Southern Poly Bathtub Racing Association

The Races SHALL go on! The bathtub races will still happen under the New U. Stay tune as we prepare for 2016 races!! In 1968, the first Bathtub Race was held.

History of the Race
It all began in 1966, when our university was known as Southern Tech, a student organization built a cooler by mounting a porcelain bathtub on a wooden frame. However, these students were not going to settle with an old wooden frame, so they upgraded the wooden frame to a metal frame and attached a motor to save the hassle of pushing the tub. Not long after, several other stude

nt organizations began to build their own motorized bathtubs and thus, the Bathtub Races began. The organizations would compete and race these motorized bathtubs around the original campus loop in order to become the Bathtub Race champion. Most of the bathtubs reached speeds of 90mph and often companies would sponsor them. The event became so large that even our former president, Jimmy Carter, came out and sat in one of the bathtubs. It was a well-known event in which both the campus community as well as the surrounding public looked forward to every year. After several years of success, the Bathtub Races were shut down. One main reason was that Southern Tech was in the early stages of becoming a four-year university. Also, high insurance on the race and the companies sponsoring the tubs, consisting of mostly alcohol and to***co companies, contributed to the demise of the Bathtub Races. The final race was held in 1991 and from then on they were no more. In the Spring of 2010 the races were brought back and continued on to Spring 2011 and will commence yet again this Spring of 2013. The races now consist of push bathtubs with hopes of bringing the motors back in the near future. The Bathtub Racing Association has two SPSU tubs that were built, courtesy of Darryl Higginbotham, and have been used in the past two races. Spring 2013 Bathtub Race
For this Spring Bathtub Race we expect to have both team built bathtubs and teams using the SPSU bathtubs go neck and neck to race and be the Bathtub Race champion. In order for us to move towards our goal of bringing back the motors we must have student groups build their own tubs and also obtain a large following from the campus community. So, register today and get involved with this historic event! There will be several giveaways, a mini food-truck park, prizes to the winning team and of course the title of the Bathtub Race Champion of 2013! Register by submitting the following information to [email protected]:
1. Team name
2. Team members racing & gender of each
3. Your affiliation with SPSU
4. Bring your $10 entrance fee on race day. ALL proceeds will be donated to the Small Dog Rescue & Humane Society in light of the support by the late Professor Larry Logue. First 50 people to attend will receive a FREE t-shirt!

07/26/2018

The Bathtub Race From the early 1960's to 1992 students of a Marietta Georgia engineering school maintained the tradition of racing cast-iron bathtubs.

12/15/2016

“God created bumpers and… bumpers were made for bumping.” - Dale Earnhardt

08/27/2014

Bathtub Racing

Southern Tech Bathtub Racing Now known as Southern Polytechnic State University, Southern Tech engineering students in Marietta Georgia, built and raced cast iron bathtubs around campus ...

10/14/2013

Hey everyone we have got a lot of stuff to cover in Monday's meeting! We are going to finalize the race plan for the November race. We also need to fix the tub damaged at last semester's race, so if you would like to help fix it be there Monday and we will setup a team to make the repairs. We also are going to be composing ideas for the Motorized Tub proposal, any ideas on motor size, horsepower, power limiters, etc. will be greatly appreciated, your input on the discussions are needed as well. Any other ideas you have from race-day ideas to fundraising tactics are greatly needed, come on by Monday October 14, 2013 at 5:00 pm to room Q-118 and share your opinions.

Thanks,

Raymond Colbert

10/07/2013

Hey, everyone just a quick reminder that the BTRA has a meeting today at 5:00 in room Q-118. Hope to see you there!

09/30/2013

A quick reminder that the BTRA has a meeting scheduled for 5:00 pm today, Monday September 30, 2013 in room Q-118.

09/23/2013

Hey everyone this is a reminder for tomorrow's meeting Monday, September 23rd, at 5:00 pm in room Q-118. Try to make it if you can, we will be discussing the fall race.

09/16/2013

Just a reminder to anyone who might be interested: Our first meeting is at 5:00 PM TODAY!!! Come on by to room Q-118 if you can!

09/13/2013

Hey everyone, we decided when to have our first official meeting this semester: Next Monday, the 16 of September at 5:00 pm in room Q-118. Please attend if at all possible, also try to get some discussion topics together to bring to our attention. Here are a few starter ideas: Possibility of fall race, the motor proposal, fundraising/budget, recruitment drive, and anything else you can think of.

Thanks and have a great semester;