blown big block belt sanders<\/p>\n
………….. nitro burning funny saws<\/p>\n
…………………………wheel standing weed wackers<\/p>\n
it’s racing . . . racing . . . racing<\/p>\n
saturday and sunday . . . sunday . . . sunday at<\/p>\n
the maker’s faire, may 19 and 20, san mateo fairgrounds.<\/p>\n
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We will be having a full, two day, power tool drag race event at the maker’s faire this may 19 and 20th. \u00a0 saturday and sunday.
\n
\nwe are going to run it a little differently this time so that we can be more flexible with racers wandering off to see maker’s faire things, as well as just generally do it differently.<\/p>\n
saturday is going to run on a time trial model. \u00a0 racers race at random, or race their friends, or grudge matches, or really in any manner they like, and we build an ET list progressively throughout the day. \u00a0 you will be assured at least 2 runs on saturday. \u00a0 the goal is to get the best track time in your class. \u00a0 the top x number of racers from each class will advance to sunday, where we will have the usual formal tree eliminations. \u00a0 we are not sure how many will advance.
\nmaybe 5. \u00a0 maybe 10. \u00a0 we need to figure out what seems reasonable to run on sunday. \u00a0 then sunday sunday sunday will be the finals all day.<\/p>\n
the classes this year will be essentially the same set up as last year. \u00a0 see here: \u00a0 http:\/\/www.ptdr.org\/. \u00a0 there will be minor tweaks to keep me and other track rail riders and side sprung drives out of the stock class, and some new restrictions on guns in the unusual designs class. \u00a0 otherwise, we are not going to change much.<\/p>\n
we have had requests to change or divide classes x, y, or z type of specific tool for a, b or c reason, relating to q, r or s person’s particular situation. \u00a0 after expert review, we have decided that we are not going to go down the road of differentiating between tool types in an attempt to even out preceived “realities” about advantages or disadvantages of x, y or z tool type. \u00a0 we like the rules simple and open. \u00a0 this is supposed to be creative and fun. \u00a0 we do not want an 80 page rule book, ala battlebots.<\/p>\n
it was long ago suggested that the rule page should never be more than two pages long and should never proactively design racers for contestants. \u00a0 we are keeping with this rule of thumb. \u00a0 if you are really in this to win, nearly any starting tool can be made a contender with clever engineering. \u00a0 thus we do not make detailed specifications relating to different tool types. \u00a0 complaints in the line of “hey, i could never win with x type of tool like i have so you should make a separate class for my type” are only interpreted in house as confessions of lack of confidence in one’s engineering abilities. \u00a0 so when in doubt, add more. \u00a0 or maybe less. \u00a0 sometimes it isn’t so clear.<\/p>\n
in other news, given the nature of the maker’s faire, we are going to have to drop the sex toys class for this go around. \u00a0 but we are going to keep the wide open unusual designs class, including thrust based entries. \u00a0 we have a clearable space to allow these to run without great risk to life and limb<\/p>\n
we are also gong to add a power tool jumping event. \u00a0 essentially a curved ski jump ramp at the end of the track, with a tin trash can standing upright 30 or so feet away. \u00a0 the goal is exit the ramp at a speed appropriate to swoosh your tool into the trash can. \u00a0 winners get some prize. \u00a0 winners and losers both get lots of broken parts to contend with.<\/p>\n
we are still getting the registration site set up, but will send you a note on this soon. \u00a0 each entry will get weekend passes to the maker’s faire included. \u00a0 prizes will include entry money and maker’s faire related prizes, to the degree we get them in the end. \u00a0 we are trying for some actually valuable in kind prizes this time. \u00a0 especially for the fastest speed of the event.<\/p>\n
and no, i’m not disqualifying Jim Mason at the outset on mere principle . . .<\/p>\n
vroom vroom.<\/p>\n
—
\ncharlie gadeken
\nhttp:\/\/www.qbox.org
\n________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n
The QBOX List
\nART ART and more ART<\/p>\n