OK, now I'm mad. Enough with all the extraneous ideas on what to build.

I want to build the same stuff they have been building on previous shows. Why? Because my team can do it faster, better and prettier that any of the other teams.

I want to build a Dune Buggy, a Bridge Crosser, a Rocket, a Dragster, a Coffee Grinder, a Ferry Boat, a Fire Boat, a Sub, a Land Yacht, a Barge to Lift a Car from a Lake, a Catapult, even the airplane.

I am sure that there are some other ideas out ther that are worth consideration but these ideas about the water pump, musical instruments, human powered boats, kids in pipes, chemistry sets, etc. must go.

OK, I am ready for the flames back but be honest, we would all like to build the same old stuff only much better.

-- Ron Lesseraux (rlesseraux@hotmail.com), April 04, 2001

Answers

I agree. We also have the benefit of seeing the mistakes that the other teams have made and playing arm chair mechanics. "Why did they weld that there?" "You idiots!! You don't use wood for this!!" etc. etc. I've done it. However, I do realize that if I were to go out and attempt to compete, chances are I would make the same mistakes. Ten hours sounds like a lot of time, but when you get to tearing something apart (like an engine), an hour flies by without warning. There are some challenges that have only been done once. I'd like to see RDF do those again. Some of those were very tough, like land yachts. Anyway, I'd just thought I'd throw in my two cents.

-- William Barrett (wildbill65401@yahoo.com), April 04, 2001.

For your first challenge, there will be no welders, no power tools, and no torch.

I did hear that there would be no repeats in the upcoming series, and that all the challenges would be big, dirty, and ugly.

JustJay

-- JustJay-captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), April 04, 2001.

Get out the Duct Tape!

-- Dan Denney (Rustrenegades@hotmail.com), April 04, 2001.

Yup... its easy to sit back and believe it could be done better and in a shorter amount of time. I'm sure some of these teams realized there was a better way during their build. 10 hours is not a great deal of time, especially for a "machine" which you may not have seen before, most likely have not built before and which is made of available parts. Personally, I'd enjoy seeing some of the challenges repeated.

cheers,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), April 04, 2001.

Hey Ron you forgot the demolition machine. As for building it faster better stronger etc we may never know ?

-- Andy Middleton (andy @middleton.demon.co.uk), April 04, 2001.

Ron's right in a way...some of the teams build cool versions of the project dejour...and use items that make me go hummmm...

Then again, some teams were TOTALLY lost...

-- Dan Denney (rustrenegades@hotmail.com), April 04, 2001.

OK rerun the shows but no expert we really get to run amuck!

-- Rob.Fitterling (rpfit@hotmail.com), April 04, 2001.

Let's just GET IT ON!!!

-- Joey Falgout (Broadcast Junkies) (joeyinalexandria@hotmail.com), April 04, 2001.

one of the most memorable episodes was when that propeller was made from an ordinary 2X6! i was amazed it held together! there was a knot in the middle of one side! that was "bodging" at its finest!

-- tim (milehiharley@hotmail.com), April 04, 2001.

I think Ron Fitterling is on to something here: Same stuff, but NO EXPERT! You bring in entire four man team and hope you can do it- whatever "it" is! I like it!

-- Chip Haynes (ehaynes@co.pinellas.fl.us), April 05, 2001.

It always looks easier from the sofa. I watched the shows leading up to our debut, and drew out idea's on napkins with Ken and June while the teams were running around the scrapheap. We were all over it. The trouble is....The clock is ticking out there and once you start out in one direction you just can't go back and start in another direction. Theres so much that the tv viewers don't see. Discussions, cut's, bruises, arguments, antics. They all eat at the clock. It's funny how relaxed at the first part of the ten hours everyone is compared to the last 2 hours. An "on the edge" type frenzy sets in. I think your idea of doing the same builds is fine. We all come up with a new twist on the old ideas. I think that's just as fun to watch. Cheers and good luck to all the new contestants! Whoever they may be.

-- Duane Flatmo, Art Attack (flatmo@humboldt1.com), April 05, 2001.