The Math Behind Hullabaloo Rumble Strips

The Aggie War Hymn turned 100 this year, but Aggies are always finding new ways to share it. In 2016, “rumble strips” that sound out the War Hymn’s opening cadence appeared on a road next to campus, and they’re now featured in several spots (see map at bottom).

Cary Tschirhart ’85, a former Aggie bandsman who helped work out the math for the rumble strips, shared his calculations with us.

Laying down “Hullabaloo” strips:

• Measure the wheelbase length in inches (from center of front wheel to center of back wheel) of a typical vehicle that will drive over the strips. (At A&M, wherever the strips appear in two lanes, the left lane is spaced for car wheelbases and the right for pickups.) 
• Place the first strip. 
• Put the next strip twice the wheelbase length away (2x). 
• Third strip goes 3x from the second strip. Repeat at 3x, 4x, 2x, 3x, and 3x.

“In summary, place one strip and then others at 2x, 3x, 3x, 4x, 2x, 3x, 3x,” Tschirhart said. 

“To find the speed you need to travel in order to thump out ‘Hullabaloo,’ divide the wheelbase in inches by 3.385.”

There are car and truck “Hullabaloo” strips both ways on George Bush Drive near the Bush Library entrance, and a car/truck set outbound only on New Main Drive. A partial set (just one “hullabaloo caneck caneck,” in the left lane only, both directions) is on Research Parkway near entrances to two A&M Game Day parking lots (the RV lot and Fan Field).

Other roads around campus with 30- to 40-mph speed limits have been mentioned as possible future sites, such as University Drive, Texas Avenue and Wellborn Road.

Tschirhart began his calculations with the fact that the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band marches at 104 beats per minute. To match that tempo, he calculated, a vehicle with an 11.3-foot wheelbase would need to move at 40 mph.

If you want to test out the math yourself, definitely don’t lay down unapproved modifications to a public road. Improperly used, rumble strips can distract drivers. The strips around A&M have been approved and can even function as a reminder to maintain the proper driving speed in those areas.

And unless you’ve got your own road that’s more than 500 feet long, another limiting factor may be the distance needed to let a car get up to speed and safely decelerate or continue. For shorter distances, Tschirhart notes that the wheelbase math works just fine with bikes and even skateboards. Though the ride might rattle your teeth!

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Map pins, clockwise from top:

• New Main Drive - car and truck “Hullabaloo” strips, outbound lanes only
• George Bush Drive - car and truck strips, both sides of road
• Research Parkway - partial set (just one “hullabaloo caneck caneck,” left lane only, both directions)