Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race

The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) is an annual event that challenges the creativity of engineering students. The first competition was held in 1974 after being created by Dr. S. H. Simmonds, president of the Alberta chapter of the American Concrete Institute. In the time since the first competition, GNCTR has grown to include universities and technical schools from across Canada with occasional entries from the United States and Europe.

The project involves designing and constructing a toboggan with a metal frame and a running surface made completely out of concrete. The sled must weigh less than 300 pounds (136 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.

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.

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 and its location.

Overall Champions

* 2008, University of Waterloo "Waterloo911!'
* 2007, University of Sherbrooke "Pimp My Toboggan"
* 2006, Royal Military College of Canada "The Dirty Dozen"
* 2005, Carleton University "Stonecutters"
* 2004, University of Calgary "Chuckboggan"
* 2003, University of Manitoba "72 Summit Series"
* 2002, University of Waterloo "Doozers"
* 2001, University of British Columbia "Fugitives"
* 2000, University of Calgary "Ghostboggan"
* 1999, University of Manitoba "Traumaboggan"
* 1998, University of Waterloo "Arctic Fire Hyde"
* 1997, University of Waterloo "Snow Fear"

Host Universities

* 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, École Polytechnique de Montréal (Montreal)
* 1993, Université de Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke)
* 1992, École de technologie supérieure (Montreal)
* 1975, University of Calgary, University of Alberta (Red Deer)

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.

See also

Concrete canoe

External links

* [http://www.gnctr.info/ Official GNCTR Website] currently expired.
* [http://www.uofagnctr.org University of Alberta GNCTR Team Website]
* [http://www.umgnctr.com University of Manitoba GNCTR Website]
* [http://gnctr.carleton.ca Carleton University's Official 2006 GNCTR Team Website]
* [http://www.civil.ubc.ca/civlclub/gnctr/ University of British Columbia's Team Website]
* [http://www.gnctr-calgary.com/ University of Calgary GNCTR Website]
* [http://grad.ce.queensu.ca/toboggan/ Queen's University 2009 Team Website]
* [http://www.civil.usherbrooke.ca/toboggan Université de Sherbrooke's Toboggus Team Website]
* [http://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/toboggan/ McMaster University GNCTR Website]