Jalopnik: statistics

K.A.T. Matrix 3-Axis Accelerometer Lets You Be A Statistical Hoon

Travis Hudson — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:20:00 EDT

Who needs to build a G-force meter when you can simply buy one and let the statistical hoonage begin. The K.A.T. Matrix 3-Axis Accelerometer can measure acceleration, cornering, horsepower, g-forces, quarter-mile and 0-60 times — all using three-axis measurements. It mounts to the windshield and runs off AA batteries, and the LCD screen even includes backlighting so when the sun goes down the fun doesn't have to stop.

In all reality, this device could be very useful for benchmarking and performance-testing a vehicle, particularly given that the K.A.T. has a error compensation feature integrated. A bargain at $60. [Geeks.com]

Aussie Hoons Constantly Blowing Themselves Up

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:45:00 EST

Here's a fun statistic for you: one-in-ten serious burn cases treated in Australia are from men tinkering with their cars at home. It's such a serious issue that, according to the Herald Sun, one-in-six victims treated at the Victorian Adult Burns Service in 2006 were careless or unlucky gearheads. Said one young victim "One thing i don't think I will ever forget is the pain. You don't think you can be put through that much and still survive." Yeah, but he's got a totally rad Falcon to show for it.

Actually, the kid in the story was pouring gas into a carburetor of a farm vehicle (maybe a Holden SS V-Series Ute?) when the vehicle burst into flame, causing him third degree burns on one side of his body. We like his outlook though.

"And the smell will stay with me too. It is never going to stop me playing around with cars, but obviously I will be respecting the petrol side of it a lot more."

Well put. [Herald Sun]

Jalopnik Late-Night: Racist, Sexist Jesus-Freak Douchebag Has World's Funniest Pro Honky Drunk Driving Site

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:47:09 EST

As a man once known as Samuel Clemens said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." Still, we love the paranoid delusional ramblings of a crazy man sitting in his mother's attic registering his hate throughout the world via the power and glory of teh internets. I mean, how funny is;

"6,000 ADDITIONAL men die in traffic accidents annually due solely to the higher accident rate of women drivers—twice as many lives as MADD claims to save each year from drunk drivers."

Seriously, how? And for the record, in 1996 1.7 Americans died for every 100 million miles driven, compared to 2.5 highly precise deceased weisswurst eaters. We also hope 100,000 sets of Jalopnik eyeballs blow the hell out of the bandwidth on his puny, $3.99 server. – Jonny Lieberman

American Highway Holocaust [The Christian Party]