Race #4 03/21/08

Spy photos
The Skinny: Drag race your foam Birch bug, bone or fire hydrant by motorizing it.

The Rules:
  • Axles must be mounted independently to your bug (e.g. axles must be separated by the foam of the vehicle). The exception is if your bug uses tracks (e.g. like a bulldozer or tank.) Tracked vehicles are exempt from this rule.
  • No rockets, jet propellant-type power or launchers allowed (for safety reasons.)
  • No flammable fuels (e.g. gasoline, butane, whiskey, etc.)
  • Motive power source (e.g. the batteries or other power source that make the bug move) must be independently mounted to the bug/bone/hydrant, and not to a subframe that also contains the front or rear axle. If remote control is used, the receiver must be mounted independent of the axles and motive power source (if the receiver has it’s own separate power source, that does not have to be mounted separately from the receiver - so yes you can mount the receivers' battery to the receiver board.) If a computer processor is used, it can be mounted anywhere on the bug. If a processor’s power supply doesn’t double as the motive power source, it can be mounted to the processor. If the processor shares batteries with the drive motor, those batteries must be independently mounted to the bug. All individually-mounted components must mount to a single bug/bone/hydrant.


    • The Prizes:
    As determined by the lowest average times over two runs, between Emporia and Kansas City. Thanks to bTown, the winners get more than just trophies:
  • 1st Place – A trophy, a $25 VISA gift card and a day off work.
  • 2nd Place – A trophy, a $15 VISA gift card and a half day off work.
  • 3rd Place – A trophy, a pack of Birch-custom Jones Soda and come in an hour late one day.


    • There will also be Best-In-Show trophies for Emporia and Kansas City, as voted on by race attendees.
    Best-In-Show winners would also each receive a Birch-custom Jones Soda pack, courtesy of bTown.

    In keeping with Bug Racing tradition, the trophies for this round will be built by those people who won the trophies in our last race (Sept `07.)

    The Date: Friday, March 21st, 2:00pm

    How the Winners are Determined: Each participant would get to race twice, and each racer runs the course on their own (as opposed to previous events, where everyone ran at once.) The race officials will time each run, and the lowest of the timed runs becomes the racer’s final time. A run where the racer fails to cross the finish line (goes off the course and crosses the sidelines, or they declare their Bug to have failed) will not result in an awardable time for that run. Ties for any of the first three positions will result in a separate head-to-head race featuring just those participants, for the tie breaker(s.)

    FAQ:
    Q. I don't have a bug. Where can I get one?
    A. We have a limited number of brand new bugs, generously donated to us, a couple hydrants, and an unlimited supply of bones. Contact wfletcher@birch.com in KC or jnewman@birch.com in Emporia and they'll set you up. They also have a limited supply of parts (motors, etc) available on a first come-first serve basis.

    Q. Can my Bug include devices meant to disable other bugs? Can I use my remote control to interfere with other racers?
    A. No. Each bug will be racing alone (except for potential tie-breakers) so there wouldn’t be much need for that anyway.

    Q. Can I reinforce my Bug?
    A. As long as each of your axles, power source and (if applicable) remote control receiver are independently mounted to the bug/hydrant/bone, and that at some point in your design nothing but foam toy separates those axles, yes.

    Q. Can my bug use compressed air, water or other non-combustable fluids or gasses?
    A. Yes, but they cannot be used "rocket-style" (for safety reasons.) For example, if compressed air is used, it would have to move the bug/bone/hydrant through mechanical means (e.g. a compressed air motor, used to drive a fan, etc.)

    Q. Can I run by bug on a track? How about a guide line, rail or maglev (magnetically suspended over a track?)
    A. Guidance equipment cannot extend past the start line. Launch track/tubes etc can be used, but cannot extend into the race lanes.

    Q. Can robotics kits or computer processors (like Lego Mindstorms) be used?
    A. Yes, as long as such entries meet the construction rules (particularly, see bullet point 4 of the Rules section above, pertaining to processors.)

    Q. Can I coat/laminate my bug?
    A. Any coating that adds structural strength to the foam bug/bone/hydrant cannot cover it in such a way that it connects more than one axle. Ex: If your bug has two axles, part of the bug where the rear axle is located can be coated, as can the part of the bug where the front axle is located, but the two coatings cannot meet.

    Q. Can I use remote control?
    A. Remote control is permissible, and can be a valuable asset (speed means nothing if your Bug doesn't go in the direction of the finish line.)

    Q. Could I get more clarification on the axle separation rule?
    A. The picture below should help clarify


    The idea is that the foam toy must be a stressed structural member of the chassis, not just 'along for the ride.'



    Power sources (and remote control boards, if applicable) must also be mounted independently of one another, and of the axles:
    Race Day Specifics: (Racers and judges--some important info for race day)
  • Race Locations: Kansas City racers will be using buddy parking spots on the 2nd floor of the Pershing parking garage. Emporia racers will be using an area set up in the basement cafeteria.

  • Racing order will be determined by numbers drawn from a hat. Every participant will race once, and then all participants get a second run in the same order.

  • If your vehicle goes out of bounds before crossing the finish line, it may not continue in that race (e.g. racers cannot return the vehicle to the starting line and start over.)

  • You are not permitted to touch or handle another competitor's bug without permission from the bug owner, nor throw things at it, douse it with liquids, etc. Play nice, kids.

    		•
    Sept. 2007 Race
    March 2007 Race