This is the first build of Round Two and it incorporates the new bodgit game. However, the teams still have just 6 hours to build a go-kart. It doesn't have an engine but it will be pedal powered. Each team will run a four person, two stage relay race that tests the steering and speed of the karts. The first person pedals up a straight-away to the second teammember who will replace the first driver and navigate a twisty leg of the track to the waiting third teammate. The third person will race back through the twisty turns to person number four. The fourth person will take the kart back down the straight-away and across the finish line. The first team to do so, advances to round three.

Each team will need a chassis, wheels, a pedal unit and steering. The chassis is the body of the go-kart that everything will attach to. The steering is important because of the winding part of the course but it also determines where the drivers will have to sit so everyone can pedal the kart comfortably. The pedals are the most important part though...that gets the power from their legs to the rear wheels to push them along. The will need to put a sprocket (a wheel with teeth) on the rear axle and run a chain from the pedals to the sprocket. If the chain is too lose, it will slip off. If it's too tight, they won't be able to turn the pedals (or even worse...break the chain!). Using the proper length of chain and the right sized sprocket could make or brake this race.
 
 
 

Rob shows what the course will be. Each team won 10 minutes of engineer time.	The go-kart the teams are building is a lot like a bicycle only with four wheels
Red is making a custom chassis	Blue uses a medical helicopter basket
Getting those pedals in the right spot is critical or else there might be too much slack in that chain	Red has a seating problem. Where the seat goes is also important because there is a 7" height difference between the teammates
Oh no! With 2 minutes to go, red breaks their steering wheel	And blue adds support because they bent their frame a little during a test
At the speedway, blue takes an early lead	Red made a better driver change and now they have the lead
Blue is off but the chain is slipping	Red increases their lead
Blue makes the change to the third man	Red is starting the home stretch
Red wins and goes on to Round 3!	Blue finishes the race despite the loss

 

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