The teams embark on a ten-hour build of two completely different vehicles. One team builds a hot rod with a big, heavy engine and the other designs a car with a light body and less powerful engine. George and Cathy get in on the shoptalk to see why the teams went the way they did and interview expert and competition judge Pat Foster, a veteran drag racer. The next day, the teams have three chances to see who can get the best possible time.
Challenge to build a machine chunk a pumpkin the most accurately to hit a target. They must use human power only. Contestants Team Blue: The Young Guns Team captain Stan Brighton Jeus Beltran Brian Michem Expert Ron Toms Team Orange: Three Rusty Juveniles Team captain Jay Ray Tom Expert Waddy Thompson
Challenge to build a machine to carry each member on one lap around a off road course that has bumps, jumps, and water. Contestants Team Orange: Damage Team captain Ristow John Kalbot Expert James Aduskevich Team Green: The Long Brothers Team captain Brian Long Terry Long Gary Long Expert Mike Ferguson
Challenge to build a machine that can race to an island to save all their team mates one at a time. Contestants Team Blue: Art Attacks Team captain Ken June Wayne Expert Justin Manley Team Purple: The Metal Medics Team captain Dr. Bill Alex Bob Expert Larry DeCamm
Challenge to build to open locked treasure boxes 20 feet underwater. They have to send down an aquanaut in a diver suit and pump air to his helmet. Contestants Team Green: Art Attacks Team captain Ken June Wayne Expert Greg Brian Team Blue: The Young Guns Team captain Stan Brighton Jeus Beltran Brian Michem Expert Bob Kirby
Challenge to build a hovercraft that is the fastest in a relay race. Each member must take a turn driving the hovercraft around the course. Each team choose a differeny way to build. One goes for heavy using two engines the other team goes for light weight using only one engine. Contestants Team Yellow: The Texas Scrap Daddies Team captain Ken Mark Sean Expert Terry Chapman Team Green: The Long Brothers Team captain Brian Long Terry Long Gary Long Expert Bob Wind
Challenge to build a that will not only attain the greatest height but will also bring a payload an ostrich egg back to earth without damage. Contestants Team Green The Long Brothers Team captain Brian Long Terry Long Gary Long Expert Bruce Lee Team Turquoise Art Attacks Team captain Ken June Wayne Expert James Tucci
Challenge to build a vehicle that can jump crushed cars, race down a dirt straight away, but can still be agile enough to handle tight turns. Contestants Team Blue The Law Dawgs Team captain Tom Dave Mike, Expert John Seasock Team Orange Ghost Mountain Riders Team captain Scotty Clark Johnson, Expert Roy Hooser
The Challenge is to build a vehicle that not only must carry all members to a gap, but then span the gap without leaving any parts behind, retrieve a flag, and go back to where they started in a head-to-head race. Contestants: Team Red: The Miami Gearheads Team Captain Milton, Frank, Anthony, and Expert Bill Harris Team Blue: Canadian Junkies Team Captain Gary, Kevin, Mike, and Expert Richard Hunt
Challenge to build the most accurate and destructive cannon. The objective to break the most concrete bricks in the opponent's wall. They both get three shots both teams thinking the 1st being pretty much a throw away shot to sight in the sights Contestants Team Green The Hicks Family Team captain Sam Anna Jakey Expert Bruce Paulson Team Yellow Washburn Boys Team captain Ray Shane Jon Expert Bernie Paulson
Challenge for each team to build a raft that can carry two team members out of scrap. Then race the rafts up and down a white water course trying to avoiding rocks and not capsize. The team that completes the course in fastest time wins and advances to the next round. They have 3 laps to get the fastest time. Contestants Team Red The Dukes of Spook Team captain Dave Smith Laura Frenchy Expert Chuck Ratley Team Blue Nasa's Rocket Men Team captain Mike Jim Tom Expert Doug Riddle
Challenge to build a glider that can stay aloft for the longest time. The course is a large hill. One team goes for a traditional design the other goes more radical. Contestants Team Red Miami Gearheads Team captain Milton Frank Anthony Expert Chuck Slusarczyk Team Green The Hicks Family Team captain Sam Jakey Anne Expert Barnaby Wainfan
Challenge to build to a torpedo that can maneuver around obstacles in the water to reach the enemy ship and hit a target to register a kill. The best of five head-to-head rounds wins. Contestants Team Dark Blue Nasa's Rocketmen Team captain Mike, Tom, Jim, Expert Joe Curren Team Light Blue The Law Dawgs Team captain Tom, Mike, Dave, Expert Greg Bryant
Challenge: Each team has to build the most powerful demolition machine they can. Then, they'll try to destroy 9 panels of wall built from concrete blocks. The team that completely destroys the panels in less time wins. Contestants Team Red Miami Gearheads Team captain Milton, Frank, Anthony, Expert Dan Jacobsen Team Dark Blue Nasa's Rockemen Team captain Mike, Tom, Jim, Expert Tim Wilson
In this episode, each team has to build a drilling machine. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition which consists in digging a hole big enough through 3 concrete walls to get all the team and the machine in it. Contestants: "Turbines" vs. "Bold Three"
Challenge : build a hill-climbing car capable of carrying a team member as far as possible up a 400 ft., 40 degree gradient hill. Each team gets 3 attempts at conquering the steep gradient. Contestants Team Yellow : The Pit Crew Team captain Frank, Scott, Tim, Expert Chris Adamson Team Blue : The Jet Jocks Team captain Ron, Dave, Gifford, Expert Randy Ellis
Challenge : build a land-racing yacht. Contestants Team Green : The Quantum Mechanics Team captain Leila Hasan, Danielle Smith, Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli, Expert Nord Embroden Team Red : The Geeks Team captain Thomas Massie, Rhett Creighton, Rony 'Koobs' Kubat, Expert Dennis Bassano
In this episode, each team has to build a machine that's able to pick up the garbage from the streets. Then, the machines will be tested in a competition which consists of picking up the garbage off the street. The team that collects more garbage (by weight) wins. Contestants 'Sewer Rats' vs. 'Trash Can Heroes'
In this semi-final competition, the teams have to build hydrofoils in a straight-up time trial. Contestants 'Sewer Rats' vs. 'Turbines'
In this episode, each team has to build a boat which has to be able to extinguish small fires. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition which consists in extinguishing a fire from a house across a lake. Contestants: "Pit Crew" vs. "Geeks".
In this episode, each team has to build a powerful and fast remote controlled car. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition which consists in a giant battle bot fight. The teams can win by knocking out the enemy or earning points. Contestants "Pit Crew" vs. "Turbines".
In this episode, each team has to build a light weighted vehicle which has to be able to participate in a race through a 3-lap mud course. Contestants 'Model Ts' vs. 'Detroit Muscle'
In this episode, each family team has to build a powerful boat which has to be able to hit another boat and withstand it. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition that consists in pushing the enemy boat out of a "battle circle". Contestants "Kentucky Fried Family" vs. "Morterheads"
Teams from two New York City boroughs build paintball-firing tanks to out-gun each other.
Each team has to build a 'Collapsible Car'. The car should fit in 4 small valises. Then, they will test the cars in a race, but both cars experienced technical problems...
Each team has to build a submarine that has to be controlled by a man inside of it. Then, the submarines will be tested in 3 races. The team that wins 2 races advances to the next round. Contestants 'Custom Cruisers' vs. 'Model Ts'
In this episode, each team has to build a "Railroad Racer", a vehicle which is able to race through the train rails. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition which consists in dropping a load in a section of tracks before reaching a barrier. Contestants: "Kentucky Fried Family" vs. "Brooklyn Benders"
In this episode, each team has to build a one-man "hockey car". Then, the vehicles will be tested in a huge hockey match where the cars have to hit the giant puck into a huge hockey net. Contestants: "Kentucky Fried Family" vs. "Custom Cruisers"
In this episode, each team has to build a "Dune Buggie" which has to be able to withstand the hard conditions of the desert. Then, the vehicles will be taken to the desert to test them in a competition. Contestants 'Junkyard Hogs' vs. 'Superchargers'
The ultimate way to deal with traffic jams would be to push the offending cars out of the way and go through. Well, for the High Flyers and Big Shots, that dream is about to come true. The will be building a machine that will power it's way through a gauntlet of cars. A bunch of cars have been strewn down a track. The team that has the fastest total time after 3 runs (and a different driver each time) through the cars will advance. However, if they go outside of the yellow boundaries on the sides of the track, they incur a ten second penalty. So it isn't just speed...it's precision as well. For the High Flyers, it's all about the traction. Using a monsterous truck for a base, they will add a second axle to the rear and wrap the two tires with tank treads. Combine a big engine and those massive footprints and put a big plow on the front and you have a bulldozer...in essence. However, adding a second axel isn't exactly a walk in the park. Neither will finding a big, reliable engine? This machine will have to be just plain tough! The Big Shots are going for power. A big truck chassis and a big engine will give them lots of power and strength to withstand any major collisions. However, their plow is going to resemble a cow catcher (like you used to see on old time locomotives). The trick is that they will put their blade at the rear and drive in reverse. This will protect the engine and give them some low-range power. Again, finding a good engine might be the problem.
It will be a hot time in the junkyard this episode as the Auto Amigos take on the Dirty Drivers in a fast and furious challenge to build a trike powered by a jet-engine. The race will consist of three trips down a one-eighth mile track...one at a time. The team that records the fastest time in any of their three trips will advance to the semi-finals. The Dirty Drivers are building a true jet engine on a lightweight frame. A propane tank will provide the gas and a spark plug will act as the ignition source. The key ingredient will be a turbo-charger from a truck. The turbo charger has two fans that turn in opposite directions. One fan will suck the propane into a combustion tank while the other will suck the heated air out and through a nozzle. If there's time, they also want to build an afterburner which should increase their speed. An afterburner ignites any remaining gasses in the chamber for added thrust. Time is NOT on their side. The Auto Amigos, on the other hand, are going for a thermo-jet engine. A car engine will be attached to a large fan. The fan will suck air into a large tube which will be funneled out the back. Around the back side of the fan are a series of nozzles which will spray a mist of gasoline into the tube. A spark plug will ignite the propane causing a jet of hot air (and flames) to shoot out the back. This is going to be heavy so a big, beefy, sturdy frame will be necessary. The weight might slow them down and cost valuable seconds.
In this episode, each team has to build a sled-puller tractor which has to be under 2000 lbs. Then, the tractors will be tested in a competition which consists in pulling a medium-sized sled through a simple course. The team that pulls the sled further wins. Contestants "Jet Doctors" vs. "Missile Masters"
In this episode, each team has to build a machine which has to be able to launch heavy objects. It doesn't matter if they build a catapult, a giant robot, etc... Then, the machines will be tested in a competition which consists in launching a 150 lb washing machine as far as possible without destroying it until it crashes into the floor. Contestants "High Flyers" vs. "Superchargers"
In this episode, each team has to build an amphibious vehicle which has to resist sea water. Then, the buggies will be tested in a competition which consists in "saving" a mannequin from an island - passing through the beach and the sea - in the less time possible. Contestants "Jet Doctors" vs. "Auto Amigos"
In this episode, each team has to build a car which has to be able to hit a ball with precision. Then, the cars will be tested in a very strange competition which consists in getting the lowest score in a giant-sized 3-hole short golf match. Contestants "Jet Doctors" vs. "High Flyers"
Four teams scour junkyards from California to the Vegas strip, facing huge challenges along the way. Under the new rule, each team has total of 12 hours to gather materials from a junkyard, then carry the materials to modify the team vehicle elsewhere. After each match, each team will retain its own vehicle to race in next match. In this episode, they have to modify their vehicles to go downhill from Sierra Nevada mountains and pass a giant log. Team members Anarchy (black): Chopper Rat, Lin-Dog, Brandon Farm Boys (green): Chaney, Stupe, Grandpa Fire Power (red, from Kentucky): Fletch, Keith, Crusher Metal Maidens (pink, from San Francisco): Flybutter, Rebecca, Kiki Final scores Anarchy: 0 (total 0) Farm Boys: 3 (total 3) Fire Power: 0 (total 0) Metal Maidens: 4 (total 4)
In the second part of The Great Race, the contestants rebuild their vehicles to drive over desert dunes of Death Valley. Fire Power chose to cut down the vehicle and convert it into a half-tread truck; Anarchy got bigger wheels, a nitrous kit, and cut down the weight of the hearse; Metal Maidens and Farm Boys each put a Baja skidpad under the vehicle, with Farm Boys cutting down its own truck. In race day, Fire Power's tread had fallen before the match began, so the vehicle was run without treads. Anarchy won the race, followed by Farm Boys, Metal Maidens, Fire Power. Final scores Anarchy: 4 (total 4) Farm Boys: 3 (total 6) Fire Power: 0 (total 0) Metal Maidens: 2 (total 6)
In the final challenge, the teams convert their vehicles to travel across Colorado River, but that's only the beginning. To win the race, the score leading team members must also drive the vehicle to Vegas, and cross the finish line at the Flamingo hotel. At race day, Farm Boys passed the river first, followed by Metal Maidens and Fire Power. Anarchy's vehicle stuck at river bottom, and was forced to quit. At the second half the trip, the surviving teams retained their ranks. Final scores Anarchy: 0 points (4 total) Farm Boys: 4 points (10 total) Fire Power: 2 points (2 total) Metal Maidens: 3 points (9 total)
Racing team members from NASCAR, Indy Racing League, and NHRA leagues spent 10 hours to build race cars that can run fast in staight line, a chicane road course, and an oval track. First course is a 1/8-mile-long drag strip, second course is a 5-lap road course, third course is run in 1/3-mile oval circuit for 10 laps. The combined scores in first two course will decide the pole positions of the drivers in third race, with the highest scored car at first. The triple track winner would be the one that finish first in the final round. Team - League - Members Hot Rod Heroes (yellow) - NHRA - E.J., Willie (captain), John, Donnie Indy Idols (red) - IRL - Jerry (captain), Grant, Rick, Matt Stock Car Stars (blue) - NASCAR - Tom, Jim, ""Peaches"", Gordon (captain)
The effects teams competed to build "an ultimate fighting robot" that could "breath fire, shoot bullets and save the planet from an alien invasion". The effects teams competed to build "an ultimate fighting robot" that could "breath fire, shoot bullets and save the planet from an alien invasion".