Craig Nutt - Cheese

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The Chez-Wiz

The aerodynamic qualities of the cheese wedge, reducing wind drag while improving traction, make it ideal for racing. Ritz(r) crackers cover the wheels and most of the tires, further reducing drag. It is surprising that all race cars are not built on this pattern.

This view shows off the ersatz Damascus steel cheese knife steering mechanism and the slide out "photo finish" front end. In the case of a close race the driver can instantaneously push the front end of the car forward about a foot. Loaded with a bungee cord, the front end quickly snaps back. When the driver operates the mechanism, a linkage activates the aerosol cheese cans at the rear of the car, laying down a cheese slick.

	There was much debate about whether or not we needed a brake. We decided that a brake would be counterproductive during the race. However, in the interest of public safety, we decided to add an emergency brake.
The brake is a (concrete) block of Velveeta (r) cheese attached to a rope. The driver pulls a release cord under the seat, and the block drops out of the cheese rind. To avoid injury to drivers of other cars, we included a bold warning.

More Pictures of the Chez-Wiz

Penland, North Carolina - July 4, 2002. Penland School of Crafts' annual Parade and Soapbox Derby.

This was the final week of a two week class on wood carving taught by Craig Nutt. Craig had just been to the Furniture Society Conference in Madison, Wisconsin - and had returned with a genuine Wisconsin "Cheesehead". This is the story of the wood studio's entry in the parade and soapbox derby .ra

The team included:

Joe McArdle, Scott McRae, Helen Purdum, Scott Thompson, Kim Nickles, Howard Shroeder, Bob Merriam, Trisha Lovgren, Bert Ellentuck, John Gernandt & Brian McGeerace

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