Jeff: When I applied for the show, they asked if I had a nickname. I replied that my close friends always called me "Crusher" when I used to build and crash demolition derby cars. I guess the staff thought "Crusher" sounded better than "Jeff Hartline". I didn't argue because I really wanted to be on the show!

J: I'm sure anyone else who would want to opportunity to appear wouldn't argue either. So, this year, the teams were chosen by Crash and Bowser. Kind of like when we chose teams in Elementary School. Did you have a preference of who you wanted to work with?

JH: We barely got a chance to get to know each another before the teams were chosen. A couple of us tried to guess how they would split us up, but we were wrong. Looking back now, I think all the participants made good teammates.

J: It certainly looked that way although the ladies were usually chosen last. Bowser has achieved a legendary status among JW/SC fans...what was it like to work with him?

JH: Bowser is awesome! He is very funny and I had an absolute blast working with him. He conceived the original plan for our machine, but he was very open-minded and was willing to let us try whatever we wanted. He didn't try to dictate the design.

J: How about the hosts?

JH: I wanted so badly for our machine to be successful that I really focused on the build. I didn't get a chance to talk with the hosts much. The short interactions that we did have with each other seemed to go well.

J: Speaking of the build, I have some questions about that. First of all, one of the team members in the other bay accidentally set himself on fire. Were you aware of that?

JH: We were so busy, that I knew very little about what was going on next door to us. I heard about the fire a couple of minutes after it had been extinguished.

J: Some have suggested that there is some video trickery by the production staff to make things appear in a different light. Did you think your time on the show was portrayed pretty much as it happened?

JH: The Production staff has an extremely difficult job. When the show is being filmed, there are multiple video cameras running non-stop for two straight days - that likely adds up to more than a hundred hours of video footage that must be cut and condensed into a single 50-minute television show. Of course, I'll bet that all the participants can remember favorite parts that were left on the cutting room floor, but those will remain our special memories.

J: So, the day ends, you have your machine built and it gets put through it's paces. Unfortunately, your hay hoover didn't work 100%. Where did it all go wrong?

JH: The automatic transmission in our box truck was bad from the start. I honestly believe that we spent more time trying unsuccessfully to push that truck than we did actually driving it. We tried adding more transmission fluid in desperation, but it was to no avail. Sadly, we left the majority of the grain field untouched. Our machine was very complicated; there were many things that we might have been able to "tweak" in order to make it work better if we had more time. I am proud to say that the individual pieces that we constructed (specifically the "weed-wacker"-cutter-head) worked well and did not fail and fly apart!!

J: There is no doubt that it was an amazing thing to see in action! Was there anything about the experience that surprised you?

JH: I was surprised at how little we were influenced by the staff. They basically turned us loose, and filmed whatever happened. It truly was unscripted. I expected the beginning of the show to include more biography/background about each of the participants. We really were mystery contestants.

J: Well, for those that might like to know, what is your background?

JH: Bachelor of Science, Industrial Technology Education - Ohio State University, Associate of Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering Technology ­ Columbus State Community College, Mechanical Engineer ­11 years (Automation and Test Equipment Designer), Firefighter - 6 years (combined Full-time and Volunteer), Military Service ­ 6 years (Army National Guard ­Combat Engineer), Automotive Mechanic ­ 6 years, Engineering Entrepreneur ­ 1 year, Two-time Demolition Derby Champion (including Ohio State Fair)

J: Whew! That's quite a mouthful! Our traditional final question..would you do it again?

JH: Unequivocally YES!! (stay tuned) That was the most fun I have ever had losing - and I HATE to lose!