During concrete canoe racing last weekend in Lawrence, Kan., Mizzou's concrete canoe -- it's called Fluffy Fury or something like that -- went down like Joe Frazier after a George Foreman right hook to the left jaw on a warm Jamaican night (1973). In other news, The Hog-tanic (Arkansas' canoe) lived up to its billing. We can just hear the passengers on The Hog-tanic yelling "Woo pig sooie!" as she sank. The UMR team, meanwhile, managed to avoid getting wet for the most part and placed ahead of about half of the teams in the overall standings.

In the steel bridge competition, UMR's team also managed to avoid disqualification and finished in the middle of the pack. Additionally, we can report that the KU bridge collapsed (possibly under the weight of its own sense of self-importance). Overall, it was a good weekend in Lawrence.

Disclaimer: Your humble UMR blogger attended K-State years ago and this may tend to render him something less than objective when it comes to other schools in what used to be the Big 8. When it comes to Arkansas, which wasn't a member of the Big 8, it's just fun to write "Woo pig sooie!"

P.S. We'll post nice photos of the UMR canoe in the water tomorrow -- men and women crew members.

Posted at 03:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you heard about this blog on KJPW in Waynesville, you're probably looking for that photo of the amphibious dune buggy. (Hint: Click on the word photo.)

Posted at 01:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're checking on the final results from this past weekend's steel bridge and concrete canoe competitions. We should be able to post that information later this afternoon (while neither team took first place, we think they both had good showings). For now, enjoy these concrete canoe photos. Above: UMR's canoe gets swamped to determine its bouyancy. Below: UMR student Dave Weidinger goes over some design reports with a judge. NOTE: The name of UMR's canoe has to do with its uniquely shaped hull. (Photos by Bob Phelan)

Posted at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, the UMR Concrete Canoe Team passed its swamp test today. After they dunked UMR's canoe, the sucker popped right back up to the surface. Tomorrow, the concrete canoe races begin! This event, like the steel bridge contest, is taking place in Lawrence, Kan., only it's taking place outdoors. All of the teams in the regional concrete canoe competition apparently passed the swamp test. But there are some very real concerns about the long-term floatability of the Arkansas entry, which is called "The Hog-tanic." UMR's canoe is called "Dangerous Curves." Tune in Monday to find out if The Hog-tanic sunk. We'll also have the UMR results.

Posted at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Steel Bridge Team is competing right now (photo by Bob Phelan) in a regional event at KU. The idea is to design the best bridge possible (scaled down in size, of course) -- but the teams must also be able to put their bridges together and tear them back down as efficiently as possible. A number of tests are run on the bridges. As a source close to the UMR team tells us:

They were allowed a maximum deflection of 2.00 inches. They achieved 1.95 inches. That's a little too close for comfort. Or maybe very nearly perfect engineering.

We'll have the final results from Lawrence, home of the Chickenhawks, on Monday. But before we leave you -- get a load of that paneling in the background of the photo above. Maybe they just got done hosting a macrame convention or something?

P.S. Did you know that Lawrence is also the home of the great Bill James and the late William Burroughs?

Posted at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UMR has been winning the East Coast championship in human-powered vehicle racing for years -- five straight years to be exact. But the West Coast championship has always eluded them -- until now.

Posted at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The UMR Baja Team has been testing an amphibious vehicle in the waters of Little Prairie Lake. The team is preparing for a competition in Florida, where mud bogs and water hazards await.

Posted at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)