Talk:Ramblin' Wreck

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[edit] Historical Discrepencies

It's funny how there are so many websites out there with mistypes, inaccuracies, and just plain wrong info about the Wreck. I've pretty much cleared up most of the history that is incorrect using papers and documents from the 60's and 70's rather than necessarily using websites (although the sites are cited as primary sources). I've found that documents from the beginning of the Wreck's lifetime have a lot less discrepancies than the Ga Tech websites usually do. Weird how everything you read on the net isn't always true. I'll get those citings up sooner rather than later. Excaliburhorn Jan 31, 2007 11:00PM EST. UTC

Interesting. By the way, I'm going to nominate this article for GA status fairly soon... perhaps after the web citations are fixed using {{cite web}}, {{cite news}} etc. —Disavian (talk/contribs) 05:38, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GA Passed

Meets all criteria listed at WP:WIAGA. Congrats! --Jayron32|talk|contribs 03:45, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Woohoo. -Excaliburhorn 15:33, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
That's #6. I'm running out of high-quality B-class articles to nominate :p —Disavian (talk/contribs) 20:19, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] So what are the other two cars?

From the AP story:

WAGA said the Rambling Wreck was at an undisclosed location where Bird and others planned to make repairs. There are two others that could be used in a pinch, the station said.

What are the other two cars? Clearly different models or lookalikes? —C.Fred (talk) 00:05, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

The other two they may be referencing are the Alumni Wreck (a convertible) and the shell in the lobby of the hotel (doesn't run). Neither are suitable replacements nor in any shape or form equivalents. --Excaliburhorn 01:30, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
Ah. The article made it sound like they were at least suitable replacements. However, whereas other statements in the article were cited back to the Athletic Department, the replacement car comment got no further than (Atlanta TV station) WAGA. Curiously, WAGA had no article on their website today (Thursday). —C.Fred (talk) 01:48, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
I think a better article would be the AJC. They've gotten the best interview so far.link Also, the Technique should be coming out with an article sooner or later with an interview. There's really no new published information on the subject. That AP article really is terrible. I think WAGA just made up some things about the Wreck after the interview and spit an article out for everyone to send out. I've seen on it on Yahoo, CBS, ABC, NBC, ESPNU, Sports Illustrated, etc. but I guess any press is good press. Too bad it has to be about such a terrible incident.--Excaliburhorn 05:30, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
I'll agree with you there-- it was one of the shittiest articles I've ever read. Plus, they filed it under "Oddly enough" or "strange," which is a bit of an insult. —Disavian (talk/contribs) 06:49, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Accident

I think it'd be an interesting addition to add a more in depth part about the accident to this article because it's probably become a fairly popular viewing since June 15th. We can build it in an accident, restoration, and unveiling type format with each part pretty thick with the metric crap ton of references out there now. I also think the "Famous Incidents" section is kind of trivial because none of the stories are in depth enough or have poor references. I guess it'll be a mini-project in the next few weeks. --Excaliburhorn 01:55, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Spit and polish

This is more for my own benefit than anything else, mostly because I don't feel this is necessary on the FAC page. However, this is also for the benefit of the regular editors of this article.

  • I've gone through and fixed some really picky stuff with non-breaking spaces and date formatting in refs. If I missed any, please fix them.
  • Speaking of refs, I noticed that the general "Citation" template is used for a lot of the old Technique articles. Do we want to leave it that way, or should those all be converted to "cite news"?
  • The lead could use a smidgen of expansion. I think if we pull a little out of each section and summarize, we should be able to get to the suggested three-paragraphs easily. I'll see what I can do about that later if no one gets to it before me.
    • Update 22 Aug 2007: I've expanded the lead and added a paragraph about the South American Wrecks in the history section. Please review and comment.
  • I rearranged some of the images to fall more in line with the WP:MOS. Particularly, there's that annoying rule about left-aligned images after third-level headings. I think. If I'm wrong, slap me, then fix it. I also made the lead image a little bigger. It seemed puny compared to the big one of Whatshisname under it.
  • I need to go through and do some good, old, classic copy-editing. At a quick glance I don't see anything glaringly wrong, but it can't hurt. It also can't hurt if someone else (or several someones else) does this, too. The more eyes the better.
  • Update 22 Aug 2007: I added a few refs in the places where it was suggested they were necessary in the FAC. Take a look at my comments there regarding this.
  • Update 22 Aug 2007: Does anyone have a source that talks about the selection of the earliest Wreck drivers? I seem to recall that it was the president of the Interfraternity Council (or something) at some point. It had something to do with fraternities. This would be good to expand the section about the drivers.

LaMenta3 16:36, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

The 1963 Student Council Reck Committee report details the position at the time. The Reck Driver from around 1961-1967ish? was an elected member of the student council and was a sophomore. The Model A Ramblin' Wreck was never controlled by fraternities. That's kind of a mixing of stories from the pre-1961 years and the early 60's Ramblin' Wreck years.--Excaliburhorn 14:56, 3 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Copyright?

"The Institute has adopted the spelling Ramblin' Wreck and holds the copyright on the phrase." Such short phrases are not eligible for copyright under US law. Unless someone posts supporting evidence, I plan to delete this claim. Can anyone verify? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.156.147.178 (talk) 00:29, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

From the Copyright FAQ at the US Copyright Office's website (www.copyright.gov): "Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.156.147.219 (talk) 01:07, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

Whoever wrote that probably meant "trademarked". —Disavian (talk/contribs) 01:09, 28 November 2007 (UTC)
This page lists Georgia Tech's trademarks. —Disavian (talk/contribs) 01:26, 28 November 2007 (UTC)
Fixed it for you. (diff) —Disavian (talk/contribs) 02:05, 28 November 2007 (UTC)