When Dreams Become Reality
WHEN DREAMS BECOME REALITY
ROUNDUP
MASTERS OF COMPUTer graphics like Tim Cameron are not only able to create virtual vehicles like the so-called Dream Bike pictured above, but can present them from any perspective just as they would look in real environments, such as parked in a driveway or inside a photo studio, with the images of spotlights, power cords and backdrops reflecting from every polished surface. A close look at these pic tures reveals just such detail. The power of these images is so persuasive that Christian Travert- designer of the Y2K turbinepowered bike-was inspired to begin construction of the Dream Bike in metal in his Florida workshop.
It won't be easy. The virtu al version features future tech stuff such as two-wheel drive and twin swingarms in ELF/Bimota Tesi style (the rear is single-sided), yet it is powered by a late-model Harley-Davidson V-Twin. The riding position is very low and the wheelbase long, suggesting something of Dan Gurney's modified-Hondapowered Alligator. A rimmounted "inside-out" single brake disc slows the front wheel in Erik Buell-inspired fashion, and both front and rear tires are super-wide and low-profile with abbreviated sportbike tread pattern. Sur faces are either polished metal or fine copper-bronze metallic paint, and the shapes are apocalyptic Transformer Robot, with multiple monster snouts surrounding a threatening "face."
Says Cameron, "I'm just a pixel pusher. I dream these things up and engineers start pulling their hair out. Designwise, I found a lot of enjoy ment in attempting the `impos sible' of wrapping an out landish, futuristic chassis around that lump of Harley motor. I have seen some brave attempts in the past, and was trying to sidestep that nonsense and just con centrate on simple balance and form."
He recalled remarks by the late architect-turned-motor cycle-designer John Britten, that shapes in nature are formed by the forces that act upon them, be it the trunk of a tree or a crankcase. "For some reas on, Britten's words really opened my mind to the beauty inherent in many quite purposeful machines," says Cameron. "Calling bikes rolling sculptures is very close to the mark at times. Of course, there has to be a `reason why' for the shapes. I heard a wonderful comment attributed to Buddhism: `When in doubt, take some thing away.' I try to do that. "Beauty is a powerful force," he continues. "I look at the things it makes men do-including myself. I don't know why or indeed where it comes from. I do know that when I first walked a full, disbelieving circle around a then-new Ducati 916 back in 1995, that I was in its presence.”
Cameron feels that the “inline-Four/chain-drive/telefork” concept appears to be reaching a plateau, and so he has concentrated on alternatives.
“I find a constant delight in trying to guess what’s up ahead,” he says, which is where the alternative drive system of the Dream Bike comes from.
Cameron’s website (www.timcamerondesign.com. an) shows a rich diversity of other virtual machines this man has summoned from the chaos of non-being.
What’s his day job? He’s been creating 3-D computer graphics for 15 years and supplies “original futuristic computer-generated models and props appearing in both local and overseas TV advertisements, TV pilots and film,” plus “high-quality illustrations and graphics.”
TIG torch, tube bender and spray gun, move over. Make room for keyboard, screen and pixels. The time of the virtual custom builder has arrived.
Kevin Cameron
