Power Tool Drag Racing Seattle June ninth 2012 Georgetown.
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OPEN STUDIO RACER BUILD.
We will have test track and a modest amount of supplies.
Buy your ticket here:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2989085435
Next race date & time:
June 9th 2012 Seattle Washington. Georgetown.
Starr Brass Building lot at the corner of S. Homer and Airport way south.
We will be asking for small donations at the door to cover costs.
Registration begins at eleven. Races run from two to six or so.
BRING YOUR OWN SAFETY GLASSES AND BANDAIDS!
The Hazardfactory Power Tool Drag Race is all about taking ordinary power tools & electric appliances and turning them into drag racers. Power Tool Racing has been around as long as power tools themselves, ever since the first time someone ziptied the switch on a beltsander and let it scream across the shop floor. Since then it has grown into a obscure but widespread sport. Races are held all over the world and all kinds of people race, almost anybody can build a racer in a few hours with a few items from a thrift store.
This year’s race & derby will be held on sacred ground. Racer registration begins at 11 A.M. races will be from two till seven pm. We ask that you donate 20 bucks to race, but it is free for all spectators. The races will be judged by corrupt local luminaries. Trophies weigh upwards of 50 lbs. You must be capable of lifting 50 pounds or more to win!
Building a RacerBuilding the racer is most of the challenge and half the fun! The important thing is to not take it too seriously. Some over-engineered racers have been flops, and some simple designs have been real winners. The best way to come up with a racer design is to look at what other people have done and go from there. Here are some basic guidelines.
Materials: The basic racer recipe calls for:
- A handheld power tool (typically a grinder, belt sander, or circular saw, and sometimes a blender or vacuum cleaner.)
- Wheels
- A chassis
Constraints: There are not many constraints on your design, but there are a few things to keep in mind: Track dimensions & material, power, and safety.
Track Dimensions: The track is made of 2x4s with a plywood base. The 2x4s are stood on edge as guide rails with 12 inches of clearance in between. A typical track is 50–60 feet long with an additional 10-20 feet of runout. *ALL SIDES* of the track rails can be used by the racer, i.e. you can build a “monorail” if you are so inclined.
Power: 110v power (and extension cords) are typically supplied by the race organizers. Your racer just needs to have a US standard 110v cord-end on it, and the trigger should be taped down or otherwise modified to be ‘always on’.
If your tool uses another power supply, compressed air? linux? helium? The Gates Foundation? You will need to supply it.
Safety: Considerations are specific to the event, but there are some things to be aware of, especially for novice builders.
- Grinders and saws spin *VERY* fast, so be careful what you attach to the “wheel.” In general, you should only use manufactured wheels that are mounted securely to the arbor, building a wheel from scratch is not recommended as it will come flying apart when spun up to 10,000 RPM.
- A racer powered by electricity can be shut off immediately if necessary. Remote, battery operated, rocket, or gas powered chainsaws or cold fusion-powered reactor will have to be inspected and approved. It takes a lot to make us nervous, so if we are then, no-dice.
- If you have *ANY* concerns about safety its best to consult with an experienced racer, so send us an [email.]
- Particularly challenging entries may be required to run a lap under 50% power.
- You do not have to ride the tool, if you did, it would still have to fit in the track.
- BTW chainsaws race very poorly.
Media
Links to photos of past races:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/seattlepowertoolrace2009/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/830505@N22/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/seattlepowertoolrace2007/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/seattle_power_tool_race_and_derby_2007_the_gallery_show/
links to videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/greasergrrl#p/u/3/SWlcVxI98-E
General notes:
This is a race only in the sense that it is loosely competitive. Is your racer funny as a lawyer with a face full of buckshot? Is it so goddamn pretty that you lie about the extent of your relationship with it? Is it such a marvel of engineering that it makes the heads of every engineer present visibly swell with the strain of comprehension and mute, tortured envy?
Our judges are notoriously corrupt, they will sell votes for lewd glances and warm beer. Our process is capricious and unsteady and possibly taking a cab.
If you think you are by god the very best bar none at something and you can get the audiance behind you, if you feel winning if you have either the right stuff, or just heaving metric fktons of the wrong, very wrong stuff, then you sir, madam, mizz, mizzter, you are IN THE GAME TO WIN!!!!!
Our trophies however weigh about sixty pounds so you may need help if you do win. In fact, if you enter, you probably need help.
We, obviously, do.
Award Catagories
HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS: Our celebrated and highly competitive catagory of over-inspired and woe-fully underplannned racetools.
JESUS BUILT MY HOTROD: Im gonna dang a lang lang my lang a long ling long.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z62mLiYi9M Faster than logic!
GOING THE DISTANCE: Still driving and striving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zStIm0gNnUw
ZOMG!: Stupid is faster than thinking.
TITANIC: The Epic Fail award. Go big or go Home (and put some ice on that).
MISS GEORGETOWN: Style, poise, Charisma, copious Bribes, my car keys, She’s got it all!
A GESTURE OF GOODWILL: AKA the Beltway award. AKA the Halliburton, AWARDED FOR BEST BRIBES.
SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT: Best halftime show, best presentation, or best team, bringing spunk to the masses.
THE HUNGER GAINS: Survivor of the deathrace.
WELCOME TO HAZARDFACTORYS’ SEVENTH PRESENTATION OF: POWERTOOL DRAG RACING.
Where you don’t have to succeed to win. ( BIG heavy trophies)
By the way, any of these catagories can and will change if we think that something else is funnier or even less appropriate.