Scrambler C

[Flavorflav]

I think the rules are mostly fine, but they really should have put in a tolerance for the backstop thickness. A hardcore event supervisor could probably tier just about everybody if he wanted to by pulling out a micrometer and really checking every spot on the backstop. Technically, if the supe can find a single spot that is not between 1.265 and 1.275 cm, you are tiered.

[iwonder]

I agree that the backstop is a little stringent, especially since the big box hardware stores really sell 12mm plywood as 1/2" (at least down here) so it's hard to find anything 1/2" thick. But, I really don't see the ambiguity in the FAQ. Maybe it should've been a clarification, but it seems clear to me.

Regardless, the people who write the rules and sit on comittees spend a lot of time trying to make everything right, so let's not turn this into a topic about how bad a job we think they did

[hoochscioly]

For those of you using CD Wheels, what are you using to create traction? We tried gorilla tape around the rim, but it didn't work as well as we had hoped.

[iwonder]

I don't use CD wheels, but balloons (sometime multiple layers) are something I've seen work. Gorilla tape is pretty slick (I assume you had the sticky side on the CD's) on the outside and probably wouldn't help much.

[jacobxc]

The day has finally come. They made I final decision on RAMPS. They are illegal. Period. There is no possible way to get around it.

02/13/2014 - 09:42 Are ramps allowed this year assuming the egg starts at the starting line?
No. Vehicles are not allowed to start on ramps and the vehicle cannot be the falling mass. If the wheels are not touching the floor in the “ready to run” configuration then they would not be allowed to touch the floor after the run has begun since it would be in violation of the rules (see FAQ posted on 12/22/13)

[Flavorflav]

That seems kind of a strange way to construe the word "and," to me.

[GoldenKnight1]

The day has finally come. They made I final decision on RAMPS. They are illegal. Period. There is no possible way to get around it.

02/13/2014 - 09:42 Are ramps allowed this year assuming the egg starts at the starting line?
No. Vehicles are not allowed to start on ramps and the vehicle cannot be the falling mass. If the wheels are not touching the floor in the “ready to run” configuration then they would not be allowed to touch the floor after the run has begun since it would be in violation of the rules (see FAQ posted on 12/22/13)

To be clear they have not made "Ramps" illegal. Certainly this indicates the "egg transport" vehicle can't travel down a ramp. Though as usual the answer seems a little tricky because they don't mention an "egg transport vehicle" but they just wrote "vehicle". Joeyjoejoe noted this language issue best a few posts ago:

2a: "The Scrambler must consist of an egg transport and an energy propulsion system" -- Oops! This implies Scrambler = Car + Launcher.

Yet wording elsewhere loosely implies (again) that they are indeed separate....
4a: "The entire Scrambler system must be impounded.."
and 4f: "...All parts of the scrambler must be behind the starting line."


So, in short, I'm confused. Maybe 2h should read: "Only the wheels of the egg transport may touch the floor. Then there aren't any ambiguities except then an explicit rule regarding the falling mass not touching the floor would need to be added. Again, it makes perfect sense to prevent the mass (or launch stick since it can be heavy) from touching the floor. Just not based on the logic in the clarification of 2h.

For this reason, I also believe any string should be able to touch the floor as it poses no risk to the floor and is not prohibited by 2h.

[jacobxc]

02/13/2014 - 09:42 Are ramps allowed this year assuming the egg starts at the starting line?
No. Vehicles are not allowed to start on ramps and the vehicle cannot be the falling mass. If the wheels are not touching the floor in the “ready to run” configuration then they would not be allowed to touch the floor after the run has begun since it would be in violation of the rules (see FAQ posted on 12/22/13)

To be clear they have not made "Ramps" illegal. Certainly this indicates the "egg transport" vehicle can't travel down a ramp.

I'm sorry but unless you plan on having you car fly to the top of your ramp from the ground it is illegal. It says "Vehicles are not allowed to start on ramps and the vehicle cannot be the falling mass." . Also to add if you use a ramp tell me what is falling mass

[BuildistFromTheNorth]

For people who have competed or have run tests. How fast are your cars or what's the shortest run time you've seen? Thanks

[iwonder]

That seems kind of a strange way to construe the word "and," to me.

Yes, at least I'm not the only one who thinks this.

Even if you had a car 'fly to the top of your ramp', the car couldn't be the falling mass. I think the only thing you could do with a ramp is have a mass fall down a ramp and hit the car.