Compubookie managed to find our email again for their annual column. This year it did manage to get it together for the Tartan as well, so you many have been able to catch it in the most recent issue. With a little break in our own Raceday content, we’ve put it up here as well for all you alumni that don’t get the Tartan delivered. Now that our Lead Truck Auction is live, maybe this’ll help you choose an fun heat to watch.
Any comments made are those solely of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the BAA. Enjoy-
Another year, another carnival, another chance for me to make the same tired jokes. Guess who doesn’t feel even remotely sorry? According to the brand new data system installed, this is looking to be the fastest year mph-wise we’ve ever had. Freeroll times are faster than they’ve ever been, but with a huge speed bump in the chute this year, thanks Pittsburgh, there could be some shake-ups in chute time. We can pencil in SDC at first, so I guess the question is who will come in second?
I was wrong last year about Spirit. Their hill 1/free roll time combinations simply weren’t competitive for first place. Much of the race is getting up and over the hill, and Spirit wasn’t able to do that. That being said, their push team looks fast again, and if they can keep from spinning out in the chute (like they do every single morning rolls) or snapping another axle, don’t be surprised with a top 3 finish.
Mechanic failures were a scary narrative in last year’s race. SigEp had not one but two buggy failures causing crashes. For a team that was coming off three straight 2nd place finishes, that just cannot happen. SigEp, never to be counted out, has improved their PR with a very, ummmm, fitting pink and purple buggy they call Beyonce. Yet, if their hatch construction is any indication of their build, look for this to be another year riddled with mechanical failures for SigEp.
The Fishing Club is gone and PiKA is back. And to no surprise of anyone, they’re still the most annoying group of people ever assembled. This year they’ve shown their apathy again this spring with a false stop flag and clipping unaware pushers with buggies on hill 4/5 transitions. Their free roll times are not as fast as they have been in the past, but none of that will matter because they’re sure to miss the push bar and not make the second day. I know I for one will be very happy watching them flounder on the back hills, unable to reel it in again.
SDC still looks unbeatable, despite all of SigEps attempts to pull them down. They’ve been fast early, with freeroll speeds in March that teams would die for on race day. They have consistently had 5 buggies at rolls with malice leading the way per usual. Makes you wonder what’s hiding in those wheel fairings. Those SDC buggies do not age! Rage was built when people still thought of Fringe as a legitimate competitor. Whoever built that buggy should give some tips to SigEp before someone gets hurt! If they can assemble push teams as good as last year we may see a sweep of the men’s and women’s competition. How boring.
CIA hasn’t pulled out the furry costumes this year, thank god. They’re gonna be fast, with roll-ups past the fire hydrant, but their freerolls aren’t as fast as they were last year. Looks like again they just can’t quite compete with SDC. They need to pay find faster pushers! And maybe not get drivers DQd for loosening breaks to the point where they can’t stop their buggy.
Time for some predictions… @ Anonymous commenters, I’ll do better this year
Men’s Division:
- SDC A
- CIA A
- SDC B
- Spirit A
- SigEp A
- Fringe A
- CIA B
- PiKA B
- SDC C
- Apex A
DNF: PiKA A (Push bar)
Women’s Division:
- SDC A
- CIA A
- Fringe A
- PiKA A
- SDC B
- Spirit A
- CIA B
- Apex A
- Spirit B
- SDC C
The Field:
AEPi: We will miss waiting for you at the finish line
Apex: Heard some strange pusher incentivization rumors, yet you’re still slow?
CIA: Like SDC, but with slower pushers and more furry costumes
Fringe: On the Fringe of being a good org again, but only if you keep paying off the Fire Marshall
Phi Delt: Remember, Hill 2 extends all the way to Hill 3, might as well walk the buggy there at your current pace
PiKA: Push bar, Push bar, where art you thou Push bar. Even Fish couldn’t find it at the bottom of the sea.
SAE: The jorts suck. Your org sucks.
SDC: Like Freaks and Geeks on steroids… or at least the athletes you’re successful at bribing
SigEp: How does anyone feel safe driving for you? Make better buggies
Sig Nu: You’re still an organization????
Spirit: At least your push team has the appearance of being fast! That’s a consolation
