Ummmmmm — why are we building a 10′ tall 10′ wide hamster wheel call the Lumbering Contraption?
(Not to pick noses, as the Internets would have you believe.)
Well, this Sunday, September 28th, 2008, is the great Handcar Regatta — a race of human-powered rail-track creations.
We have been hard at work in the Louise St. Lab these past few weeks and now I’m here to fill you all in. These are some photos I’ve been taking as we went along and as we finish her up this week I’ll post some final updates. You can see more photos taken by Contraption Crew member Nick Winterhalter here. Be sure to check out the video he posted of the wheel in action. Also, check out Tom Sepe’s photos here.
Enjoy these for now and check back this week for the final updates.
See you at the race!
UPDATES: Check out the front car!
Here is world famous Jo Slota with our original, technical drawing of the Contraption as drawn on the back of a napkin from the Tamale Lady and an inspiring image
The first some-what-to-scale model
Building the main rail-riders from rolled angle iron.
It was around this time that we started to realize how big it really was going to be
Yeah, it’s big.
And it moves.
The plan is to have three runners on the inside and one person in the front 
Here it is in it’s almost final stage. All we have left to add on is the front seat and the cow catcher!
Sweet!
[...] Alan writes – I’m part of a fantastic crew of makers out of West Oakland who are building a 10′x 10′ human powered “hamster wheel” styled rail-car for the Handcar Regatta. The Regatta it this Sunday and you’re readers should hear about it. From the looks of the above seen “contraption”, the Handcar Regatta is shaping up to be quite the vehicular spectacle! – The Lumbering Contraption [...]
[...] From the looks of the above seen “contraption”, the Handcar Regatta is shaping up to be quite the vehicular spectacle! – The Lumbering Contraption [...]
Holy good god! You all have made something spectacular! I can’t wait to see it and to meet all of you this weekend. Thank you so much for bringing such a lovely thing to the Regatta. Go team Ratchet and Rumble!
[...] The Lumbering ContrapationUmmmmmm — why are we building a 10′ tall 10′ wide hamster wheel call the Lumbering Contraption? Well, this Sunday, September 28th, 2008, is the great Handcar Regatta — a race of human-powered rail-track creations. … [...]
[...] Alan writes – I’m part of a fantastic crew of makers out of West Oakland who are building a 10′x 10′ human powered “hamster wheel” styled rail-car for the Handcar Regatta. The Regatta it this Sunday and you’re readers should hear about it. From the looks of the above seen “contraption”, the Handcar Regatta is shaping up to be quite the vehicular spectacle! – The Lumbering Contraption [...]