10.22.07
Priority Design’s sweep 1st, 2nd at the IDSA International Ultimate Derby

Chris Cicenas’ Slingshot car used a catapult to launch its mini .25 oz car from its one pound primary vehicle to win the IDSA Ultimate Derby Car 2007 competition Oct. 20 at the World Design Congress in San Francisco in record time.

“The core idea behind the Slingshot was to catapult a tiny, light weight car to high speeds, like an aircraft carrier catapults jets off its deck,” explained Cicenas, whos design crossed the finished 40 ft in 1.74 seconds. His nearest competitor, Priority teammate Josh Boggs finished second at 2.41 seconds.

A heavy weight in the main car, free to slide back and forth, is attached to levers and pulleys that are connected to the “mini-car”.  About 6 feet down the track, the main car stops suddenly and the heavy weight lurches forward, propelling the “mini-car” to about six times the speed of the main launch car.

The styling for the Slingshot was fashioned after “sling shot” dragsters from the 1960s.

Boggs’ design, the SandCrawler, also used a mini car strategy, with a different launch technique.

“My mantra this year was reliability,” said race veteran Boggs. “The SandCrawler is designed with a leveling mechanism that launches a smaller car to finish the race.  As the main car reaches the bottom of the hill, a hammer weight deploys hitting the smaller car and sending it swiftly over the finish line.  The rules dictate that both cars pass the finish line, however the first car is the one that is timed.” 

In addition to winning the race, the Slingshot was awarded the “People’s Choice: Best Design Exploration Award” voted by attendees of the conference, recognizing design, creativity and innovation.

The winning designers were supported by pit crews from Priority Designs. “Slingshot” Pit Crew: Chris Daniels, Industrial Designer, Chris Boggs, Industrial Designer, Roger Bechtol Senior Model Maker. “Sand Crawler” Pit Crew: Don Meves, Mechanical Engineer and Eric Fickas, Senior Industrial Designer, Roger Bechtol Senior Model Maker.

Watch Video 2007 IDSA Ultimate Derby Car Winner