well guys, we had our first competition this past week. It lasted from Thursday to Sunday. It contained: sled pull, mud bog, land and suspension maneuverability, water maneuverability, acceleration, design and cost sections, and the final endurance race - 4hrs.

over all we ranked 6th place in the world, 3 in suspension and land, 2nd in cost, 14th in design, 21 in water, 5th in endurance, and in the fourtys for mud and pull.


we had 7 people help build the car, 4 main. we were all first year members, but obviously were able to bring our own abilities to the table and work together. we were painting on the car the day we left, had no seat time, and no practice during the design and cost judging where we get drilled on our ideas, craftsmanship, etc. last year we were dead last in the water, but jumped up 40 places this year, and we had never gotten so high in the design judging, which we have 5 stations with 10 judges. there were 60 teams at this event, which is a small one, but the hardest for everyone due to the water portion of the competition.





here are some of the updated pics from the last thread





frame mostly done, 3 month old pic



adjustable pedal box i made and did the math to make sure it would stop the car from 42 mph with those masters, more than enough!.



space started to get tight, so we improvised our facilities. i dont think osha would be proud
























im in the black shirt




























towards the end they are in no particular order, but there is a mixture in there

 

Dude, awesome stuff! Congrats on the placements!!!!

Those pictures are badass, esp the one where your in the water course.

P.S.
I have the same helmet you have.

 

thanks for the good words man, we busted our asses all year for these competitions


next on the list are Detroit for Formula, Rapid City, then Rochester for Baja


but we are a fast car, and they are fast tracks with no water. we will be in our element

 

Good deal, I am glad to see it came together for you guys! Are you allowed to change anything at the event.. for example tires?

 

no, once you go through tech, you are stuck. at most we could turn the tires around. there are some things we could get away with, which we might try to do, but its sketchy. now if its a totally different event, like South Dakota, we can change whatever we want up until we pass tech

 

awesome

 

Is that river pic of the buggies fording a river?

Thats pretty crazy if it is, they did not have that when I did it.

 

yeah, it was 75 ft deep, so we are not touching anywhere in that river/lake. we actually had to propel ourselves across the water, hence the rear fenders and big ass styrofoam floats that we kevlar'd and glassed

 

Thats alot of coke.....

 

i know right


yeah, i attempted to make a seat out of foam and epoxy, found out after i was up to my elbows in the shit that it wouldnt work


finally carved one out of a foam block and glassed it