Pre-race inspection(s): 10 points

Race-day inspection (4/30): 10 points

Vehicle demonstrates that it can move by traveling above the starting line: 15 points

Vehicle demonstrates that it can move under its own power off the upper end of the ramp: 15 points

Vehicle travels horizontally through the air after leaving the upper end of the ramp - 2 points per foot (8 feet will be considered "perfect"): (16 points)

Bonus points for esthetics, clever design, beauty, aerobatics, unusual/innovative methods, wheelies, smoking tires, blazing speed off the upper end of the ramp, humor, pity or other distinguishing characteristics. (????)

TOTAL: (100 points)

Materials - Use common household packaging discard items such as cardboard, paper, foil, boxes, cans, bottles, and simple fasteners such as staples, glue, string, tape, paint, and clothes-hanger wire. You are allowed to purchase anything you need (including mousetraps) up to a total expenditure of $10.00 . The value of items that would normally need to be purchased are included in the $10, even if you already had them. No lighter-than-air parts or materials are allowed.

Vehicle Configuration - Any weight/size/configuration is allowed as long as it fits on the ramp with no

front, side, or rear overhang at the instant of release (practically, this means the vehicle can be no longer than 4 feet and no wider than 1 foot at the start). The height of the vehicle is only restricted by the ceiling in the classroom (713). All contact with the contest surfaces (the wooden ramp surface or concrete floor) must be of the dry friction type. No taping, gluing, nailing, hooking, or otherwise attaching anything to the floor. It is not required that your vehicle be a conventional "car" with wheels; It could fly, walk, hop, etc. Aerodynamic surfaces are allowed.

Power - Any number of standard-size mousetraps a may be used, but they all must travel with the vehicle. The traps must be the sole form of power. No human push, no rubber bands, no chemical or compressed gas rockets, etc. The only exception is the "gravity power" derived from the difference in elevation between the starting point on the ramp and the floor of the room. The trap(s) can be lightened by removing material, but enough of the original trap(s) should remain to ensure that no extra energy is stored in the spring(s). In other words, the spring(s) cannot be loaded past the "stock" position.

Ramp Configuration - The ramp is 8 feet long, 1 foot wide (actually 11.5 inches), 1 foot off the floor at its lower end, 3 feet off the floor at its upper end. It has 2-inch high lip as a stop at its lower end and is made of chipboard composition. The starting line will be up the ramp 4 feet from the lip.

General - Vehicles must be released from behind the start line. The owner may release his/her own vehicle, but must not give it any extra push. No parts or debris may be discarded during a race or left detached from the vehicle as released at the start line. The "vehicle" includes all its parts, no matter how they are attached. The horizontal distance of "jump" will be measured from directly under the upper end of the ramp to the rear-most point of contact when the vehicle hits the floor. Any controversies will be decided by the official judge. Contact Steve Klein, 741-6911, for more information.