted the 3^rd Best Place in the world to visit by the New York Times. Wharf Master’s Inn was built in 1870 and has 24 rooms, its style was highly influenced by mid-nineteenth century architecture.
Not only will we be staying at Wharf Master’s Inn we will be hiking up to see the Point Arena Lighthouse. For many of us, we have never been able to experience places outside of Missouri. You can feel the excitement in many of our students, being able to go to California is an experience that they will never forget. This is a blessing for all of us here, after all the hard work we put in this year to have a chance to stay at Wharf Master’s Inn in my opinion is a life changing event.


To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org

Final Charge (Team 1 Karmann Ghia) Before and After

Hey, my name is  Charge….Final Charge. I’m here to tell you guys about my life before and after I tried MINDDRIVE. There are things I couldn’t change about myself, like the fact that I’m a Karmann Ghia. But, there are things with MINDDRIVE that could be changed.

VIP Reception with MINDDRIVE in Carmel-by-the-Sea

On June 4th from 5:00-7:00 PM, Light+Shadow Fine Art in Carmel-by-the-Sea is hosting a VIP Reception for MINDDRIVE! The event will be featuring artwork by Thierry Thompson, who is especially renowned for automotive themed fine art. The gallery is located on 6th Street between Dolores and Lincoln. 

To learn more about MINDDRIVE, visit our website at www.minddrive.org. 

MINDDRIVE "Driving The Future" with Carmel-by-the-Sea

On June 4th from 4:00-6:00 PM at the Sunset Center parking lot in Camel-by-the-Sea, there will be a free showcase of MINDDRIVE’s fully electric Karmann Ghia, along with a wide display of aesthetically designed and technologically innovative automobiles! Examples include: several electric vehicles from Tesla, all-electric Zero Motorcycles, Chevy Volt, THINK EV, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Porsche, Studebaker, Riley, Panhard and more. The theme of the event is “Technology + Art = Innovation.” Click here to learn more about this exciting event! 

To learn more about the MINDDRIVE program and our Raise Your Hand Tour this summer, visit our website at www.minddrive.org. 

MINDDRIVE goes to San Francisco's Tech Shop

MINDDRIVE will be attending San Francisco's Tech Shop on June 3 at 9:00 am.  We will be getting a tour of their shop, while learning more about what they do. Our students will also get the opportunity to do some activities in the Tech Shop and in the Hub. To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org.

MINDDRIVE Display at the California Academy of Sciences

The MINDDRIVE Karmann Ghia will be on display at the California Academy of Sciences on June 3rd from 1:30 to 3:30 PM! The fully electric Karmann Ghia, restored and converted by MINDDRIVE students in the 2013-2014 session, will be displayed in the East Garden of the Academy. Our students will be there to tell visitors more about the car and their adventures with MINDDRIVE. Thank you to the California Academy of Sciences for this amazing opportunity! To learn more, visit our website at www.minddrive.org.

MINDDRIVE visits Point Arena's High School

On June 2 at 9:45 am we will  be in Point Arena's High School where we will be giving a presentation to their Science Class. We are looking forward to meeting everyone there. To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org.

MINDDRIVE visits Mendocino

We can't wait to go to Mendocino's Film Festival on June 1 at 3:00 pm. We will be exploring Mendocino and taking pictures as we travel along. The students of MINDDRIVE will be displaying their electric Karmann Ghia and will be charging it there.

 To learn more, visit us at minddrive.org.

MINDDRIVE visits Humboldt Redwoods State Park

MINDDRIVE will be going to Humboldt Redwoods State Park on June 1 at 9:30 am. We will be hiking and getting a tour of the Humboldt Redwoods State Park visitor center and museum. We can't wait to be there and meet everyone. To learn more visit minddrive.org

MINDDRIVE 2014 Tour Stop in Point Arena - Visit Our Website to Learn More http://minddrive.org

Wharf Master’s Inn

Written By: Masiti Jeilani

For many people being able to drive up California’s Highway Coastline and experience breathtaking ocean views, beautiful plants and wild flowers to stay at a hotel that many people can only dream of, is a once and a life time opportunity.  This is exactly what all the students and mentors here at Minddrive have the opportunity to be able to do.  On June 1^st we here at Minddrive will be spending the night at Wharf Master’s Inn located in Point Arena, California which was voted the 3^rd Best Place in the world to visit by the New York Times. Wharf Master’s Inn was built in 1870 and has 24 rooms, its style was highly influenced by mid-nineteenth century architecture.

Not only will we be staying at Wharf Master’s Inn we will be hiking up to see the Point Arena Lighthouse. For many of us, we have never been able to experience places outside of Missouri. You can feel the excitement in many of our students, being able to go to California is an experience that they will never forget. This is a blessing for all of us here, after all the hard work we put in this year to have a chance to stay at Wharf Master’s Inn in my opinion is a life changing event.

Visit Our Website:

http://minddrive.org

Learn More About MINDDRIVE And What We Stand For - Visit http://minddrive.org/ To Learn More

MINDDRIVE’S mission is to inspire students to learn, expand their vision of the future, and to have a positive impact on urban workforce development. The program is funded through the national sponsorships of Bridgestone, Hertz Corporation, SONIC®, America’s Drive-In®, KCP&L, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation (ASME), Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Kansas City, and VML, as well as through local foundations and individual contributors.

MINDDRIVE serves 40 students from the urban core of Kansas City, currently working with over 5 area schools; there are 28 students participating in Automotive Design Studio and 12 in Contemporary Communications. The students choose their course and also are given the freedom to align with the particular aspect of the project that gets them the most jazzed. Mentors play a huge role in finding what that spark is for each student, then figuring out a way to inspire them in that direction.

WHO WE SERVE
The students of MINDDRIVE are recruited (through an application process) from the urban core of Kansas City, including Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS. We also have a few students who come from rural communities, well outside what you would call “urban.”

Our focus is on students who are “at-risk” and for our purposes, this means that they are slipping through the cracks of the “traditional” educational system in one way or another. Our experiential learning techniques, hands-on teaching and one-on-one mentoring enable us to reach these students in a new way, inspiring them to want to learn in their core subjects in school. We are able to address the individual student and help him or her through the blockages they may be experiencing that hinder learning.

We accept applications in August and our program begins in September each year. Our students and the parents of our students have signed contracts of understanding regarding the requirements and participation in the program. Our mentors are well-procured, professional individuals who give of their time and their talent and who work to forge important relationships with our students and with each other.

ABOUT OUR CARS
Currently, our cars are:

A recycled 1999 Lola Champ Car
A recycled 2000 Reynard Champ Car
A 1977 Lotus Esprit
A 1967 fully converted, electric Karmann Ghia


The two champ cars have the center tub and suspensions that were adapted to support a full-body and electrical propulsion system. The electrical components are lithium-ion batteries that total 72 and 96 volts. The first car had a 9” DC motor driving through a chain and sprocket system. The second car has a hub-drive that would increase the MPGe from 450 to 600. The cars each weigh approximately 1,000 pounds.

The Lotus Esprit was reduced in weight by about 600 pounds and fully converted to run on 96 volts using litium ion batteries. It was designed for 55 mph and had a range of between 60 – 80 miles, depending on terrain. The students and their mentors took this car on a cross country trek from San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL in 2012 – the first high school group to accomplish such a journey! There were 40 stops and approximately 24 presentations were made by our students, speaking to other school groups, university and college groups, environmental organizations, utility companies and the general public in small towns’ center square. Most students experienced traveling by air and swimming in the ocean for the first time, leaving an indelible impact on the memories they hold of their teenage years.

The Karmann Ghia is a beautifully designed, timeless vehicle made by Volkswagon but no longer in production. The monocoque design of the body allows for easy repairs, the interiors can be fully restored with a consumer-ready interior kit, the frame is the same as their current Volkswagon Beetle, and the space in front and back easily accommodates the batteries allowing us to leave the back seat in tact.


The students and their mentors took the Karmann Ghia on a journey from Kansas City to Akron, OH for an educational experience on tires and rolling resistance by Bridgestone, and then on to  Washington DC to meet with legislators and government officials. They were hosted by IEEE and the ASME and conducted a congressional briefing on The Hill with an audience of about 100 people. Their message was clear. Experiential, hands-on STEM education leads to the creation of important jobs and a sustainable lifestyle.


For More Information Please Contact:

816-916-4111

Don't Forget To Visit Our Website:

http://minddrive.org/