Scrap Boxcars Speed Through
Campus in Second Annual Triton Junkyard Derby

By Malinda Danziger I May 16, 2005

Video Clip The driver of Team Expansion, Jacobs School structural engineering senior Tomas Barber, talks about building the winning race car.

Adding a new twist to the phrase "crash course," nearly 1,000 spectators gathered Friday near the straw bale course lining the hill between Peterson Hall and Geisel Library to cheer their favorite boxcar in the second annual Triton Junkyard Derby. The event took place during the 23rd annual Sun God Festival and was presented by the UCSD Alumni Association and Triton Engineering Student Council.

Single-elimination races included students, staff and alumni competing in a wide array of contraptions, everything from a mock "Hummer" armed with functioning LED headlights, radio and wheel spinners, to a river kayak and jet ski fitted with bicycle tires. The multi-generational alumni team, Road Rash, used scrap wood to build their boxcar and placed the driver on his back with steering and braking behind his head. Crowds were treated to a special surprise entry this year, courtesy of the UCSD Police Department, who pulled over runaway boxcars. Unfortunately, their siren and flashing light laden boxcar crashed after the second run.

Graham Nelson '04 of Team Bohica speeds past hundreds of spectators gathered for the 2005 Triton Junkyard Derby. Photo: Jaimie Bell

The Triton Junkyard Derby is a three-day event based on the popular "Junkyard Wars," on The Learning Channel. Teams signed up in April. "We sold out in under two days" said Tracie Davee, Alumni Association student programs manager. "This year, we had 16 teams comprised of 120 participants and a waiting list."

The final race pitted Team Bohica (the winners of the 2004 Derby, formerly known as Team Darkside) against Expansion Phantom, a new entry comprised of students, staff and alumni. The ultimate winner: Expansion Phantom, who barely edged out the defending champions by two hundredths of a second.

"This is a fantastic idea," said Renee Barnett-Terry, dean of Student Affairs for Revelle College. "It's a positive addition to the Sun God Festival and a great way to get the UCSD community involved in friendly competition."

Eric Kim, from Campus Police, patrolled the 16 Derby teams in their own boxcar. Photo: Jaimie Bell

The winner's trophy, made from an old "dangerous curves" road sign, will be placed in the Alumni Cove located in the Price Center. In keeping with tradition, the post-race celebration included a dowsing of the teams and spectators in cold sparkling cider.

"The Derby is a great way to reconnect with alumni," said John Valva, UCSD Alumni Association executive director. "In the past it was a challenge for alumni to return for Sun God, but now they're working with students, having fun and building a boxcar."

Competition began with an orientation for participants on the Wednesday evening before the race. Teams were then unleashed in the "UCSD junkyard," located near the Campus Services Complex, where they scavenged piles of junk, similar to a post-holiday sale in January. They had only two days to build their boxcar. This year, Derby organizers asked the UCSD community to donate junk in support of the Derby. They received many interesting donations, including a couch, swing set, two motorcycles and a lawn mower. By the end of the first night of boxcar building, the junkyard was picked clean, as the teams were able to incorporate most of the items.

Interslice Team member Andrew Chan '05 tests out his teams' "Hummer" boxcar.

When asked about the success of the second Derby, co-founder and Triton Engineering Student Council past-president Ben Graham, '04, said, "It was glorious. I'm blown away by the growing interest and excitement."

The Derby was sponsored by GEICO, UCSD Facilities Management, Auxiliary & Physical Plant Services, Campus Design & Construction, Campus Research Machine Shop, The Guardian, Imprints, and Transportation and Parking Services.

"Our hope is for the Derby to become one of the biggest events on campus," said Davee. "We want this to become an annual UCSD tradition."

To learn more about how you can help next year or to add your name to a list of interested race participants, contact Tracie Davee at the UCSD Alumni Association at tdavee@ucsd.edu or 858-822-5054. For a list of Derby winners and losers, visit http://alumni.ucsd.edu/derby.