Kids edition of "Junkyard Wars"

[Clark Gilbert]

I've been watching the "Techno Competition Week" on TLC for the past few days...and during the commercials i've seen this commercial where the "head" girl announcer for Junkyard Wars is talking to the kids out there and she said if we want a kids version of Junkyard Wars all we have to do is go to www.discovery.com and click on "TLC" and tell them we want it... She said if enough kids email the network it may come true....


So if you find yourself with nothing to do or if you really would like to see it, head on over to www.discovery.com and tell them.


Just an Idea

[David Kelly]

I emailed them at this address: junkyard-wars@rdfmedia.com I told them that there would be a high interest in the FIRST Community. Would be cool to see some FIRST teams on there.

[Clark Gilbert]

I think that is the email everyone should use...since they dont really have a place on the Junkyard Wars site for some place....even though i've seen the commercials....

[Andy A.]

Looks like now I have an excuse for learning how to weld!

Wonder what the age range would be...

-Andy

[EddieMcD]

IMO: I think middle school kids are too young for that, but it'd be great for high schoolers. It'd be something to work at over the summer, and something even Dean Kamen himself might like.

[captainfirst]

Junkyard Wars is a great show and there should be more of it. But I think everyone should consider what a younger version of the show would be like. Contestants on the show typically have years and years of engineering experience. They have knowledge that you can only gain by working in the field. To make the challenges possible, they would have to be easier. Also they would need more time. If the teams were allowed to have more people, the costs for the teams to travel back and forth for competition would be high and since sponsors cannot display their logos on the participants, they would probably be less inclined to donate. Junkyard Wars is exciting because in just 10 hours the teams manage to build incredible machines. I don't think it could be done by anyone w/o a ton of experience.

Many high school teams come up with great robots, but they have the help of many experts. If its going to take a few experts to help the kids, and therefore the experts are doing most to all of the work.... why are the kids there?

Anyway, just a thought, I might still watch it with kids if it was still challenging.

[David Kelly]

Originally posted by captainfirst
Junkyard Wars is a great show and there should be more of it. But I think everyone should consider what a younger version of the show would be like. Contestants on the show typically have years and years of engineering experience. They have knowledge that you can only gain by working in the field. To make the challenges possible, they would have to be easier. Also they would need more time. If the teams were allowed to have more people, the costs for the teams to travel back and forth for competition would be high and since sponsors cannot display their logos on the participants, they would probably be less inclined to donate. Junkyard Wars is exciting because in just 10 hours the teams manage to build incredible machines. I don't think it could be done by anyone w/o a ton of experience.

Many high school teams come up with great robots, but they have the help of many experts. If its going to take a few experts to help the kids, and therefore the experts are doing most to all of the work.... why are the kids there?

Anyway, just a thought, I might still watch it with kids if it was still challenging.

Junkyard wars for Kids doesn't necessarly be as elaborate as the adult one. And I really don't think it would be centered towards it. It wouldn't be smart on their part. The kids would be given a task that TLC would know that would be accomplished (WITHOUT ADULT HELP). I think it would be surprising what kids could come up with. I don't know what would be used to make the machines or what the challenges would be baised off of, but i'm sure that they would make it as exciting at the adult version.


Disclaimer: don't take any of this post personally.

[Kyle Fenton]

If there is to be a teen version of junkyard wars it would have to be simple, simple. Maybe the flying planes, the rocket episode, and maybe the coffee grinder episode. I can see that done by teens.

But I don't think it would become a big hit, because everyone loves the complicated stuff, like a dragster or something.

The teens on that show

*could possible sotter, but not weld metal.

* probably wouldn't be able to get going a gas motor. (Like stripping it from a car and applying to a chaise.)

* probably get hurt trying to find stuff in the junkyard

* wouldn't be able to calculate the advance math for some of those projects, unless they were in calculus or trig.

Plus they wouldn't meet any other requirements
http://www.junkyard-wars.com/appforms.htm

[Dan 550]

Hey, FIRST is a heluva lot like Junkyard wars. I mean, think about it, you've got your goal, and you have to search through the two boxes and some parts places to build something unlike anything at all that came out of the box. I mean, the creativeness needed is astounding for both things. Especially if your whole budget is about $500.

[EddieMcD]

Yes, but a lot of kids don't weld, and that is necessary on JYW.

[GregT]

Welder? Oh you mean that big thing that spits flames, and that other thing that makes the pritty blue sparks and make my eyes hurt.

[Carolyn Duncan]

Instead of TLC having to work out a way to make a kid's version of JYW maybe they should just invest in FIRST. Could be a way to solve our space and publicity woes.
C~ya,
Carolyn

[EddieMcD]

And give us a TV spot.

[Carolyn Duncan]

That would fall under the publicity umbrella.
C~ya,
Carolyn

[EddieMcD]

Hmm... we could use a TV spot ever since ESPN gave up on us.