Meccano Challenge 2009

The 2009 Challenge will be:

The Great Egg Race

The challenge this year is an egg and spoon race. You will have to design a machine to carry an egg along a course of perhaps ten feet in length. The track will be straight, but there will be one or two obstacles along the way such as a small ramp, which will have to be successfully negotiated without dropping the egg.

The egg itself will be supplied by the race directors. Your machine must have a 2½” square flat plate, pn70, on which the egg will be placed. Four ordinary bolts (i.e. not pivot bolts) the heads flush with the surface (no washers) can be used to mount the plate, one hole diagonally out from the centre hole, and you will have to ensure that no other part of the machine can prevent the egg from falling off. The machine must be narrow enough to pass over any obstacles: this will be less than 12½”, and substantially less if your steering is not perfect. You may use any Meccano motor to power the machine, including those requiring trailing cables and transformers. You may use the infra-red or radio-controlled sets if you choose, or trailing cables to a hand-held controller.

All parts used must be official Meccano parts or replica parts of the same essential physical characteristics as the original. The winning machine will be the one that completes the course without dropping the egg, in the shortest time: if there is enough time we will allow two attempts per entry. Penalty points will be given for dropping the egg or adjusting the machine’s course by hand - these will be taken into account if there is no clear winner. The contest will be held at the November 2009 meeting, with a bottle of fine wine for the winner, and the prestigious Founder's Trophy will be awarded.