Back Wacky Scrappy Gravity Race header

As I expect you will have guessed there is no race this year. While lock-down is easing, the repeated advice from Government advisors is that ‘social distancing’ will be here for some time.

We felt that it would be difficult and disruptive to ensure social distancing at our event. Even if it were possible, we suspect many people would choose not to attend because of the Government guidance and the restrictions would make it less fun.

If you would like advanced notice of future thoughts drop an email to: race@ovington.org.uk

Look what happened on Sunday 11 August 2019:

WSGR logo

The Competition

Here we are again with 12 competitors wanting to harness gravity. Just like King Canute who tried to hold back the tide, they all think they are in control, let's see how it turned out.

The competition is in two parts. Obviously, we didn't give the competitors the mark scheme because that would endanger them breaking rule number one.
  1. Points were awarded for initiative cart design, scrappiness and effective bodgery.
  2. Further points were available for the cart's timed performance on the track, with each cart having three runs.

Setting-up the Track

Setting up


A week or so before race day I removed the tarpaulin from last year's 'mega' launch ramp and found it in reasonable condition. I gave it a poke with a screwdriver looking for any rot and later had it tested by the BBC's Julie Reinger although she didn't know she had been promoted to chief tester.

With a little time available I could make some additional challenges for the track.

We will keep the height restriction, see-saw and pallet-jump from last year, but new for 2019 there is a 'suspension tester', which should be interesting because none of the carts have effective suspension. Also there will also be a banked curve - let's see how brave the competitors are and who goes the highest at the steepest angle.

Banked curve obsticle

BBC Radio Norfolk Logo Just before we were ready to start judging PART I we had a visit from BBC Radio Norfolk's Treasure Quest programme. Here is Julie Reinger "testing" the launch ramp:

Trophies

The competitors all want their name stamped on the splendid, scrappiest, rattiest trophy of all time.
Winners trophy

An improved trophy for the "wackiest" contraption was also up for grabs, so there is even more to fight for.
Wackiest trophy

Julie Reinger on ramp


Burrell traction Engine While all this was happening a one-third scale Burrell traction engine was in steam, ready to give rides around the car park:

A pit area was set up at the village hall and the carts lined up for inspection by the judges. Lots of 'scrappiness' points were awarded but the judges also wanted to check the carts stood a chance of reaching the bottom of the launch ramp in one piece!

All carts were given the OK to race, but the judges we wondered how many would actually make it to the finish line.

Dave and Tim awarding points:

Dave and Tim checking and awarding points

Queues at the BBQ:

BBQ

Spectators at 'Allotment Corner':

Crowds at allotment corner

and at the finishing line:

Crowds at finish line (Village Hall)

Meet the Inventors / Drivers

. . . and their Wacky Scrappy Machines

Jordan: 'The Blue and Red One'

From team Chaos and Mayhem. Now officially a 'golden oldie' cart from 2016 which seems to get slower each year. We borrowed The Blue and Red One in the morning to test the obstacles when setting up the track.
Over see-saw

RH

Mark: 'Saham Rocket'

On its first run, the heavy Saham Rocket bounced off the side slope straight into the bales; marshals quickly recovered it and sent on its way no harm done, except for an extra 30 seconds. A firmer grip of the steering on later runs saw it complete the course successfully.
Minor crash

RH

Marcus: 'MAX MkII'

From team Chaos and Mayhem.
Over see-saw

Max MkII has gained weight with circular saws on the front wheels and a full spanner set, some of which are chuffin' big and they didn't all make it to the finish line! I wonder if older people remember seeing something on a similar theme before?

Google "Buzz-wagon" from a 50 year old Hanna-Barbera cartoon.

Jason: 'Barber Bodge Job'

At first glance this looks a smart build, but shiny silver paint can cover a multitude of bodgery.

It looks uncomfortable to drive with a rather awkward foot position. Wheel off the ground

This looks like an engine, it sounds like an engine; is there some blatant cheating going on?
Fake engine
It turned out to be a fake, probably trying to distract us from the bodging elsewhere. Great sound effects from Barber Bodge Job.

Chris: 'The Daring Dentist'

Daring Dentist front axle
Blue Streak about to crash Last year, the rotten timber chassis of Chris's tricycle cart called 'Blue Streak' allowed the front wheel to come loose and the cart crashed.

This year, an all new 4-wheel design has a strong steel welded front axle joined to a solid wood chassis with absolutely no rot, notice also both foot brake and a parking brake.

Leaving nothing to chance Chris has employed a 'professional driver' for his superb brand new design. Here they are in the testing session working out the exact angle to enter the side slope for optimum performance:
Checking side slope

What could possibly go wrong?

Crash:
Crash
Roll over: Roll over
All OK as debris moved off track: All OK

Post race analysis

Under race conditions the side loading when mounting the slope obstacle was too much for the thin rear axle. Bike axles are designed to be supported on both sides, but this was only supported on one side:
Broken rear axle

Martyn: 'Turkey Boy'

Another from team Chaos and Mayhem.
Over see-saw


Jake: 'Paul's Atrocity'

From the Chubbock Challenge team. Unfortunately Paul can't be with us today, so he has given Jake the keys to his cart. However, he doesn't appear to have fixed the previous lack of ground clearance flaw which caused him to crash before:
Over see-saw

Previously this cart has had difficult over ramps due to the low ground clearance ... the suspension tester requires more ground clearance than anything before, and Pauls's Disaster is taking lumps out of the surface:

Damage to suspension tester He is not the only one, the blue paint scuffs are from another cart.

Tony: 'Amazing Tilting Cart'

From last year's winner, this mad design is brand new for 2019. Using a bicycle peddle crank assembly to allow the cart to tilt in corners. There are two major flaws with this:
  1. left hand wheel is much further forward than the right, making the handling completely different between right and left turns;
  2. when stationary, if the driver takes his feet off the ground it falls over!
Good luck keeping it on the track! launching

Probably the most amazing thing about the 'Amazing Tilting Cart' is that Tony managed to get to the finish line TWICE, but also crashed on his third attempt:
Crashed

Roger: 'First Responder Rog'

A brand new cart from team Chaos and Mayhem. This was built late on Saturday from an old bike and wheelchair. Apparently Roger was presented with it after Tractor Rog from last year was beyond saving. The handover went something like: "this is yours, you are going to crash!"



Despite his team mates prediction, and much to their annoyance, 'First Responder Rog' didn't crash.
In their haste, the team seem to have forgotten about the height restriction.
Under (through) height restriction

Harrison: 'Little-H'

Part of The Chubbock Challenge team it is a return of a young competitor, but he has been ageing at 60 minutes per hour, so might not hold the record of youngest any more.

Consistently one of the faster carts with no drama, just a whizz as Little-H negotiates the route without drama. Little-H posted the third fastest time of the day, a demonstration of how it should be done:
Whizzing round the chicane
All three wheels off the ground as Little-H speeds over the 'suspension tester' obstacle:
Getting air over the suspecsion tester

Patrick: 'The Cart with No Name'

This is an entry from last year, with a bit more rust. Patrick has always done with this machine; he is a little bigger and stronger, but will his machine hold up?

Braking is to say the least crude, but it works! Behind the driver is a springy, rather rusty, steel sheet curved to a similar profile as the rear wheel, but not touching it. To brake the driver leans back bringing the metal in contact with the tyre. Surprisingly effective, but we suspect he might get a hot back on a long hill.
Aproaching teh side slope
The least scrappy part is the seat, made from an old aluminium bin lid. The machine looks like it has been left in a hedge for a year, but still going strong posting faster and faster times over the three runs: Cart with no name

David: 'Paul's Disaster'

Taking the see-saw with ease: Over see-saw

Rattled by the suspension tester: Rattled by the suspension tester

After the battle, we need
WINNERS

Winning certificate
Last year there was a long delay while some hard sums involving decimal division demonstrated the second rate marking scheme was flawed. This year we had a fantastic new marking scheme which didn't need the help of a calculator at all. Inside the Village Hall the judges huddled over the scoring sheets and timings chart for a while, while the competitors and waited...

There was a big group in joint second place, but there was a clear winner:

Patrick with 'The cart with no name'

Winning trophy Winning Cart


The Wackiest Cart trophy was quickly narrowed down to two contenders, the utterly ridiculous 'Amazing Tilting Cart' was pipped because it couldn't stand by itself when stationary, so we wondered if it really even counted as a cart? The wackiest for its specular sound effects and truly bodged construction goes to:

Jason with 'Barber Bodge Job'

Wacky trophy Wackiest Cart


Competitors