Buggy Enhancement Grant Reminder

Apply Here:
http://cmubuggy.org/2026springgrant

Submissions are due at midnight this Saturday, the 31st. The committee will meet next week for the initial discussion and voting, and applicants will have 7 days to respond to the committee’s feedback before final voting.

We have $15,000 available for this round of funding! This money belongs to you as a member of the buggy community to enhance your enjoyment of the sport. If you have an idea to make the sport safer, faster, or more fun, we want to hear from you!

Proposals can be specific to your team. Please include some details on how the community as a whole will benefit from funding your project. For example, you might share documentation of your process, publish a video, or give a talk about your findings. You might build something to collect better data during rolls, test out a new material, or build something to make your chores easier.

Apply Here:
http://cmubuggy.org/2026springgrant

For more information on the grant program, including previously approved grant applications, materials and findings from previously approved grants, how to spend your grant money, and more, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants.

Spring 2026 Buggy Enhancement Grants Now Open!

Apply Here:
http://cmubuggy.org/2026springgrant

Welcome back! It is time to submit your ideas for Buggy Enhancement Grants for the spring semester! If you have ideas that you think will enhance your buggy experience, we want to hear from you!

Submissions are due by January 31st, and will be reviewed by the committee the following week. Applicants will have 1 week to respond to the committee’s feedback before the final voting.

Proposals can be specific to your team. Please include some details on how the community as a whole will benefit from funding your project. For example, you might share documentation of your process, publish a video, or give a talk about your findings. You might build something to collect better data during rolls, test out a new material, or build something to make your chores easier.

Apply Here:
http://cmubuggy.org/2026springgrant

Last semester, $7,370 was awarded to grant recipients, a new record! Every project that applied during the initial campaign was fully funded. We kept applications open for the full semester, which allowed us to fund and additional 3 projects!

For more information on the grant program, including previously approved grant applications, materials and findings from previously approved grants, how to spend your grant money, and more, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants.

Rolls Report: 2025 Fall Wrap-up!

Usually, we get to see a couple more days of rolls after Mini-Raceday, before winter sets in. That was not to be this year, as consistent rain hit the course the following two weekends. So, while you haven’t heard from me in a few weeks, I wanted to give you all one more report! This will be a Fall Rolls-In-Review post, where we will go through some stats & storylines from the semester.


And highlight photos, too!

OrgBuggy (number of Fall rolls, excluding Mini-Raceday)
ApexHelios (39), Solaris (32), Molotov (20), Scorch (21)
CIAEmperor (30), Kingfisher (33), Goldfinch (34), Starling (21), Roadrunner (22)
DGInsite (3)
FringeBaltic (19), Blackbird (30), Blind Faith (13), Bermuda (37)
PiKARaptor (19)
SDCLust (36), Paranoia (47), Avarice (12), Vice (3)
SigEpBarracuda (9)
SigNuBungarus Krait (0)
SpiritSeraph (33), Inviscid (35), Mapambazuko (23), Kingpin II (19)
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BAA Grants for Retrofits and New Builds

The BAA Teams Committee has three funding opportunities available to current buggy teams for the 2025-2026 academic year:

We are continuing to offer our New Build Grant. If your team has not rolled a new buggy in the past 4 years, the BAA will reimburse up to $500 of build related expenses. This applies to new and ongoing builds.

In addition to the New Build Grant, we’re excited to announce the availability of a Retrofit Grant. This grant is available to fund up to $300 for retrofits on any currently non-rollable buggy to make it rollable and bylaws compliant.

Both of these grants are handled on a reimbursement basis. Reach out to Diya Nuxoll <diyanuxoll@cmubuggy.org> if you are interested in taking advantage of this funding!

And finally, as a continuation of our previous Hard Point Retrofit Funding, the BAA has provided Sweepstakes with funds to bulk purchase the supplies required for the recommended hard point retrofit methodology. If you are interested in performing this retrofit, please contact the RD26 Sweepstakes Mechanical Safety Chair, Sam Green <slgreen@andrew.cmu.edu>.

As always, even if none of these apply to your team, reach out to the BAA Teams Committee if you would like help finding sustainable sources of funding for your team, need advice to support your build, or need to find an extra set of hands for a critical work session.

Rolls Report November 8: Mini-Raceday 2025

Homecoming Weekend has come and gone! It was great to see some of you back on campus, and always great to meet more students who came out to chat and grab a donut (sorry we didn’t have enough for everyone, that won’t be a problem at Raceday!). Thanks especially to our volunteers!! There were some changes to Mini-Raceday this year which made it more exciting, although the weather was quite uncooperative, shortening our time to roll significantly.


We had heats this year!

OrgSaturday (Rolled Entries Only)
ApexHelios
CIAEmperor, Kingfisher, Goldfinch, Starling
DGInsite
FringeBaltic, Blackbird
PiKARaptor
SDCLust
SigEpBarracuda
SpiritSeraph, Inviscid

Photos: Saturday Gallery (upload)

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Rolls Report November 2: Halloween- on video!

Hello, it’s back to your regularly scheduled rolls reporter this week! Thanks much to James for filling in in my absence. Many happenings this weekend, including a single day of rolls due to not having quorum on November 1st. We saw buggies in Halloween costumes, successful and aborted pass tests, and teams doing Hill 1s to get ready for Mini-Raceday next week. I hope to see you there! Message us if you are coming and can help us time the teams, or just come for the action (and donuts).


Someone missed sweeping up this Redbull can in the chute

OrgSunday
ApexSolaris, Helios, Scorch
CIAEmperor, Kingfisher, Goldfinch, Starling
FringeBermuda, Blackbird
PiKARaptor
SDCParanoia, Lust, Vice
SpiritSeraph, Inviscid

Photos: Sunday Gallery (upload)

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Rolls Report October 25 and 26: Fall Pass Tests and Return of the Greeks

After a nice couple weekends off for Fall Break, we’re back into the swing with rolls. Dan was out again this week running a marathon, but I found a way to sneak in some training for the BAA vs Sweepstakes exhibition as well (read to the end to find out how!). We had a whopping 8 teams making an appearance this weekend, with some clearly putting in the reps in advance of Mini Raceday.

This year, Mini Raceday coincides with Homecoming (Nov 8/9)! We rely on volunteers to help make it happen — if you’re interested in pitching in, you can read more here!

OrgSaturdaySunday
ApexSolaris, MolotovScorch, Molotov
CIAGoldfinch, Emperor, StarlingGoldfinch, Roadrunner
DGInsite
FringeBaltic, Blackbird, Blind FaithBlackbird, Bermuda
PiKARaptor
SDCParanoia, Lust, AvariceParanoia, Lust
SigEpBarracudaBarracuda
SpiritInviscid, Seraph, ZukeInviscid, Seraph, Kingpin

Photos: Saturday Gallery (upload) | Sunday Gallery (upload)

General Observations

  • We’ve definitely crossed the threshold from the warmer mornings of the first half of the semester into the colder months and teams are bundling up. Now so can you, repping a new BAA crewneck! Warm, stylish, and available in 2 colors!
  • Fresh faces on the course! While the bulk of the rolls so far have been dominated by the independents, we saw PiKA, SigEp, and DG all out this weekend.
  • With many teams racking up rolls, some buggies are donning the trash bags once again — for pass tests in the fall! Sweeps is working on a new format for Mini Raceday featuring some heat-style races, necessitating teams to get their pass tests in before Homecoming.
Heavier jackets, hats, and blankets are making their appearance

Team Observations

  • Apex — A couple of their buggies seemed to be dressed up — they had some paper “costumes” on the back of Solaris and Molotov, but we’ll see if they come back with something more substantial for next weekend. On Sunday, we saw Scorch back on the course, but it seems like there may be some trouble getting it all the way around the hills. It was moving quite slowly through the freeroll and throughout the day, Apex chose to unload their driver at the bottom of Hill 3.
Molotov on the back hills — with a Solaris(?) costume
  • CIA — Fringe alumni attempts to steal Goldfinch off the course! With SigEp mixing in with CIA to get more rolls, there was some confusion during a pass test to get CIA pushers on the back hills, resulting in a local alum doing a Goldfinch 3-4. Other than that, CIA had an uneventful weekend.
Roadrunner by chute flag
    • DG — It was great seeing our only sorority back on the course. They brought Insite out for this weekend, although the rumor on the street is that their first build is still in progress. They brought plenty of energy on Saturday, with lots of cheers for their pushers from the follow car.
    Insite on Hill 3
    • Fringe — Fringe kicked things off with our first pass test of the season this year. Despite being a bit shorthanded on pushers, they continued to rack up clean rolls across their fleet this weekend.
    Guest pusher Sam Green with Blackbird on Hill 5
    • PiKA — Although they were only out on Saturday, they still got a good chunk of rolls in, leading the Greek orgs in total rolls. Raptor continues to carry its speed well through the freeroll. They were also able to execute on a pass test, partnering with SDC.
    Raptor in the freeroll
    • SDC — SDC had another tough weekend. In the first roll Saturday morning, Avarice went wide in the chute, hitting the outer bales. Sweeps was able to clear the accident relatively quickly, getting the driver checked by EMS and the buggy off the road in around 10 minutes. The driver is ok, though we don’t know how much damage Avarice sustained in the crash.
    Paranoia’s pushers seem to have sprouted wings
    • SigEp — SigEp also had their first appearance at rolls this semester, bringing out Barracuda. As mentioned earlier, they were able to double up on rolls with CIA to get their pass test in by the end of their first weekend. They put up a solid performance, showing good speed out of the gate.
    Barracuda returns to the course
    • Spirit — Spirit had some really strong rolls this weekend, right alongside some weaker ones. In one roll, Inviscid rolled almost to Hill 4, clearly burning their Hill 3 pusher, only to later in the day take a big slide, putting them only inches away from the outer bales. From what I saw Sunday, they were rolling a bit more consistently — maybe they just needed a bit more time to warm up after Fall Break.
    Kingpin entering the freeroll

    Bonus Pre-Halloween Special Feature

    While we’re hoping to have more teams out with costumes next weekend, some folks were already getting in the spirit. Here’s a couple photos of our favorites so far.

    Tony the Tiger in follow car
    Avarice as a butterfly
    Local Fringe alumni as cryptid / CIA pusher

    As always, if you would like to help contribute notes or photos/video for these rolls reports, you can sign up to help here or reach out to Dan.

    If you have additional notes or corrections, feel free to reach out to myself (@jamestwong on Discord / jameswong@cmubuggy.org) or Dan (@.dbec on Discord / danbecerra@cmubuggy.org).

    Thanks to Jazz and Guillermo for their contributions this week!

    Buggy Enhancement Grants Open All Semester

    To better serve the Buggy community, we will be keeping the Buggy Enhancement Grant application open all semester. Half of the remaining unallocated funds from the grant pool will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

    Apply Here:
    http://cmubuggy.org/2025fallgrant

    After you submit your application, expect an email from the committee the following week with questions and concerns that they would like to see addressed. Once you have responded to the committee’s feedback, we’ll hold the final vote on your grant proposal.

    Rolls Report October 4 and 5: A Fun-Filled Family Weekend

    Happy October, James here! With the start of spooky season, Dan is off in the woods, so I will be guest writing (ghost writing? 👻) this weekend’s rolls report. We got a few more spectators this weekend than normal, with visiting families around the course. CMU has finally moved Family Weekend to not conflict with Fall Break. On that note, there are not rolls scheduled the next 2 weekends (10/11 – 10/19) with the next possible rolls on 10/25 due to Fall Break.

    OrgSaturdaySunday
    ApexSolaris, HeliosSolaris, Helios
    CIAGoldfinch, Kingfisher, RoadrunnerKingfisher, Emperor
    FringeBermuda, Baltic, BlackbirdBlackbird, Bermuda
    RobobuggyNAND, Short Circuit
    SDCParanoia, LustParanoia, Lust
    SpiritInviscid, Seraph, ZukeSeraph, Inviscid, Zuke

    Photos: Saturday Gallery (upload) | Sunday Gallery (upload)

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