Tuesday 7 July 2009

How do you choose a name?


We here at BYR have spent a of time lately brainstorming vehicle names for our new rig. Over the past six years we've stuck to a Formula 1 inspired naming system:

We are proud of our history, but are now consulting the dictionary for some new terms. 'Consulting' is a loose term, since it involves opening to any page and pointing with a finger.

How do you choose a name?
Let us know in the Comments section.


This process has also made me reflect today about team names of the past and I think they tend to fit into a few different categories:

'Noble' Names
These names draw on inspirational qualities or characteristics and tend to end in 'ous'
Some examples include Tenacious, Intensus, Alchemy, Conquistador, Rampage, Intrepid, Rapacious.

'Race Team' & Sponsored Names -
The team might be sponsored or wanting to add a professional touch.
eg. DAS Racing, Bendigo Bank BYR, Trend Ice.

Names with 'you-had-to-be-there' in-jokes -
Over the journey of building the vehicle, the team have had a share experience or joke that has stuck.
Eg, 'Molten Chicken' (BSSC 2001), Parade College's 'Big Papa' (2008) or Highview's '3-Nil' (2006)

'Fun' for the heck of it Names -
For those times when it all gets a bit too serious, it's great to know there are prepared to put a shoe in the front of the vehicle and call it 'The Shark', or Bendigo Senior's 'Bukkamalzir', 'The Battered Sav' or 'Grug'.

Acronym & Alphanumeric Names -
Using the flexibility of the English language, teams have been exploiting this one for years!
Flora Hill's 'WAMTOS' (We Actually Made This Ourselves) and 'Carbon8' or Padua College's 'XLR8' are some famous examples.

Characteristic names -
Here you take a unique aspect of a vehicle and incorporate it into the team name.
A four wheeler called 'N4Sir' or a front wheel drive, rear wheel steer vehicle with a differential called 'Moby Diff' or a half composite monocoque/half cromo-framed hybrid called 'Half-Coqued'.

Traditional School Names -
Year in, year out this school photocopies the previous entry form and sends it in, sometimes with some small variation for 'fun'.
A bit confused? Think the Wonthaggi 'Wizards', Berwick 'Fire____', Aberfoyle 'Hubcaps', St Therese's 'Eco Racers'

So, how do you choose a name?

6 comments:

  1. how about being in year 11 and being under pressure to come up with a name because entries are due in tomorrow, so you get your physics book out and see 'Blue Shift' and say 'yeh, that'll do it!' ..... and then nine years later you still have the same name! haha

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  2. This ones already taken by Woodleigh School, but the name 'Helter Skelter' is an absoloute ripper

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  3. For some reason it always seems to revolve around something somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Dangle Berry, Morning Glory... see a trend?

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  4. he he... there are some good suggestions and insights here!
    We've also had some suggested names for our '09 rig come in via txt:

    - 'The Gull'
    - 'BulletProof'

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  5. bullet proofs been used by weroona. what about tank?

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