CIA was founded in 1970 by a group of individuals who wanted to compete in the events of Spring Carnival, primarily Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes, otherwise known as buggy, is an over 70 year old tradition at CMU that culminates in Spring Carnival. A buggy race consists of a 5 person relay around a 0.8 mile course in Schenley Park using a buggy and its driver as the baton.

Most of the teams that enter Sweepstakes are sponsored by fraternities, but there are a few independent teams. CIA is one of these. In our 30 years of existence, our hard work and determination have established us as a buggy power. In 15 different years, our men's team has been in the final heats, posting its first victory in 1981, and becoming the first independent organization to win Sweepstakes. Also in 1981, CIA established a new course record that stood until 1983.

The early 80's marked the addition of women's teams in buggy. Since that time our women's team has been victorious 3 times, and has set a new course record each time.

CIA's primary focus is buggy; although we also participate in intramural sports and hold regular social events, our common interest and desire is capturing another trophy while having fun. Within CIA, there are four primary specialties: drivers, pushers, mechanics, and support personnel. All are equally important to a successful buggy team, and all four groups must work closely with one another to become the finely tuned machine of an elite buggy team. Email our chairperson if you'd like to join, or post to our bboard (assocs.cia) if you'd like to ask the general membership anything about CIA or buggy in general! More information about what we're up to at the moment can be found over on our current events page. If you have questions about a specific aspect of CIA, check out our officers - feel free to email any of them with any questions you have! If you're trying to find us, check out our list of directions to various CIA-type places. More detailed information about us can be found in the Members section.

	Drivers Good things come in small packages
	The part of a driver is rather obvious - to guide a buggy around the course without running into anything. Drivers by necessity must be diminutive and are some of the gutsiest people alive. The driver is strapped into the buggy facing headfirst, only an inch or two off the ground, and must pilot it throughout the entire course. During the freeroll, the longest section of the course, the driver must follow an optimal path through two bends and a sharp hairpin turn at the bottom, at speeds of up to 30-40 mph. Most drivers believe there is nothing in the world like driving a buggy, and that it's one of the greatest rushes of their lives.
	Pushers We really run the show.
	Pushers are the rocket fuel that power buggies around the course. Each push team consists of 5 members, chosen for their different skills. Although there are physically two hills in the course, separated by the freeroll, they are broken up into five "hills", or relay segments - two before the freeroll, and three in the back hills. Each hill is different, and requires different abilities in a pusher, meaning that almost anyone who is dedicated can fit smoothly into a push team.  CIA's pushers are among the most dedicated in all of Sweepstakes; last year we routinely pushed other organizations' buggies back up the hills if they were short on pushers. We train throughout the year, both in the gym and on the hills during freeroll practice in order to function smoothly as one unit. We plan on fielding 3-4 men's teams and 2-3 women's teams this year, so we have room (and a need for) many excellent pushers. Come help to propel CIA to a much-coveted trophy!
	Mechanics Have wrench, will travel
	Mechanics are the gnomes behind the scenes that work magic with ordinary materials, sweat, and blood. They aren't visible come race day, but without them, buggy would not exist. Mechanics build, fix, patch, and tune buggies to squeeze every last microsecond of speed out of them. Some join CIA with no shop experience, some with tons. As long as a mechanic is dedicated, it doesn't matter - what he doesn't know, we can teach him. Mechanics must be jacks-of-all-trades (and if a new mechanic isn't, she will become one very quickly). There is nothing so rewarding and thrilling as to see the product of your labors speed perfectly through the chute at 40 mph or roll across the finish line ahead of the rest of your heat.
	Support Can do!
	Support personnel work behind the scenes to ensure that CIA continues to function smoothly; many double up as mechanics or pushers. Support folk are essential - they help the push captains time the pushers to figure out the best push teams possible, hold flags for the buggy drivers to aim for, photograph rolls and CIA events, relay messages, obtain materials for the mechanics, and generally do anything that needs to be done.