With 29 Designer Night in the Races™ in the bag, you would think we have heard every racing excuse in the book.  If fact, we probably have a few we could add to the online Race Excuse Generator.  But the number 1 top excuse of all time is “you gave me a crappy kart”.  So, for the latest events, we wanted to find a way to put the problem back in the hand of the designers and bring personal responsibility back.

Thanks to support of Lacks Wheel Trim Systems, Plastic Plate Inc. and the genius behind Middlecott Design, a unique new event was introduced that allowed designers to compete at what they do best for the chance to choose whichever kart they wanted.  On Monday night the first ever Middle Sketchbattle Experiment was held at the event and the results had a direct influence on the results of the Team Enduro.

Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment Judging

Monday also was special because for the first time area schools were competing for the title of Fastest Design School in the East.  Students from the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), Center for Creative Studies (CCS) and Lawrence Technological University’s School of Design (LTU) were on-hand so they also competed in the Sketchbattle.  The students joined a few other designers in the back room for the 30 minute competition.

Sketchbattle sponsor Lacks Wheel Trim Systems shows off the latest wheel for the Toyota Highlander

Lacks Wheel Trim Systems sponsored the competition and offered the Design Brief.  While most are aware that Lacks produces awesome metal-finished wheels, the Brief was to sketch an aerodynamic wheel, another benefit of Lacks’ wheel technology.

Monday Sketchbattle winner Matthew Braun of Cleveland Institute of Art

It was one of the students who drove the farthest who ended up winning, Matthew Braun of CIA.  His school was allowed to have there own team to compete against the OE studios , pick the fastest kart for the race and start from the pole.

2nd place Luke Mack of CCS with Sketchbattle founder Brook Banham of Middlecott Design

2nd place Luke Mack of CCS was drafted by the Chrysler team which 45 minutes later won the Enduro.  I have a feeling at the next event we will have hundreds of designers clamoring to enter the competition.

RESULTS AND PICTURES CAN BE FOUND HERE

The latest in Metal Interior Finishes demonstrated by Sketchbattle sponsor Plastic Plate

On Tuesday, Plastic Plate was the sponsoring company and almost 20 racers competed to see which of them would get the fastest kart.  The design brief was The Steering Wheel as jewlry featuring multiple metal finishes.  GM Team #3 was the winner, followed by GM Team #2, Ford, GM Team #1 and Honorable Mention to RTT.