Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race


The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race is an annual event that challenges the creativity of engineering students. The competition originated in 1974 and was created by Dr. S. H. Simmonds, president of the Alberta chapter of the American Concrete Institute. The first race was held in 1975 with participants from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Since its beginning, GNCTR has grown to include universities and technical schools from across Canada with occasional entries from the United States and Europe.

Rules

The project involves designing and constructing a toboggan with a metal frame and a running surface made completely out of concrete and racing it down a steep snow-covered hill. The sled must weigh less than 300 pounds, have a working braking system, and be fitted with a roll cage to protect its five passengers. Each competing team must complete a technical report summarizing the design, which is presented at a public technical exhibition.

Spirit

It is traditional for teams to choose a theme for their sled; they often wear appropriate costumes and incorporate elements of the design into their technical exhibit and sled aesthetics. This has become a major part of the competition, making up a large part of the spirit award, as well as the best uniforms award. Theme ideas are most often drawn from pop culture or retro references, or based on the team's home university/college and its location.

Awards

Teams are judged for top speed, best run, most improved team, braking, and aesthetics. Each year an award is also given for the best overall entry.
The current record holder for top speed in a successfully completed run at GNCTR is the University of Toronto who set a speed of 73 km/h on Feb 1st 2020.
YearOverall ChampionRace ChampionSpirit Award
2020University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoConcordia University
2019Ryerson UniversityRyerson UniversityUniversity of Calgary
2018Southern Alberta Institute of TechnologyLawrence Technological UniversityUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan
2017Queen's UniversitySouthern Alberta Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Calgary
2016Western UniversityLawrence Technological UniversityUniversity of Calgary
2015University of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of Calgary
2014University of AlbertaUniversity of British Columbia OkanaganUniversity of Toronto
2013Western UniversityUniversity of TorontoMcMaster University
2012Ryerson UniversityRyerson UniversityQueen's University
2011University of CalgaryUniversity of SaskatchewanMcMaster University
2010University of AlbertaUniversity of CalgaryQueen's University
2009University of Manitoba
2008University of Waterloo
2007Université de SherbrookeUniversity of Alberta
2006Royal Military College of CanadaUniversity of Western Ontario
2005Carleton UniversityMcMaster University
2004University of CalgaryMcMaster University
2003University of ManitobaMcMaster University
2002University of WaterlooCarleton University
2001University of British ColumbiaMcMaster University
2000University of CalgaryUniversity of Manitoba
1999University of ManitobaUniversity of Manitoba
1998University of WaterlooUniversity of Manitoba
1997University of Waterloo
1996École Polytechnique de Montréal
1995University of Waterloo
1994Universität Stuttgart
1993University of AlbertaUniversity of Manitoba
1992Universite de Sherbrooke
1991École de technologie supérieure
1990École Polytechnique de Montréal
1989University of CalgaryUniversity of Waterloo
1988University of British Columbia
1987University of British ColumbiaUniversity of Waterloo
1986Southern Alberta Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Waterloo
1985University of Waterloo
1984University of Waterloo
1981University of Manitoba
1980University of British Columbia
1979Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
1977University of British Columbia
1975Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Competition host

In the early years of the competition, the winning team was asked to host the subsequent competition; by the mid-1990s, this had changed to an alternating scheme between Western and Eastern Canadian schools; the dividing line is the Manitoba-Ontario border. The competition usually runs from Wednesday to Sunday, at the end of January or over the first weekend in February.
YearHost SchoolCity
2021Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, University of CalgaryCalgary
2020University of TorontoToronto
2019University of AlbertaEdmonton
2018University of WaterlooWaterloo
2017University of ManitobaWinnipeg
2016University of OttawaOttawa
2015University of British Columbia Kelowna
2014University of Western OntarioLondon
2013University of British ColumbiaVancouver
2012University of CalgaryCalgary
2011University of AlbertaEdmonton
2010McMaster UniversityHamilton
2009University of CalgaryRed Deer
2008Université de SherbrookeSherbrooke
2007University of ManitobaWinnipeg
2006École de technologie supérieure and Concordia UniversityMontreal
2005University of CalgaryCalgary
2004Carleton UniversityOttawa
2003University of AlbertaEdmonton
2002University of ManitobaWinnipeg
2001Queen's University/Royal Military College of CanadaKingston
2000University of ReginaRegina
1999University of WaterlooWaterloo
1998University of CalgaryCalgary
1997Carleton UniversityOttawa
1996University of ManitobaWinnipeg
1995École de technologie supérieureMontreal
1994University of AlbertaEdmonton
1993Université de SherbrookeSherbrooke
1992École de technologie supérieureMontreal
1991École Polytechnique de MontréalMontreal
1990University of CalgaryCalgary
1982University of ManitobaWinnipeg
1981University of British ColumbiaVancouver
1980Northern Alberta Institute of TechnologyEdmonton
1978University of British ColumbiaVancouver
1975University of Calgary, University of Alberta, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Northern Alberta Institute of TechnologyRed Deer