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A long time ago, I remember a contest where we'd build wooden toy cars (generally using kits). Competitors would all place their car on top of a hill, then they'd fall down. The winner was the one whose car reached the end fastest. Techniques like intelligent placement of weights and smart aerodynamics
improved a car's ability to win.
So, I propose a secondary event using the same vehicles and hill. A strip of inflexible plastic (or metal) of approximately car height would be in each track with a motion camera attacked to its front. The strip would be attached to the track in such a way that it could be moved down the track quickly. The motion camera would be used to select a speed which minimized distance between the device and the car without them touching. I believe such a solution would likely end up reducing the advantage of having an aerodynamic design.
152 MPH Bicycle
http://www.canosoar...le/LSR%20Bike01.htm
Don't underestimate the power of drafting. [kevinthenerd, Jun 10 2008]
[link]
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//Competitors would all place their car on top of a hill, then they'd fall down//
What fell down - the cars or the competitors? |
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Not at all sure what the purpose of the secondary car (strip of plastic?) is, other than filming the real car. |
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Do you mean that the plastic strip is a
moving windbreak that stays a constant
distance ahead of a car? If so, why? |
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We called these pinewood derby cars and if you are reducing the advantage of aerodynamics, you are killing most of the event, leaving only bearing design. Actually you would just change the event into a drafting contest behind the plastic strip, so what are you a NASCAR fan? (-) |
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I used to do the pine wood derby, and yes, it's very much about aero. |
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