GNCTR Schulich students scream to victory on concrete toboggan

Schulich students scream to victory on concrete toboggan

Photo courtesy Ania KromanStudents from the Schulich School of Engineering were declared the national champions out of 19 post-secondary teams at the 2011 Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) in Edmonton January 30.

The team created a Sherlock Holmes theme and named their toboggan Sledementary My Dear Watson. They took home the awards for Best Technical Exhibit, Best Costumes and People’s Choice. For the third time, the Schulich students also earned the $2,000 cash prize for the best use of recycled materials in their concrete mix.

“The biggest edge we had this year was the dedication and investment of every member of our team,” says Anthony Ferrise, University of Calgary team co-chair. “Everyone poured so much effort and ownership into their responsibilities that the final product was unmatched. A combination of hard work and team spirit made us successful.”

Sledementary My Dear Watson flew down the hill at 49.7 km/h and then clocked 50.1 km/h during its second run. Steering and braking were more challenging because the slope was longer and steeper than in previous years, according to event organizers.

The object of the annual competition – this was the 37th year – is to race student-built toboggans that have concrete runners, roll cages, braking systems and meet a set of design and weight requirements. This puts engineering students to the test when it comes to teamwork and technical knowledge and skills in project management, logistics, budgeting and cost estimation.

At last year’s event, the University of Calgary’s toboggan Night of the Living Sled won four awards plus second place overall.