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Scrapheap challenge

You have heard of "scrapheap challenge", well how about the "blue watch scrapheap challenge", sounds interesting? then read on. One night shift the Station officer, better known as Dixie, suggested we have a team building exercise. The idea was to have two teams, each consisting of four members. The teams are as follows:

TEAM 1
Roy...Sub O Howes
Bingo...F.F. Bingham
Moz...F.F. Mosley
Balti...F.F. Hawkeswood

TEAM 2
Milbo...F.F Milbourne
H...F.F.Hanus
Pie Man...F.F. Delaney
Gazza...F.F.Wilson

We have always got scrap cars on station for use on R.T.A. drills, so the raw materials were on hand. The only addition we had was a wooden bench each. We had two hours, not including call outs, of which we had three, to complete the task. We had to build a four- wheeled vehicle with steering, and each team member had to propel himself 20 metres

Team 1 opted for the more traditional approach. Having round wooden wheels, well that's what Balti called them, hence the nickname we adopted, "Flintstone Folly", maybe he thought he was re-inventing the wheel. This was followed by a very sleek and well padded bench seat. Early teething problems on fixing the wheels to the bench were soon overcome, with careful bending of two bonnet stays, shame about the wheels. A basic steering set up very similar to the old box cart of bygone years, finished off with a seat belt for steering, much better than a boring old steering wheel? Click on the images to see them full size.

Team 2 straight away relieved a Metro of its four wheels complete with tyres, and placed them on the ground one in each corner, brilliant, now all that's needed are two axles? After much deliberation they decided on square wooden axles, mmm..... looks good but I wouldn't sit on it, square peg in a round hole springs to mind. To be fair they came up with a good idea of securing the wheels. The ends of the axle were made round, and holes made, so that wooden wedges could be made to secure the wheels. A car exhaust was cut up and made into sleeves, to make the turning of the wheels easier. The same idea as team 1 was adopted for steering.

And so to the race, if that's the right word. Team 1 no problems, except for the square wheels. Team 2 slight problem, a bit too much camber on the wheels, it held up until the pie man got on, must have been one too many pies that did it. It looked as if it had been hit with a fly swat.

Well done to both teams good effort all round. Here is to the next challenge, what about it Dixie.