Vancouver Island University engineering students let gravity take its course, so to speak, at the universityB次元官网网址檚 first VIU Engineering Soapbox Race.

The event, organized by VIUB次元官网网址檚 engineering club, drew students, professors and Nanaimo engineering firms to the universityB次元官网网址檚 lower parking lot Thursday, April 7, when six teams put their soapbox designs to the test on downhill and slalom courses to see which teams could get through the courses the quickest without crashing.

A number of three-wheeled soapbox designs chalked up some of the quickest course times course times against their four-wheeled competition, but only when their drivers managed to navigate course curves without flipping their cars over in the turns.

The teams with the best-engineered designs and the most skillful drivers brought home trophies and other prizes as well as bragging rights for participating.

McGhee Tomlinson, VIU Engineering Club president, who co-organized the event with club vice-president Dustin Haracka, said the club is new and organizers wanted to host an event students could rally around.

B次元官网网址淚t went really well. A lot better than we expected,B次元官网网址� Tomlinson said. B次元官网网址淭here was a lot bigger turnout than we expected B次元官网网址� we plan on hosting it again next year and B次元官网网址� we hope to continue it and make it a tradition at VIU.B次元官网网址�

photos@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on