Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race

Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race
Type Engineering Student Competition
Established 1974
Location Canada

The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) is an annual event that challenges the creativity of engineering students. The competition originated in 1974 and was created by Dr. S. H. Simmonds, president of the Alberta chapter of the American Concrete Institute.[1] The first race was held in 1975 with participants from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and SAIT Polytechnic.[2] Since its beginning, GNCTR has grown to include universities and technical schools from across Canada with occasional entries from the United States and Europe.

Rules

The project involves designing and constructing a toboggan with a metal frame and a running surface made completely out of concrete and racing it down a steep snow-covered hill. The sled must weigh less than 350 pounds (160 kg), have a working braking system, and be fitted with a roll bar to protect its five passengers. Each competing team must complete a technical report summarizing the design, which is presented at a public technical exhibition.

Spirit

It is traditional for teams to choose a theme for their sled; they often wear appropriate costumes and incorporate elements of the design into their technical exhibit and sled aesthetics. This has become a major part of the competition, making up a large part of the spirit award, as well as the best uniforms award. Theme ideas are most often drawn from pop culture or retro references, or based on the team's home university/college and its location.

Awards

Teams are judged for top speed, best run, most improved team, braking, and aesthetics. Each year an award is also given for the best overall entry.

Year Overall Champion Race Champion Spirit Award
2016 University of Western Ontario Lawrence Technological University University of Calgary
2015 University of Calgary University of Calgary University of Calgary
2014 University of Alberta University of British Columbia Okanagan University of Toronto
2013 Western University University of Toronto McMaster University
2012 Ryerson University Ryerson University Queen's University
2011 University of Calgary University of Saskatchewan McMaster University
2010 University of Alberta University of Calgary Queen's University
2009 University of Manitoba
2008 University of Waterloo
2007 Université de Sherbrooke University of Alberta
2006 Royal Military College of Canada
2005 Carleton University McMaster University
2004 University of Calgary McMaster University
2003 University of Manitoba McMaster University
2002 University of Waterloo Carleton University
2001 University of British Columbia McMaster University
2000 University of Calgary University of Manitoba
1999 University of Manitoba University of Manitoba
1998 University of Waterloo University of Manitoba
1997 University of Waterloo
1996 École Polytechnique de Montréal
1995 University of Waterloo
1994 Universität Stuttgart
1993 University of Alberta University of Manitoba
1992 Universite de Sherbrooke
1991 École de technologie supérieure
1990 École Polytechnique de Montréal
1989 University of Calgary University of Waterloo
1988 University of British Columbia
1987 University of British Columbia University of Waterloo
1986 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology University of Waterloo
1985 University of Waterloo
1984 University of Waterloo
1981 University of Manitoba
1980 University of British Columbia
1979 Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
1977 University of British Columbia
1975 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Competition host

In the early years of the competition, the winning team was asked to host the subsequent competition; by the mid-1990s, this had changed to an alternating scheme between Western and Eastern Canadian schools; the dividing line is the Manitoba-Ontario border. The competition usually runs from Wednesday to Sunday, over the first weekend in February.

Year Host School City
2018 University of Waterloo Waterloo
2017 University of Manitoba Winnipeg
2016 University of Ottawa Ottawa
2015 University of British Columbia Kelowna
2014 University of Western Ontario London
2013 University of British Columbia Vancouver
2012 University of Calgary Calgary
2011 University of Alberta Edmonton
2010 McMaster University Hamilton
2009 University of Calgary Red Deer
2008 Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke
2007 University of Manitoba Winnipeg
2006 École de technologie supérieure and Concordia University Montreal
2005 University of Calgary Calgary
2004 Carleton University Ottawa
2003 University of Alberta Edmonton
2002 University of Manitoba Winnipeg
2001 Queen's University/Royal Military College of Canada Kingston
2000 University of Regina Regina
1999 University of Waterloo Waterloo
1998 University of Calgary Calgary
1997 Carleton University Ottawa
1996 University of Manitoba Winnipeg
1995 École de technologie supérieure Montreal
1994 University of Alberta Edmonton
1993 Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke
1992 École de technologie supérieure Montreal
1982 University of Manitoba Winnipeg
1981 University of British Columbia Vancouver
1980 Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Edmonton
1978 University of British Columbia Vancouver
1975 University of Calgary, University of Alberta Red Deer

See also

References

  1. ↑ GNCTR Calgary Accessed May 8, 2012
  2. ↑ GNCTR '99 Accessed May 8, 2012

External links

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