“Ranger Day is the best day to be a Ranger,” according to the Jesuit Dallas Wikipedia page.
A staple of Ranger Day, the Chariot Races pit freshmen homerooms against each other as they compete to determine which homeroom is the fastest. For the past two years, Robotics has taken on the role of designing and making the chariots for the homerooms. The Roundup recently sat down to discuss the chariots with the Vice President of Robotics Will Curran ’17. The interview is posted below.
Q: How did Robotics decide on the design for the chariots?
A: There was a demand for safe and reliable chariots that wouldn’t damage the riders or the track beneath them, so Robotics decided to fill the need by building 14 of them. They are built to be sturdy and reliable for years to come, with small wheels in the front to support them while they’re resting and large bicycle wheels around the center of mass for mobility. Our goal was to pretty much make sure that no matter how badly the chariots are treated in the future, they will keep the riding seniors safe.
Q: How long did Robotics work on building them?
A: Last year, we spent a week and a half building them, with Mr. Couvillon making a big time contribution welding the frames together. The chariots are designed to be storable, so when it’s time for them to come out the week of Ranger Day, the Big Brothers and robotics team assemble the parts. First, the base frame is outfitted with small and newly pumped large wheels. The seniors then bolt on the neck of the chariot, followed by the tube frame. Finally, plastic side plates are attached and a long tube is outfitted on the neck for the freshmen to drive as fast as they can on the track.
Q: What are the different parts of the chariots made of?
A: The chariots are made primarily out of aluminum tubing and plate for strength and reduced weight. But the most important element is the spirit that the homerooms put into their chariot.
Q: How much do they weigh?
A: The fully loaded chariots weigh in at around 75 pounds.
Q: How much do they cost?
A: Under $600 per chariot
Q: Which homeroom is going to win the chariot races this year?
A: This year, there are 13 homerooms competing with identical chariots. I have no idea who will win, but I’m rooting for Noah Frey’s Captain America-themed homeroom. It takes a light rider and some serious grit to ready the freshmen for winning the highest honor a homeroom can achieve.
