About | who we are and what we do

By now you know probably know what buggy is generally about. But, “What does a buggy mechanic do,” you ask? “I’ve heard you people get up at 4am on weekends,” you say? That’s true, being a buggy mechanic entails working some odd hours. But I think that should intrigue you. If college students are getting up that early on the days they usually sleep in, there must be something pretty special going on.

The surface answer to ‘what mechanics do’ is that mechanics build buggies, maintain buggies, and organize and oversee their use. As mechanics for SDC Buggy, our ultimate goal is to find the cutting edge and push past it. First and foremost we are a dedicated racing team with a competitive mentality. This is true; we take great pride in the results of our efforts. This explanation, however, is only the tip of the iceberg.

As a mechanic, you receive a much broader education than from classes alone. Sure, it gives you the opportunity to put the skill set you learn in class to real life use. But being a buggy mechanic also causes you to grow as a person. In a team environment, you learn what it takes to encounter a problem and innovate, be faced with adversity and persevere. You don’t have to be nervous for job or internship interviews – you have more experiences to draw from than the interviewers have questions. Your time at CMU becomes more than just classes and studying – you build knowledge, skills, and experience to carry wherever life takes you.

So, if it sounds like being a mechanic might be up your alley, get in touch with me or any of the other fine members of this racing team. I think you’ll find you’re glad you did.

I was born for this.

I’ve always been the small girl, but who could’ve guessed it would turn into this? Certainly not me. When I first visited Carnegie Mellon my senior year in high school, I was singled out during my campus tour as an example of the size person that would fit inside of a buggy. After the guide’s explanation of the sport I knew there was no way I would ever do that… And suddenly I was flying downhill, headfirst, mere inches off the ground and I couldn’t wait for more.

I believe the driver perspective to be incredibly unique and I consider myself lucky to be one of the few who is able to have such a coveted experience. I have a thirst for speed and a love for my team that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

The early morning practices, the late night trouble-shooting, the self-confidence to wear a mouthguard while conversing… Buggy is more than just a sport; it is a lifestyle.

I’ve always found it destructive to my constitution to get up before 10 in the morning and hearing the klaxon-like alarm clock while I’m in the middle of a good dream usually makes me want to cry. However, something intangible about buggy makes the sound of the alarm that wrenches me from nature’s sweetest balm as lovely as a nightingale’s call with whipped cream on top.

There’s no better way to fight the chill of life in Pittsburgh than pushing a buggy for all you’re worth while using every muscle in your body: your hands on the bar, time slows as your body coils and prepares to hurl the low wheeled bullet forward; in a flash of exertion it’s flying out ahead; you vault yourself into another dead sprint to chase down that elusive mistress* which always seems a just out of reach. You may not actually look very graceful (I know from video tapes that I certainly don’t) but you feel in touch with an inner, previously untapped, sense of balance and proportion. Buggy is hard to understand, but so is yoga and acupuncture. And like these two ancient arts, buggy requires a focus and purity of mind that transcends the material plane. Basically, if you can’t afford your own zen rock garden, then buggy is for you.

*or mister