Junkyard Wars Needs A Few Good Contestants

Andy B writes: "At long last, we have got an address for aspiring contestants to send their Junkyard Wars applications to (Slashdot slightly jumped the gun last autumn). Hurry to get you applications in, as the deadline for applications is Fri 16th Feb."

Re:Where they get the parts?

I've never watched the show, but it sounded kind of interesting... until now.

Watch before judging. For example in the hovercraft episode, we got to watch someone make a roughly 4' diameter propeller from a block of wood and a chainsaw. The NERDS last year made a 3000rpm centrifugal water pump out of a brake rotor and some scrap metal. The Long Brothers invented the Styro-lathe out of a electric drill and a knife to turn the pieces for their rocket: 3 Revs a Minute fashioned up a hot-wire to cut their styrofoam into a proper airfoil for their bomber. And if you saw Bowser's walking table or the famous (albeit too fragile) Brick Muncher, you wouldn't believe that they were put together in 10 hours.

Yeah, some stuff is seeded. Go read the NERDS webpage for just how much work was involved in getting Frobette, their steam car running despite having a boiler and engine given to them.

Eric

Re:Where they get the parts?

Yes, but it's gotten worse with each season. The very first season or two from England had much less obvious or near-nonexistent seeding. The seeding with the latest English and American episodes is going too far, and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I can understand it a bit from the perspective that they've already built a lot of the things that one can build, and they always need to come up with something new..., but it's still gone too far. (And they never should have replaced Robert Llewellyn in the American series, good thing they kept whats-her-name, if they'd replaced her with some stupid blonde-bubble-gum girl, I'd have puked.)

Junkyard wars - a product of nationalisation.

Junkyard Wars is an excellent program, and it could only be a product of a nationalised television broadcasting agency. Consider what would happen if a commercial bigwig were presented with the idea. His reaction would probably be "Are you mad? I asked for a 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' clone. Get the fuck outta here!".

It is then a good job that Nationalised television exists in Britain in a happy symbiosis with the private sector, and is therefore free to bumble along making programs for their own sake, for the love of it, and not because of what focus groups and market ratings say. Thats what happened with Monty Python - it was literally made in a fit of absent mindedness by the relevant authorities at the BBC. If only America had a similar system.

It would greatly improve American Television, IMHO, if they were to greatly increase funding for PBS, such that it would have money to not just show BBC reruns, but to make its own innovative programs for a variety of channels as well. The beauty of this is that it would force the commercial companies to stop making pap, and start focusing on making interesting programs for once. Things could only improve.

You know exactly what to do-
Your kiss, your fingers on my thigh-

Re:Where they get the parts?

The issue of "seeding" the yard has caused the most ire from JYW fans. Most times objects such as rocket engines, and steam engines are planted in the interest of safety laws and time constraints. Before the competition takes place, the expert submits a list of parts they would like and their preliminary plans for the build. The producers then decide what items will be hidden (such as mylar for the blimp in the bombing episode). It is not always as extreme as that--most times it's just throwing a few more old cars on the heap.

Also, the UK has very stringent laws about safety that the show has to obey. For example, every valve and connector for air, fuel, etc. has to be brand new and installed by a certified installer. It's all done for the safety of the participants. For a more detailed description check out the website of The N.E.R.D.S. at Answers to its fake, they seed the yard [the-nerds.org]

Re:Junkyard wars - a product of nationalisation.

This point is illogical.

1. I like this program.
2. This program is the result of nationalization.
3. Therefore, nationalization produces the best programs.

The best we might be able actually deduce from the statements is that the programs that have appealed to you the most so far happen to have been the product of nationalized institutions.

OpenSourcerers [opensourcerers.com]

Re:Junkyard wars - a product of nationalisation.

Junkyard Wars is an excellent program, and it could only be a product of a nationalised television broadcasting agency.

Ahh, I see. The only way to get good, television is to force all of us dolts to cough up a little extra tax money and let the truly enlightened (i.e. the creators of the world-famous and universally-loved USPO, IRS, INS, ...) and let them decide what we should watch. What a fantastic idea. If only it had been tried before! (cough, cough Communism cough).

And yes, Junkyard Wars is a great show.
--
...you get to keep your drugs and have all the abortions you want!

Bloody Redneck Host

The old shows were great with the guy from Red Dwarf and old those silly British people. I've watched a couple episodes of the new season and its all a bunch of rednecks and the new host sucks. The British version is MUCH better. Brits are funnier in general. They have all these wierd little words and phrases that we don't say in English that make it fun.

Even the episodes with the American team were ok because they were reasonably funny as well. They were rednecks like this season. In one of the first episodes (drag racer or something) I saw TWO mullets.

And the old host was hilarious. He'd look at a teams work, crack a joke and laugh hysterically. It was great.

Oh well. so i don't make any sense.

Bloody Rednecks.

ANdrew