The BayLUG Kids’ Building activity was again a big success. This month’s “A Whole Lot of Shaking!” simulated an earthquake with Lego buildings. The challenge was to build the tallest structure that can withstand a simulated earthquake.

The buildings ranged from simple boxy structures to complex towers with earthquake resistant features such as dampeners, pendulums and wheels.

Which size base would be more stable: 2×2, 4×4 or 6×6 (that is in Lego stud size), the kids pondered? Would a chunky building or a wide-based building that tapered to a skinny top be more earthquake resistant?

The test site was simple, a shake table basically comprised of several rubber balls sandwiched in between a wooden frame on the bottom and a top piece of wood board. Gently jiggle the top piece of wood and we have an earthquake.

More than 15 kids attended and the activity ran overtime, as the kids wanted to keep building and keep shaking it up.

In addition, the meeting featured a “Farm” build contest, and a Kids Activity that built and tested catapults.

The next regular club meeting is March 19th in San Leandro. The March Build Contest theme is “Creative Combinations,” in honor of the Bricks by the Bay convention the following weekend.

BayLUG President Mark Benz oversees the building contest

The BayLUG Members’ Building Contest had a record number of Halloween-themed entries. The contest display table ran out of space, so some building entries overflowed onto an adjacent table. Entries ranged from popular trick-or-treat houses, to a full size glowing 3-D LEGO Jack O’Lantern, to gigantic spooky fortresses, and many other awesome creations too numerous to list.

Each builder gave a short presentation of their LEGO original creation, delighting BAYLUG members and the public. Members voted after and prizes were awarded in each of the age category: under age 6, 6-11, and 12+.

Next up was the kids’ building activity, the idea was to build LEGO bridges. Each young builder had an identical kit of LEGO bricks. and building challenges to building a bridge where a hard-boiled egg can fit under the bridge AND the same bridge can also support the egg. One variation of the challenge was to use a heavier and larger soup can instead of the egg. Another challenge variation was to build the bridge with the fewest number of bricks. There were as many creative building solutions as there were builders.

Then there was a popular LEGO Parts Draft event. The LEGO kit used was the 7570 Ostrich Race from the new Prince of Persia series.

In addition to many new creations members brought to show, throughout the day, new and played-with bulk and kitted LEGO was available for sale or trade. Many BayLUG members and LEGO fans found the needed parts to complete a LEGO project ,or discovered other LEGO elements that inspire planning a new project.

Thanks again to MoAH for hosting another great day with happy and content BayLUG Members.

In order to have adequate materials, please let us know if you plan to attend. This is not meant to be a mandatory RSVP, but to get an idea how many kids we will have there. You can comment under this post or send email to indicate that you will apply.

Here are the rules of the contest. For more information see the Parents Wiki page about the event (requires login).

Car Construction

• Only cars built from the LEGO elements available at the meeting may race officially.
• Using the provided axles and wheels, build a car that runs on these wheels down the provided race track (a PVC channel).
• There is a 6 wheel limit per car, which may be reduced to 4, depending on the number of participants.
• The car must fit entirely within the start box marked on the channel.
• After a race, you can modify your car and challenge somebody else.

Cars built, or partially built, elsewhere, and/or with non-club LEGO elements may participate as time allows.

Races

The cars will be lined up with their fronts the starting line, the referee will give the starting signal.

The car whose front-most part first passes the finish line is the winner, as determined by the referee, whose decision is final.

If none of the cars makes it all the way to the finish line, Referee can call for a re-race or ask that the cars should be modified before racing again.

Finish and Prizes

After a half or 1 hour (or when deemed appropriate by the organizers) racing will end.  We will take pictures of the participants with their final cars if they so desire, to post on the BayLUG web site.  There maybe a small prize for the winner of each race, by participant age group, or some other prize format.

Racers are reminded that they may also display their car(s) and other vehicle creations at MoAH’s Vintage Vehicle’s Fair, Sunday July 25th!

FEBRUARY
BayLUG Meeting, February 20, at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro

MARCH
BayLTC at Train Collectors Association Cal Stewart Meet, March 12-14. Public Day March 14, at Santa Clara Convention Center. Admission charge.

APRIL
Bricks By the Bay LEGO Convention, Fremont, April 9-11

MAY
BayLUG Meeting, May 15 at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro
BayLUG and BayLTC participation in the Maker Faire, May 22-23, San Mateo

JUNE
BayLUG Meeting,  June 20 at MoAH in Palo Alto
BayLUG and BayLTC participation in Johannes’ LEGO Show tentatively June 25 through July 25 at his Church in San Leandro. Set up starting on June 20th after 2 PM, and the rest of that week

JULY
BayLUG and BayLTC at MoAH Vintage Vehicles, July 25, Palo Alto, across El Camino from Stanford Mall.

AUGUST
BayLUG Meeting ,August 22 at MoAH in Palo Alto.

SEPTEMBER
BayLUG Meeting, September 18 at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro.
Canceled: BayLTC participation in GTE Train Show, Date TBA, San Jose.

OCTOBER
BayLUG Anniversary Meeting, October 30 at MoAH in Palo Alto.

NOVEMBER
BayLTC participation in GTE Train Show, Nov 27-28, San Jose (not Pleasanton as in years past!).

DECEMBER
BayLUG and BayLTC present 8^th Annual “Living LEGO-cy” Holiday Show, at MoAH in Palo Alto.
Set up Dec 3-4.  MoAH Members Party Dec  5.  Show opens to public Friday Dec 10.  Open every Fri, Sat & Sun, except Holidays through Jan 9, 2011.
Show closes 1 week earlier than this year to avoid MLK weekend.

1. February 21, 2009 (Saturday) we will have a meeting, instead of Sunday the 22nd as originally announced.
2. October 4, 2009 (Sunday) we will be meeting a week earlier than the originally-announced date of the 11th.

Be sure to join our announce mailing list to get all the latest updates by email!

Date: Sunday, August 5, 2007
Time: 10am to 4pm (open to public)
Where: El Camino Park, 100 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA
(across from the Stanford Shopping Center)
Admission: free

Note: Club members please arrive between 8-10am to set up.

The Museum of American Heritage will be closed on this day.

Our club will have three clusters of tables, which need to be provided by us. We will have canopies, but as the event is outdoors, LEGO parts may be subjected to UV rays and other factors. We will be located right next to the main entrance.

Bring your latest models to show off, and/or parts or sets to sell.