The Roar of Motor Madness Returns

Canadore College's cafeteria will host Nipissing Area's 2008 Motor Madness event, Saturday, April 5.

Beaver Buggy and Kub Kar racing will begin at 10 a.m. with simultaneous Grand Howl and Riverbanks ceremonies to open the Kub Kar Rally and the Beaver Buggy Bustout. Scout Truck racing will follow the Kub Kar Rally, at approximately 4 p.m.

The fee per participant is $9 for Scouts, Cubs and leaders, and $5 for Beavers and Beaver leaders. All participants will be given a Motor Madness crest and ribbon, and have the chance to win awards and door prizes. For Cubs and Scouts the fee includes lunch or supper.

The Beaver Buggy Bustout will end at about noon, and participants will have the option of purchasing lunch and watching the Kub Kar Rally.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Beaver Buggy Bustout

• 9:30 a.m. - Late registration
• 10 a.m. - Riverbanks ceremony
• 10:05 a.m. - Racing begins
• Noon - Racing ends

Kub Kar Rally

• 9:30 a.m. - Late registration
• 10 a.m. - Grand Howl
• 10:05 a.m. - Racing begins
• Noon - Lunch break
• 12:30 p.m. - Racing resumes
• 3 p.m. - Awards presentation and closing

Scout Truck Rodeo

• 3:30 p.m. - Registration begins
• 4 p.m. - Opening ceremony
• 4:05 p.m. - Racing begins
• 6 p.m. - Supper break
• 6:30 p.m. - Racing resumes
• 8 p.m. - Awards presentation and closing

Registration packages and further information will be posted and available for downloading in February. Race rules and specifications for each section is given in separate items below.

Scout Truck Rules
Kub Kar Rules
Beaver Buggy Rules

Leaders and youth should note there is one important rule change this year. Kub Kars and Scout Trucks cannot exceed six (6) inches/15 cm in height. The rule change is necessary due to the new optical timer installed on the track.

For further information on the Beaver Buggy Bustout, contact Scouter Karen Deveau.

For further information on the Kub Kar Rally and Scout Truck Rodeo, contact Scouter Ken Sitter.

Out-of-area groups can email Motor Madness.

Scout Truck Rodeo Rules 2008

Construction Specifications:

1. Parents, guardians and leaders are welcomed and encouraged to provide support, encouragement, guidance and advice, as well as to demonstration how to do something, and help in using potentially hazardous tools, but the Scout Truck shall be the work of a Scout;

2. All Trucks entered must be new and NOT built in previous years;

3. Axles and wheels shall be from the materials provided in the official Scouts Canada Scout Truck Kit;

4. WIDTH: Cab & Trailer width (with wheels) 7.5 cm min.; 8.5 cm max.;

5. LENGTH:

• Cab length 19 cm max.;
• Trailer length 32 cm max.;
• Overall length of Cab & Trailer 35 cm min.; 45 cm max.;

6. HEIGHT: Cab & Trailer height (including load) 15 cm max.;

7. WEIGHT: Cab & Trailer total weight 21 oz / 600 grams max.;

8. AXLES & WHEELS: Axles may be polished. Wheels – plastic spurs and wheel seams may be removed but no other shaping or modification to the wheel is allowed. The contact surface of the wheel must be flat as it sits on the track. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited. All 18 wheels shall spin independently, be "in contact" (as much as possible) with the track/table, and have solidly anchored axles.;

9. LUBRICANTS: No lubricating oil may be used. Only powdered graphite or powdered teflon are acceptable lubricants;

10. DESIGN:

• Additional propulsion is not allowed;
• Wheel or ride suspension is not allowed;
• Cab and Trailer must be separate and be able to swivel;
• Details, such as decals, painting and Trailer cargo, are permitted, as long as they are firmly attached and do not exceed the specifications listed above; and

11. TRUCK NUMBERS must be placed in place view on top of the truck or trailer;

Race Day Rules

1. Each Truck (Youth & Leaders) must pass a final inspection and meet all construction rules and specifications, before registration. After registration, trucks will be impounded;

2. All assembly, lubrication and adjustments must be completed PRIOR to final inspection. Repairs to Trucks damaged during racing may be permitted at the discretion of race organizers;

3. If a Truck leaves the track, the heat will be re-run. If a Truck leaves the track a second time in the same heat, it is up to the discretion of the race organizers as to whether the heat will be re-run again.

4. If a Truck interferes with another Truck, affecting the outcome of a heat, the heat will be re-run. If the same Truck interferes a second time, the Truck will be disqualified from the heat and the heat rerun;

5. All registered trucks will compete in 6 races (once in each lane of the race track):

• Race times in these 6 races will be added up for total time to determine fastest trucks;
• The fastest truck of each participating Troop is automatically entered into finals;
• The next fastest ranked trucks will get the remaining spots in the finals; and

6. Each Truck in the final will compete in six races (once in each lane of the race track). Race times in these six races will be added up for total time to determine the fastest Truck.

Kub Kar Rally Rules 2008

Construction Specifications:

1. Parents, guardians and leaders are welcomed and encouraged to provide support, encouragement, guidance and advice, as well as to demonstration how to do something, and help in using potentially hazardous tools, but the Kub Kar shall be the work of a Cub;

2. All Kars entered must be NEW and NOT from previous years;

3. Overall width, including wheels, shall not exceed 7 cm (2.7 inches);

4. NEW RULE -- OVERALL HEIGHT SHALL NOT EXCEED SIX (6) INCHES;

5. Length shall not exceed 17.8 cm (7 inches);

6. Weight shall not exceed 142 g (5 ounces) or be less than 130 g. The scale used at registration will be final;

7. The minimum distance between the wheels is 4.5 cm (1.8 inches);

8. Clearance between the chassis and the track should be 0.95 cm (0.4 inches);

9. Axles, wheels, and body shall be from the materials provided in the official Scouts Canada Kub Kar Kit;

10. Axels may be polished. Wheels – plastic spurs and wheel seams may be removed but no other shaping or modification to the wheel is allowed. The contact surface of the wheel must be flat as it sits on the track.

11. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are not permitted;

12. No lubricating oil may be used. Only powdered graphite or powdered teflon are acceptable lubricants;

13. The Kar shall not ride on any kind of spring. The Kar must be free-wheeling, with no starting or propulsion devices;

14. No loose material of any kind is allowed in the Kar;

15. All four wheels shall be in contact with the track; and

16. Race numbers must be placed on top of the Kar in plain view.

Race Day Rules

1. Each Kar must pass a final inspection and meet all construction specifications before registration. After inspection, Kars will be impounded;

2. All assembly, lubrication and adjustments must be completed PRIOR to final inspection. Repairs to Kars damaged during racing may be permitted at the discretion of race organizers;

3. If a Kar leaves the track, the heat will be re-run. If a Kar leaves the track a second time in the same heat, it is up to the discretion of the race organizers as to whether the heat will be re-run again.

4. If a Kar interferes with another Kar, affecting the outcome of a heat, the heat will be re-run. If the same Kar interferes a second time, the Kar will be disqualified from the heat and the heat re-run;

5. All registered Kars will compete in six races (once in each lane of the race track);

• Race times in these six races will be added up for total time to determine the fastest Kars;
• The fastest Kar of each participating Pack is automatically entered into finals; and
• The next fastest ranked Kars will get the remaining spots in the finals;

6. Each Kar in the final will compete in six races (once in each lane of the race track). Race times in these six races will be added up for total time to determine the fastest Kar;

Beaver Buggy Bustout Back!

Get out the glue and the paint, the Beaver Buggy Bustout is back.

Beaver Buggies will be busting down the track at Motor Madness 2008, from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 5, at Canadore College's cafeteria.

Registration will be $5 per participant and includes an event crest and a chance to win door prizes.

All Beavers need to do is paint and glue their buggies, no modification to the Beaver Buggy kit is permitted.

For more information, contact Scouter Karen Deveau.

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations Aron Buchwald, of 1st North Bay Troop.

Aron's good deeds made him the winner of a refurbished computer system donated by PRS Computers for Nipissing Area's Good Deed Celebration.

Nipissing Area scouting youth were invited to perform TEN good deeds or turns to celebrate together 100 years of the scouting movement and enter the draw.

Congrations Aron!

A Golden Sponsor

First Callander Scouting Group marked the 50th anniversary of sponsorship (1957 to 2007) by Royal Canadian Legion Branch #445 Callander by presenting a special plaque to the branch at its general meeting Jan. 3.

The top photo shows, from left: Branch President Don MacDonald, 1st Vice-President Brian Cantin, 1st Callander Commissioner Marten Deforest, and 1st Callander Scouting Special Event Coordinator and R.C.L. Branch #445 Public Relations Officer and Scout Liaison Glen W. Cameron.

The plaque, made by Gerry Voyer, the father of one of the group's scouters, features both the group and the Legion crests and reads: 1957 – 2007, In Recognition of 50 Years of “Sponsorship and Support”, 1st Callander Scouting Group.

Scouters Club News

* Planning for Nipissing Area Winter Troop Camp is on-going, with plans to return to last year’s site near the end of Songis Road, Feb. 29 to March 2, with a back to basics approach. Contact Scouter Gord Ford for more information.

* The Wilderness First Aid/Survival Course has been shifted from Camp Wirribara to the site of this year’s winter troop camp on Songis Road. Would-be participants should attention the next Scouter’s Club, 8 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 6 at the Kinsmen Centre, for the HIV-AIDS presentation of the course and for additional details.

Scouters who attended the last course in November 2005 should attend this course to renew their certification before it expires this October. Contact Scouter Gord Ford for more information.

* North Bay and area Scouting and Guiding youth will celebrate Lord Baden-Powell’s birthday this February with a swim, movie and treats. Details – date, time and location, will be announced after conferring with our Guiding counterparts.

* Details on Motor Madness will be announced shortly, once the venue and date have been confirmed. In the meanwhile, all sections are invited to participate in the competition to design a new crest for the event. See our previous post for details.

* Senior Scouts and Venturers, those who will be 14 and older in September, will be invited to earn the new Scouts/Youth of the World Award. The local initiative will be organized by Scouters Ken Sitter and Greg South.

The award requires the youth as a group to research and select a Millennium Development Goal, and then to develop a project to advance that goal. Participants will attend the Global Development Village in late October in Toronto. For more information contact Scouter Ken Sitter or visit www.scout.org, Youth of the World, Youth of the World - Canada.

* Due to scheduling difficulties Woodbadge Training will be delayed until the fall and combined with a Mentor’s Weekend at Camp Wirribara. A date will be set before spring to give all Scouters and trainers sufficient time to keep their calendars clear for the event.

Motor Madness Crest Contest

This year’s Motor Madness event comes with something new – a new event crest to replace our pennant of past years and a contest to design the crest.

The winning design will be reproduced as a crest and given to the 200 to 225 Beaver, Cub, Scout and Scouter participants at the annual event, April 5.

The winner will receive a plaque with his/her crest mounted on it, and a special prize.

The Rules:

- The crest should be section generic (ie. not just Kub Kars, or not just Scout Trucks or not just Beaver Buggies. It should be suitable for all three sections)

- The crest may be circular, semi-circular, square, rectangular, triangular or diamond shaped, but it can be no greater than four inches in diameter or along its longest axis

- Entries should be hand-drawn and coloured on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of white paper

- Please draw shape of the crest in a heavy line to ensure we can tell what shape you wish to use

- There can be a maximum seven colours in the crest

- Enter as many times as desired

- Each design must be on a separate piece of paper with the entrant’s full name, Group name and section PRINTED on the back

- Feel free to give any written details to help describe the design and colours

- The winning design may be amended to better suit the needs of the event

- All submissions should be forwarded to through a Section scouter to Scouter Ken Sitter

- All submissions must be received by Feb. 8, 2008.

- The winning design will be chosen by the Motor Madness organizing committee shortly after the deadline

For further information or clarification, phone or email Scouter Ken Sitter.