The Ramblin' Wreck leading the Yellow Jackets onto the field against Maryland in 2006.

The Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech is the name of the official mascot of the student body at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Ramblin' Wreck is a 1930 Ford Model A Sports Coupe and it embodies the spirit, tradition, and passion of Tech. The Wreck is present at all major sporting events and student body functions. Its most noticeable role is leading the football team onto Historic Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium, a duty which the Wreck has performed since 1961. The Ramblin' Wreck has been mechanically and financially maintained on campus by students in the Ramblin' Reck Club since 1967. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1544x1024, 247 KB) (John Bird, self-taken, 2006) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1544x1024, 247 KB) (John Bird, self-taken, 2006) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, is a public, coeducational university, part of the University System of Georgia, and located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with satellite campuses in Savannah, Georgia and Metz, France. ... Lineup of Ford Model As GAZ-A photographed outside the GAZ plant in 1951. ... The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. ... Bobby Dodd Stadium is the football stadium located on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. ...

History

The Ramblin' Wreck motor. The last time the engine was rebuilt was in 1999.

The first "mechanical mascot" at Georgia Tech was a 1914 Ford Model T owned by Dean Floyd Field. The student body nicknamed the vehicle Floyd's Flubber. There was even mention of the vehicle in The Technique as the "Ramblin' Reck" as early as 1927. The Model T was in poor condition and to the dismay of the student body the vehicle was discarded by Dean Field in 1928. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 399 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (814 × 1223 pixel, file size: 147 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 399 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (814 × 1223 pixel, file size: 147 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... The Technique, also known as the Nique, is the official student newspaper of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. ...

In memorium to his retired Tin Lizzie, Dean Field started "an Old Ford Race" from Atlanta to Athens in 1929. The race was sponsored by the Technique, which nicknamed the event the Flying Flivver Race.^[1] The Tech administration disliked the perilous race and reduced the race to a more peaceful and regulated parade of contraptions. The Yellow Jacket Club facilitated the first Wreck parade in 1932. The Wreck Parade still remains and has become a centerpiece of Tech homecomings since its inception.^[2] The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... Downtown Athens, as seen through the University of Georgia arch Athens or Athens-Clarke County is a city located in Georgia, U.S., in the northeastern part of the state, just off of Georgia 316. ... The Technique, also known as the Nique, is the official student newspaper of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. ...

Dean of Student Affairs Jim Dull recognized a need for an official Ramblin' Wreck when he observed the student body's fascination with classic cars. Fraternities, at the time, would parade around their House Wrecks as displays of school spirit and enthusiasm. In 1960, Dull would begin a search for a new official symbol for the Institute. He specifically wanted a classic pre-war Ford to represent the Institute. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Dull's search would entail newspaper ads, radio commercials, and many other means of communication. The search would take him throughout the state and country but no suitable vehicle was ever found until Autumn of 1960. Dean Dull spotted a polished 1930 Ford Model A outside of his apartment located in Towers Dormitory. The owner was Captain Ted J. Johnson, Atlanta's chief Delta Air Lines pilot. Johnson had restored the car with his son, Craig, as a father-son project while Craig attended the Georgia Military Academy.^[3] Dull offered Ted $1,000 dollars for the car. Johnson, after great deliberation, agreed to take the money but would eventually return it so that the car would be remembered as an official donation to Georgia Tech. The Ramblin' Wreck would be officially transfered to the Institute on May 12, 1961.^[2] Autumn (also known as fall in North American English) is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition from summer into winter. ... Delta Air Lines, Inc. ... Woodward Academy is a private day school located in College Park, Georgia, USA. // Woodward Academy was founded in 1900 as the Georgia Military Academy, a military boarding school for boys. ...

The Ramblin' Wreck was unveiled September 30, 1961 at Grant Field in front of 43,501 Tech fans as it lead the team onto the field against Rice University. The team prevailed 24-0 and the Wreck became an instant success within the Tech family.^[4] The Wreck has lead the team onto the field every home game ever since. Lovett Hall William Marsh Rice University, commonly called Rice University and opened in 1912 as The William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Letters, Science and Art, is a private, comprehensive research university located in Houston, Texas near the Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. ...

Bobby Dodd's Touch

The current color scheme was selected in 1974 by then athletic director and former head coach Bobby Dodd. The original Wreck decor featured a wooden GT shield on both the driver and passenger side doors. This shield was removed during Dodd's revitalization of the old Model A. Dodd chose an old gold paint from a Lincoln car paint catalogue as the base for the new color scheme. He also placed a slightly stretched GT emblem on the door, a Tech helmet on the rear quarter panel, and a 1952 version of the Yellow Jacket on the front quarter panel. The biggest structural change was a support system attached to the car's frame. The support system runs the length of the running boards and allows the increased weight of cheerleaders or Reck Club members standing on the runningboards. During this time and until his retirement, Pete George maintained the Ramblin' Wreck at the Hapeville Ford Plant.^[5] Bobby Dodd (November 11, 1908–June 21, 1988) was an American college football coach at Georgia Tech. ... Old Gold is a dark yellow, which varies from light olive or olive brown to deep or strong yellow. ... Lincoln is an American luxury automobile brand, operated under the Ford Motor Company. ... Hapeville is a city located in Fulton County, Georgia. ...

George would mastermind a major refurbishment of the Wreck in 1982 for Georgia Tech's 1985 centennial celebration. The car was completely disassembled, rebuilt, and repainted by 1983.

Centennial Celebration Changes

The Ramblin' Wreck in 1979 Technique.

There were a few noticeable changes to the Ramblin' Wreck after the 1983 refurbishment. An aftermarket chrome stone guard was added to protect the grill.^[6] The emblems on the side were removed and replaced by a basic GT on the doors. The 1952 Yellow Jackets were moved to the front tire wells. The white horn was chromed over. The old tire cover was a shield with a football helmet wearing yellow jacket. This was replaced with a white generic naugahyde Ford tire cover. The Old Model A tires were replaced with Model B whitewall tires.^[5] Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Look up chrome in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Pleather is a synthetic leather made out of plastic. ... The Model B was a new Ford automobile produced in the 1932 model year. ... White wall tires are tires that have stripe of white rubber on the outer sidewalls. ...

Recent Modifications

The Wreck has had numerous mechanical and cosmetic repairs over the years since Pete George's initial full rebuild. Typically, the pin striping is repainted every two or three years and the decals are replaced within a similar timespan.^[5] The last total refurbishment was performed in 1999. The upholstery was redone in 2001 as well as the replacement of the electrical generator with a more efficient Nu-Rex alternator. An electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, generally using electromagnetic induction. ...

Specifics and Clarifications

The Ramblin' Wreck Flags.

There are several lesser known details about the Wreck that are easily missed when it rambles down Techwood Drive. Specific physical details and the actual person behind the wheel are often missed or overlooked. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 485 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (813 × 1004 pixel, file size: 106 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 485 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (813 × 1004 pixel, file size: 106 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ...

The Wreck is financially maintained through Reck Club appearances and fundraisers. There is no official source of funding from the Institute, Athletic Association, or Alumni Association. This gives the Wreck a unique level of independence that is atypical amongst college mascots.

The Wreck is distinguished by its old gold body and white soft top. The soft top has a chrome support strut, which features a brass classic Tech T and 1952 yellow jacket. The body also has two solid white runningboards, which run the length of the vehicle. The running boards support cheerleaders or the occasional Techies looking for a ride. The interior upholstery is gold and white striped pleather. The gear shifter knob is a white globe with the classic Tech T painted on it. There are two golden nylon pennants emblazoned with the words "To Hell With Georgia" and "Give 'Em Hell Tech" fastened to the front bumper.^[7] Old Gold is a dark yellow, which varies from light olive or olive brown to deep or strong yellow. ... This article is about the color. ... Brass is any alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses, each of which has unique properties[1]. Note that in comparison bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin. ... Yellowjackets are black-and-yellow wasps of the genus Vespula or Dolichovespula. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Technology. ... Pleather (plastic leather) is a slang term for synthetic leather made out of plastic. ... Look up golden in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers first produced on February 28, 1935 by Gerard J. Berchet of Wallace Carothers research group at DuPont. ...

The Driver

The Ramblin' Wreck radiator cap.

The Driver of the Ramblin' Wreck is an elected position within the Ramblin' Reck Club. This position is determined after every football season. It is a member of Ramblin' Reck Club who exemplifies excellent school spirit, knowledge of traditions and history, and mechanical prowess for working on the Wreck. The Driver gets to add his own personal touch every year to the Wreck. The front license plate is chosen by the driver every year and the radiator cap is replaced yearly as well. The cap is typically a flying quail or a wreath. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... // Introduction A license plate, number plate or registration plate (often referred to simply as a plate, or colloquially tag) is a small metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle for official identification purposes. ... Radiators and convectors are types of heat exchangers designed to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. ... Genera Coturnix Anurophasis Perdicula Ophrysia † See also Pheasant, Partridge, Grouse Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds in the pheasant family Phasianidae, or in the family Odontophoridae. ... A wreath is a ring made of flowers, leaves, and sometimes fruits, used as an ornament, hanging on a wall or door, or resting on a table. ...

The Driver of the Wreck was originally the Ramblin' Reck Committee Chair of the Student Council. The first ever driver was Dekle Rountree who drove the Wreck from May 1961 to the end of the 1961 football season.^[8] The control of the Ramblin' Wreck transitioned to the Reck Club from 1964-1967. During this period, Reck Club was relieved of its RAT rules enforcement duties and given more wholesome jobs of maintaining the Wreck, upholding traditions, and generating school spirit.^[9] There has only been one female driver for the Ramblin' Wreck in the entire history of its existence. Lisa Volmar, an Industrial Engineering major, was elected the driver in 1984 and she remains the only female driver ever in the 46 years of the Ramblin' Wreck's service to the Institute.^{[10] [11]} Industrial engineering is a branch in engineering that concerns the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, knowledge, equipment, energy, material and process. ...

Reck or Wreck

The name can be spelled either Ramblin' Wreck or Ramblin' Reck. The first references spelled the word "reck" to appear as an alliteration. The Ramblin' Reck Club has not changed its name since the first spelling while the school has adopted the modern spelling Ramblin' Wreck. The Reck Club still refers to the Ramblin' Wreck as the Reck while most other agencies refer to the Ramblin' Wreck as simply the Wreck. Alliteration is a structuring device characterized by the reiteration of the initial consonant at the beginning of two consecutive or slightly separated words. ...

Famous Incidents

There are several famous incidents involving the Ramblin' Wreck's history and most of these incidents involve the Wreck getting wrecked. A lot of the incidents are related to taking the Wreck to away games, which was a common practice until recent times.

In 1962, the Wreck was painted orange by students from the University of Tennessee. The Wreck was stored in an unlocked garage after the game and UT fans snuck in, tore the soft top apart, and painted the car in Tennessee orange. The University of Tennessee (UT), sometimes called the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT Knoxville or UTK), is the flagship institution of the statewide land-grant University of Tennessee public university system. ...

After the 1968 victory over Auburn University, an angered Auburn fan shot the radiator with a rifle from his dormitory window. Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a state university located in Auburn, Alabama, in the United States. ...

The Wreck has also been stolen by University of Georgia fans twice. The University of Georgia (UGA) is the largest institution of higher learning in the state of Georgia. ...

A rule was instituted by Georgia Tech in the 1980's that the Wreck would only travel to friendly or neutral sites (e.g. 2004 Basketball Final Four, College World Series, bowl games, etc.). ^[2] // Final four redirects here. ... The College World Series is the tournament which determines the NCAA Division I collegiate baseball champion. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

False Wrecks

• There are several vehicles that claim "Ramblin' Wreck status." The most famous of these Wrecks is a 1931 Ford Model A Roadster. This vehicle was refurbished along with the real Wreck in 1985 and auctioned for $250,000 by Pete George. Pete actually bought back the car and donated it to the Alumni Association, where it has served as the Alumni Association's mascot ever since. The Alumni Wreck or Centennial Wreck is distinguished by its spare tire locations on the driver's side and passenger's side runningboards. It also has a convertible top. The real Wreck's spare is behind the rumble seat and cannot remove its roof.^[12]
• There is a 1930 Ford Model A Sports Coupe shell in the Georgia Tech Hotel. This car has not worked since it has been on campus. The shell lacks a complete rear end and does not have the current Wreck's chrome stone guard.^[13]
• There are also several alumni owned vehicles that are painted to resemble the Wreck. All of these vehicles mimic the look and feel of the Wreck but are not the Ramblin' Wreck.
• Several B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators were designated the name Ramblin' Reck during service in World War II.^[14][15]
• The Chicago Brewing Company features an amber ale by the name of Ramblin' Reck Amber Ale.^[16]

A centennial is a 100-year anniversary of an event, or the celebrations pertaining thereto. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the US Army Air Corps (USAAC). ... The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American bomber that was produced in greater numbers than any other American combat aircraft during the World War II and was used by most of the Allied air forces during the war. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... North American amber ales are beers which range from light copper to light brown in color (with some termed red ales if the color warrants). ...

See also

• Buzz - The other mascot for the Institute
• Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate - The rivalry between Tech and UGA
• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - The Athletics Teams of Georgia Tech
• Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech - The fight song of Georgia Tech

Buzz visits with Virginia Tech fans at the innaugural ACC title game Buzz is the official mascot for the Georgia Institute of Technology. ... Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate is the name of the college rivalry between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Georgia Bulldogs. ... Pairs of schools, colleges and universities, especially when they are close to each other either geographically or in their areas of specialization, often establish a college rivalry with each other over the years. ... The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. ... Im a Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech is the fight song of the Georgia Institute of Technology, better known as Georgia Tech. ...

References

The Technique, also known as the Nique, is the official student newspaper of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... For other uses, see Blueprint (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Blueprint (disambiguation). ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... For other uses, see Blueprint (disambiguation). ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

External links

• The Georgia Institute of Technology Traditions Page
• The Georgia Tech Alumni Association Traditions Page
• The Georgia Tech T-Book
• The Official Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Website
• The Ramblin' Reck Club