Ok. first off, by now people either know or assume that the yard is salted. Well try this challenge. Give two teams the exact same material and identical machines to build. And then the challenge. I think that you would see a lot of difference in the machines. This would take sheer brain power. Almost like putting together a puzzle...Just a thought. I know it hasn't been done yet. Let me know your thoughts.. Captain of "The conjuring Canucks"

-- Craig Wardle (cwardle@execulink.com), February 08, 2001

Answers

That's a good idea.

-- John Gap (mindthegap64@hotmail.com), February 08, 2001.

I have a feeling that you would also see a lot of startling simularities. In the US season, there was a drag race between a converted motorcycle and a V8. How exciting would that final have been if it had been two motorcycles or two V8's. The layouts would probably have been similar. I think the producers tell the experts to come up with something different from each other, that way you won't exactly the same machine competing against each other. If you did, then it would be a matter of whose broke first. However, I don't want to seem all gloom and doom. I like the idea. I just can't think of a challenge that would work. Help me out on this area. If you can give me a good challenge, then I'm behind your idea all the way. Anyway, that's my 2 cents (for what it's worth). :)

William

-- William Barrett (wildbill65401@yahoo.com), February 08, 2001.

OK. With some brain storming this would be exellent. Help me out here.. If the give the teams and the experts material that is exactly the same and tell them that this builds something spectacular.mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..... That is the only information that they have. The experts know the fields they have been chosen for, and that's it. So let's just say that they have 2 experts in the field of off road racing.( I know. Been done.) Stick with me... The team and themselfs would assume that what they have to build is relivant to that field. Not even the experts know what the challenge is. RDF can use a different set of experts to set up and pick out the material for the show. But the teams are given an exact list of items that they have to find. What they do with those items is purely up to their imaginations......

-- Craig Wardle (cwardle@execulink.com), February 08, 2001.

This describes the show "The Great Egg Race", the MIT course 2.70 (the original inspiration for such contests), and the long audition that all teams go thru.

-- Jeff - The NERDS (tm) (dp@the-nerds.org), February 08, 2001.

I like it. There would still be similarities (just like with the cars now) but it would force both the experts and the teams to be a little more creative. The items would have to almost be readily available because the teams would have to spend time designing the machine. Right now, the expert already has the design in his head and tells the team. Few teams attempt to alter or come up with a new design. The NERDS were one of the few groups that helped with the design process. Especially when it came to that bad ass centrifugal pump...

-- William Barrett (wildbill65401@yahoo.com), February 08, 2001.