






The
Night
Train:
V.A.M.P. Strikes Olympic Gold
During
recent morning meetings, we have been watching
The most
prominent example for our purposes was Night Train, “the
sleek, black-plastered sled designed by the former NASCAR racer
Geoff Bodine” and driven by Steve Holcomb. “In the first run, the
Americans set
the record at 50.89 seconds. They lowered it to 50.86 in their second
run. In
warmer temperatures on Saturday, they propped their lead to .45 seconds
after a
third-run time of 51.19. They finished their victory slide in 51.52
seconds for
a four-run total of 3:4246.”* The verb “blistered” was used to
describe
how the Night Train demonstrated
Even
curling, which many people are loathe to call a sport instead of a
game,
exercises the VAMP principles. The Scots invented the game of sliding
stones on
their lochs in the 16th century, long before Sir Isaac
Newton
noticed apples hitting the ground in his orchard. The original curling
stones
were called “loafies.” Clearly, the Scots are long overdue the true
credit for
discovering momentum—time to end the 500-year credit drought.
The
Olympics occur every four years. The Adams School VAMP races every two,
alternating coincidence between winter and summer Olympics. Though our car designers do not yet have the
“We call
our car The Leaf,” said Phoebe and Morgan (Names in this article are
pseudonyms, a condition for the interviews in this highly competitive
world of
VAMP design and racing). Sure enough, their small, pointed car had the
distinctive coloring of a maple leaf in October, shades bleeding from
green to
red.
“We made it pointed at the tip to
let the air go underneath and create less friction on the wheels,” said
Morgan.
“It lifts it up,” said Phoebe, “letting
air go over the top.” The
dagger-like body seemed to be going 95 just sitting still. The design
team also
found a method of increasing weight without disturbing the airflow over
the
body, and decrease friction through the use of a “special substance.” A
secrecy
clause in their contract prevented
The Intervention might seem like an
odd name for a VAMP car, but this design by Nicholas and Jacob has an
interesting lineage. “We built it to retest my older brother’s theory
about
aerodynamics versus weight,” said Jacob. The older brother used the
same
wedge-shaped body, but declined to add any weight. His car came in
last, but
was definitely the most aerodynamic.
“Our question is, would Alex’s car
have won if he had put weights in it,” said Jacob. “It’s aerodynamics
versus
weight, which turns into mass, which turns into acceleration, and
finally
momentum.” After that, it’s all down hill.
And then there’s Blue Moon, the
entry from Hanna and Margaret, which utilizes some of the same weight,
aerodynamics, and graphite design features. One of their particular
Olympic modifications
is the redistribution of weight to the back axle and keeping it smooth
by
sanding an arch into the top. Its icy color is not expected to have an
impact,
but the glossy paint, from Margaret’s recent room makeover, is
certainly
eye-catching. Stability is also crucial. “You can’t win if your car
falls off
the track,” they said! This was the only team to mention the
inspiration of
Danica Patrick.
Other more experienced racers have
shared tips like “keep two wheels off the ground for less friction.”
Since
there is a news embargo on many of the fine points, suffice to say that
this
year’s designers are tinkering with the following categories: color,
paint
smoothness, weight positioning, and center of gravity. One team
predicted that
the winning car to be the one that has its weight tuned to within .8
grams of
the 250-gram limit.
“Is there a prize for good looks?”
Unfortunately, no.
“Trademark dances, like the gold
medal bobsled team’s Holcy Pokey?” More proprietary silence.
Little is known about the effect of
—Todd
*“White
Knuckles and Gold for
Note: The Adams School VAMP
Assembly is Wednesday, March 17th at
Note from Nurse Candage regarding Strep Throat: Strep throat is very common
Reports & P-T Conferences coming…..We
will send home second trimester
reports on Monday, March 22. During the next week, starting March 29,
we will
hold parent-teacher conferences after school. Please call Mrs. Thomas
to sign
up for a convenient time.
French Dinner Thanks: Merci Chef
Gutow pour un trés bon repas!
The French dinner last Monday was terrific. And thank you parents for
providing
a table full of superb desserts.
GSA Registration for 8th grade
parents: Thursday, March
18….Dean of Students Libby Rosemeier will come to school for meetings
with
parents and students to define a freshman program for anyone planning
to attend
GSA next year. Call Mrs. Thomas to sign up for an appointment.
SMORGS II: March 19 will be our
second SMORG day
this year…got a neat activity to do with a small group of kids in the
afternoon? Let us know!
Yearbook Thanks: “On behalf of all
the Adam’s School kids,
a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the supporters of the Adams School
Yearbook this
year. The additional support pledged this past week has enabled
us to
meet our goal and continue with producing the yearbook this year.
We are
on track for having the draft to the printer in the next couple of
weeks and
the finished yearbooks in hand the beginning of June. We made it,
and
couldn’t have done it without you!” —Lance Burton
Monday –
Fish
Sticks, Noodles, Cinnamon Rolls, Carrots, Milk
Tuesday –
Taco Beef
Wrap, Green Beans, Muffin, Pears, Milk
Weds. –
Pancakes, Sausage, Yogurt, Juice,
Thursday
– BBQ
Chicken, Rice, Cornbread, Mixed Veggies, Chocolate Pudding, Milk
Friday –
Ham
Italians, Sun Chips, Baby Carrots, Popsicle, Pumpkin Bar, Milk
*********************************************************************
Come one and all and join
us this Saturday,
March 6th for the First Saturday Contra dance in Blue Hill,
at the
Calendar Update:
March
5 Deadline
for
12 Union
93 8th graders gather for day at MMA for swimming,
climbing,
games, boat tour.
12 End of
Trimester Two
17 VAMP
Assembly at
Emerson Hall,
18 GSA
Registration at
19 SMORGS
II!
22 Term
Two reports sent
home.
22 Visiting
Author/artist
Peter Stone works with Calvineers.
25th 1,000th Day of School for 5th Graders.
26 Teacher
in-service
day: No school for students
27 Town
Meeting: School
then Municipal budgets.
10
Last student
day, as of
1/25...pending snow days.
11 Teacher
inservice
12 Teacher
inservice.
TBA: field trip to Holbrook for K-4, Beach Day, Last day, Step-up Day.