What is the steepest the bridge will be?

[speedbuggy76]

Yeah, I would recommend building the 'inexpensive version' of the bridge. You should be able to get everything you need for <$100 and Home Depot or Lowe's should be willing to cut the plywood for you if you give them the measurements.

Be aware that this version requires less force to tip in either direction that the competition bridge. You can modify it with weights, springs, surgical tubing, or something like that to get it to behave correctly.