1) keep in the size regulations 30cm wide 30cm high and 40 cm long there is a reason for this – center of gravity.
2) more power is not necessarily better, it can be over kill on the small obstacles as many of the fast rigs have found out to their detriment. They just end up overpowering off the obstacle. Then they take longer and get a penalty for an assist if you had to put it upright. You can’t control the rig easily especially if you get stuck.
Salty, Stanley and Ol’ Smokey. Three very different bases but all demonstrating wheels, clearance and low center of gravity.
3) Wheels need to be about 2 inches high anything less won’t get over jump. Highish gap undercarriage is essential so you don’t bottom out, unless you’re a tank!
4) Keep your center of gravity low or you will somersault backwards on the ramp of doom. Excellent viewing and fun for the spectators however.
5) have a chat to the racers – they will love talking (steampunkers love talking) about their rig and will give you lots of useful hints.
6) Don’t have your table cloth dragging on the ground it gets caught in the wheels.
A very capable driver and pot – just remember not let your table cloth get caught in your wheels!
Salty Sea Dog was on sale from the Warehouse. Caution: some of the cheaper versions only turn one way or you have to back to turn or they have very limited turning capacity – I guess you need to keep your receipt, do a quick trial and return the unit if not fit for purpose. You could spend millions but then are you losing the point which is to have fun and for the sport to be accessible. Its a spectator sport so you want spills and thrills otherwise is just going to be a race. You can do that anywhere! Carry on.
And the crowd went wild!!! this was about half of them it was packed!
A most splendid event was held in conjunction with the Steampunk NZ Mess Dinner at Oamaru on the Saturday 30th in the year of our glorious Queen 2015 at the wondrous Loan and Merc venue, with approximately 250 people in attendance.
It was a night of OOOO’s and ahhha’s, of hysterics, spectacular derailments, notable disqualifications and suspense.
The nights master of ceremonies was Montague Jacques Fromage, the guest judge was Dave Lee and of course your very own Countess. Captain Various did his magic with the course and Agent Darling introduced the nights sport.
The Judges and the MC from the left:Dave Lee, my self and Montague
24 valiant and courageous individuals and teams, ranging from 6-ish to Gold Card status, provided the evenings entertainment. The rigs were all fantastic, original and a lot of work had gone in to their making.
Unfortunately 14 rigs were either just too exuberant for the course and many ‘burst the banks’- of course this means instant disqualification. A couple of rigs were also over the time limit and this means a non-complete.
Tobias Baskerville-Crowe with the Tetley Tai-Pan
The banked corner – the Corner of Doom is aptly named!!!!
Eight hardy rigs completed the course, ranging in time from a new world sub- atomic speed record of just 0.43 seconds and right to the nail biting wire of 2 mins and 59 seconds!!!!
Of Note:
Ol’ Smokey: chocking out the room with an abundance of smoke
Eye Spy: with its unique point of view
Tea Mouse: who did do an up-skirt and spent the shortest time in the ring
Lordy Mucks real remote controlled steam engine powered teapot
This is the Captain Various Miscellaneous Bitsandpieces and my first rig made for the inaugural event at the Steampunknz Festival 2014.
Teapot name and description: One highly modified common aluminium char pot has taken the Incredibly handsome and virile Captain who has travelled the aeather and the seven seas, fought dragons, wrestled krakens into submission with his bare hands, survived the Medusa and reluctantly left the sexy sirens of the sea behind to conquer the perils of doom and to defend the Countess’s’ honour.
His first outing in 2014 was very good and he had a very fast time. His second outing ended in disgrace because someone took of the rubber bands for traction of his wheels and he was ‘outacontrol’. Did you notice that wee hint…..
He is made on the body of a NIKKO $30.00 (on sale) remote control car from the Warehouse.
And has enough power to get up the ramp and just enough height to get over the jump.
Salty is very light weight being an aluminium pot.
Summary of hints:
Make sure RC unit has several bands ( this will become important in the Drag of Mayhem Race)
That the rig has enough clearance not to bottom out on jump –an ability to have at least 3 cm
Think light weight – not top heavy. The ramp has a significant banking on it.
Have fun, the object is not to get to caught up in the competitiveness it is much more fun for the spectators when you knock stuff over, get stuck or fall off an obstacle. This is a spectator sport!
On Saturday 28th March over 100 keen splendid punters hustled and bustled up to Thistle Hall on Cuba St, with a simply splendid array of finery, frippery, decorated teapots and bribes for the Judges. (I will discuss the fine art of bribery in another post.) The range of ages was preschool to gold card recipients, all magnificently resplendent and from as far flung places such as Weymouth, UK. Eleven Teapot rigs were present, correct and cleared for take off.
Best overall and the Challenge Cup
It was indeed a splendid occasion with Colonel Hawthorn acting as master of events and myself and Julia Harris judging. We received 2 very fine bribes from Team ATC Mk1 and Team Tricerateapots. The freshly baked shortbread and chocolate was tremendously appreciated and it would be fair to say the judges could have happily coped with more……
Featuring the Tea Cosy of Doom and the Winners medals. (Hand made by me)
It was great to have Capital! Steampunk NZ organize this event – my grateful and heartfelt thanks to Mrs Hudson and the Colonel. Thank you every one for your supreme efforts, the elegant turn out, splendid rigs and not least all you fine splendid people who travelled from the ends of the earth to be in attendance to support this event. The laughter, ooo’s and ahhh’s, the looks of horror and suspense on the faces of the attendees spoke more than my words can convey the delight and enjoyment of everyone present.
I just have to say that the Captain and I had so much fun and hilarity at the Wellington event I just can’t wait until Oamaru. In fact I was allegedly laughing so much at one point that may be or maybe not, I can’t really say for sure, I missed some fine booting of the rigs and not recording a few out of bounds and knock over’s. It was also entirely possible that I nearly abducted a small child to join the circus that is presumed to reside under my spacious crinoline. Huzzah Huzzah Huzzah!!!!!!!!
My right hand man – very clever he is.
The results: Splendid Tea Pot Racing CubaDupa March 2015
Name -Time -Penalties -Placing /Award /comments
Tricerateapots Wellington
1.53, 0, Fastest – excellent form and bribery was appreciated
Orion – Greytown
1.56, 1, Most entertaining -Barbie on Steroids excellent twirling
Trapped – Wellington
2.30, Too many Did not complete all obstacles – a lot of ladylike booting of the rig with a very fine foot.
Stanley – Wellington
2.46, 10, First Drag Race, Jumped to his doom on the ramp however
Leviathan – Waikanae
2.50, 3, Model Round – made funny because of the size of the rig
ATC Mk1- Lower Hutt
2.54, 8, Challenge Cup and Best overall. Bribery, style, agility, costumes and team spirit these guys had it all including spillages and a rearing teapot
ETS- Dunedin
3.06, 4, The cutest and smallest teapot with impressive aerodynamics
RosyLee-Weymouth UK
3.21, Too many. First time attempt. The chintz covered teapot
had a lot of assistance from the foot.
Kraken Kruiser- Whangarei
3.45, Too many Not an exemplary round
Salty Sea Dog – Dunedin
N/C,Trouble with skiddy wheels – very embarrassing
Motor Morpheus – Dunedin
N/C, Tea Cosy of Doom Electrical connectivity issues – equally embarrassing, redeemed themselves in the drag race with a respectable second
There are not many rules to Splendid Teapot racing but we need a few guidelines to keep it fun. Here they are as published by Capital! Steampunk – Wellington and The Steampunk Journal.
Splendid Teapot Racing 