Big wheel vehicle?

[KSagal]

I have seen a commercial for a kid's sports drink that has some youths riding inside of a large wheel on the beach. There is a saddle like a small motorcycle type, inside the one big wheel.

Does anyone know of this commercial or the vehicle? It is real?

[behindblueeyes]

I have seen the commercial, and like you I am curious about this vehicle.

[quade]

I can't guarantee it will play for you, but I assume you mean the one on this page; http://www.kraftfoods.com/caprisun/6_0_Advertising.html titled "Cool Gets Cooler"?

I believe that was done by a company in Santa Monica called "UNCLE". If you're really interested, you might wanna give them a jingle. http://www.uncle.tv/uncle.swf

[MagiMike]

Real Company Limited edition product see link below
http://www.wheelsurf.nl/http://www.kraftfoods.com/caprisun/images/image6_0c.jpg

[macgeek]

"Kickstart Spark"

Jonathan

[macgeek]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/e/e6/250px-IT_(South_Park%3B_The_Entity).jpeg

Jonathan

[JohnM]

The generic name for these devices is "monowheel" and they have been around since at least 1869, when the first patent appeared. There is a website devoted to their history. (http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/motorwhl.htm#1)

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/sciencevie.jpg

[MagiMike]

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/kerryV8.jpg

[KSagal]

Real Company Limited edition product see link below
http://www.wheelsurf.nl/http://www.kraftfoods.com/caprisun/images/image6_0c.jpg

This is the one I meant in my original post. I am interested in seeing if they really exist. The links go to machines that look to be earlier models, and these look to have a more finished look.

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/kerryV8.jpg


Now, this guy would be less likely to get people yell stupid comments to him, I believe.

"Hey, how much did THAT cost?"

[hellphish]

Do the steering controls on these contraptions really do anything?

[gbrandwood]

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/kerryV8.jpgI'm sure that dude was on a TV programme showing him crash an earlier model. He was injured but recovered and fixed the "bug" that caused the crash.

hellphish, I think the steering may only adjust the position of the seat, to the left or right of the centre. It's hard to tell. I guess steering would be largely based on weight position / leaning.

[polo_pro]

I thought I saw some model of this where fins were used to steer it. That of course assumes you are going fast enough and have a decent air flow.

[PeteInLongBeach]

From "The Amazing 3" cartoon (anime):

http://www.hanabatake.com/research/tezuka_files/image005.jpg

[PeteInLongBeach]

The crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtfBRA8xCGE

[cruiter]

I remember back in the 60's traveling west on Route 66 with my parents. A semi coming toward us busted his drive axel and his two left (mounted together) drive wheels started down the hwy toward us and then hit something and bounced over our car (lucky cause my Air Force pilot "Dad" got fixated on them and couldn't figure out which way to steer). The point is you would need wings if you hit anything causing it to start bouncing. Could get kind of wild I'd think.
I'm sure that dude was on a TV programme showing him crash an earlier model. He was injured but recovered and fixed the "bug" that caused the crash.

hellphish, I think the steering may only adjust the position of the seat, to the left or right of the centre. It's hard to tell. I guess steering would be largely based on weight position / leaning.