channel4.com - Scrapheap Challenge

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[ The Challenge and Teams ] [ Result ] [ Tunnel Ratz Diary ] [ Pit Stop Crew Diary ] [ Science ] [ More Info ]

Railroad Racer

This week the challenge is to make a vehicle that can travel both on the road and on railway tracks. It must demonstrate speed, pulling power and stopping ability – all characteristics of real trains.

Tunnel Ratz

The Tunnel Ratz are all engineers on London Underground. Steven Oatley, the captain, describes his job as being 'like playing with a giant train set'. James Lackmaker first got interested in engineering as a child, watching his father, who had a mechanic's shop, rebuilding engines. Mark Weeks has also been developing his mechanical skills from an early age – since he rebuilt a broken lawnmower at school.

The Ratz' technical consultant is Bryn Spencer, principal electrical engineer at a company that makes specialist rail systems for mines and tunnels.

So will the Ratz see light at the end of the tunnel? Or will they be scrabbling around in the dark?

Pit Stop Crew

This is a team of research-and-development technicians for various Formula 1 outfits. David Goddard, the captain, is the senior lab technician at Arrows Grand Prix. Adrian Ward, better known as Ade or Mr Messy, has recently moved from Arrows to Williams. Mark Owen has also recently left Arrows, landing a job at Renault.

The Pit Stop Crew's technical consultant is Mick Rice, technical director of Two-Way Technology, a company that designs and manufactures Railroad vehicles used for maintaining and constructing railways.

Clearly this crew knows all about fine tuning, but can they hack it as bodgers?

The expert

Our highly trained expert this week is Norman Blake, fireman, guard and shunter from the Bluebell Railway.

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