Teams

Super Sundae Surprise

Garage Headquarters: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Driver: Nathan Ballou, Mark Ferek

Mechanics: Alex Nette, Shane Barnet, Gavin Argo

Nuts and Bolts:

When a team of engineering and architecture students from Virginia Tech launched a human-powered aircraft at Red Bull Flugtag in Nashville last June, flight was the least of their problems. They couldn’t even get down the runway. “Uh, the wheels fell off,” says Alex Nette, shaking his head at the memory, “although the audience sure seemed to get a big kick out of it.” Undaunted, the teammates decided to redeem themselves by entering a contest where the whole focus is wheels, and they’ve come up with a really tasty design for their soapbox vehicle.

“Our entire team – dressed in banana suits – will participate in a dance choreographed to the Internet phenomenon ‘Peanut Butter Jelly Time,’” Nette explains. “After that, our two drivers will get into the soapbox side by side, thus creating a banana-split-looking car.” Nette and his friends Gavin Argo and Shane Barnet will try not to slip on their peels as they push the racer off, with Nathan Ballou and Mark Ferek driving the “Super Sundae Surprise” to the finish line (assuming the wheels stay on). “In order to ensure that our design is 100 percent accurate, much research is needed,” Nette nods solemnly. “We anticipate gaining thirty pounds each in preparation for the competition.”