The Wacky Races was a cartoon series produced by Hanna-Barbera in the late 1960's. <link>
In it, a range of teams of bizarre characters raced equally bizarre vehicles in a series of road races.
We suggest that this is the ideal format for a halfbakery contest.
Entries may be individual, or teams. Vehicles would reflect the character and predilictions of the halfbakers involved. While the rules of Cartoon Physics would apply, vehicle designs, features and descriptions would be scrutinised to ensure that no team had an excessively unfair advantage in all circumstances, although specific attributes (DUKW-style buoyancy, the ability to "jump" obstacles, etc.) would be considered fair play.
Initially the contest would be in the form of a MMORPG (with suitable graphics) but could theoretically progress to the construction of real vehicles.-- 8th of 7, Jul 23 2013 Wacky Races http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacky_RacesThe Original Series [8th of 7, Jul 23 2013] Cartoon Physics http://en.wikipedia...iki/Cartoon_physicsAnything is possible. [8th of 7, Jul 23 2013] //theoretically progress to the construction of real vehicles// Or vice versa.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 23 2013 [+] I'm in!! I've always wanted to put a cow-catcher on the front of my old Saab and a machine gun mounted on the hood, with chandeliers on the side/front fenders. (a combo of Road Warriors and Escape from New York)-- xandram, Jul 23 2013 My deuce isn't fast, and it doesn't corner easily, nor does it accelerate or brake rapidly or perform well in any other aspect of traditional motorsports, but it is modified in ways that cause professional mechanics to snort with incredulity and it _excels_ in finding shortcuts (and creating them). I'm in.-- Alterother, Jul 23 2013 As long as it's purely theoretical, I'll go with a suborbital, ICBM type vehicle, and push for longish races. Anywhere on the planet within two hours, no cartoon physics required.-- MechE, Jul 23 2013 Ah, we should have mentioned that these are primarily land vehicles.-- 8th of 7, Jul 23 2013 Okay, then evacuated tube, maglev rail transport. I'll admit I'll need a few years to a few decades to build the rail line before each race.-- MechE, Jul 23 2013 Then at the starting gun I'll start driving in my deuce and you start laying, er, tube. Should be a photo finish.-- Alterother, Jul 23 2013 No capacity for a horse-drawn zeppelin?
Else I'll have to commandeer Prof Pat Pending's Convert-a-car.-- mitxela, Jul 23 2013 Alter- Only if you have to build the entire thing from scratch for every race.-- MechE, Jul 23 2013 // No capacity for a horse-drawn zeppelin? //
You could have that the horse is land- based. But you'd be better off with a Crun & Bannister handmade All British Leather Omnibus.
Don't forget to wear your Moriarty nose protector, and watch out for batter pudding.-- 8th of 7, Jul 23 2013 Oh, what I'd give for a state-of-the-art Hullaballoon right about now...-- Canuck, Jul 24 2013 Sounds fair, [Mech]; it'll still take me less time to assemble the truck than it will to complete the race. Lacking the speed to keep up with purpose-built race vehicles, my strategy largely consists of cutting corners and ramming whenever possible. That's allowed, right?-- Alterother, Jul 24 2013 Not merely allowed, but actually encouraged
But be mindful that other competitors may legitimately employ countermeasures, like reactive armour.-- 8th of 7, Jul 25 2013 random, halfbakery