1. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Buggy, formally known as Sweepstakes, is traditionally a sport full of secrecy. This secrecy is particularly paramount when it comes to how teams design and build their vehicles. Each team has spent years or even decades perfecting designs and fine tuning their manufacturing processes. This institutional knowledge is fiercely protected, as teams loathe to give up any information that may give them even a microsecond of advantage. Unfortunately, this creates a high barrier of entry for new teams hoping to try their hand at the most unique sport at Carnegie Mellon University.

The purpose of this guide is to bridge that knowledge gap by walking new teams through the process of building a basic buggy. There are countless variables in the design and fabrication of a buggy, and the following instructions endeavor to present an introduction to principles and methods with a simplistic buggy design. Each section contains:

-        A brief describing why design decisions were made

-        A how to guide for completing that portion of the build

-        A considerations blurb for alternative designs

The final product will be a buggy that is intended to be reliable, low maintenance and long lasting. As such, it will likely be heavier than the winning buggies. Rather than competing with the top teams, the aim is to produce a buggy that will last many years as a new team grows, while being fast enough to compete for a top 10 finishing position alongside a strong push team, solid prep, and a good set of wheels.

There are five goals for the buggy detailed in this guide:

-        Easy to build

-        Durable

-        Low maintenance

-        Easy to drive without spinning or crashing

-        Relatively competitive

To achieve those goals, the buggy will be a reverse trike format (two wheels in front, one wheel in the back) with wagon steering and a carbon fiber with baseplate composite shell. This guide will explain unfamiliar terms or concepts and ensure new teams understand why this buggy design is effective.  

A comprehensive list of tools required for a typical buggy build can be found in Appendix X.

Questions regarding content or the build process can be directed to Connor Hayes (cmhayesny@gmail.com), Diya Nuxoll (diyanuxoll@gmail.com), or the BAA (BAA EMAIL). The BAA also offers a program that provides guidance and financial support to new teams.

Best of luck with your first buggy build!