Race cars can get HOT. Heat impairs athletic performance and I imagine harms reaction time and judgement. Of course real air conditioning isn't feasible because it's heavy, saps power, and/or involves a dangerous large extra block of metal to potentially harm the driver.

Now race car drivers are already covered from head to toe and well ventilated. A minor change to the traditional uniform should protect against spills in the case of accidents. Just cover any remaining exposed skin such as the neck and wrists.
-- Voice, Sep 20 2012

Apparently the trick is to apply the liquid nitrogen before the race... http://www.ehow.com...racing-engines.html
(Not so much for cooling, more for changing the crystalline properties of the engine parts.) [DrCurry, Sep 24 2012]

Obviously nitrogen is a bad idea, since it will displace oxygen. If you start with liquid oxygen, not only will it cool things, but the high oxygen environment will improve reflexes even further.

Of course it will make crashes a quite bit more spectacular, but since that's why everyone watches racing in the first place, it should be a net plus for everyone (except the drivers).
-- MechE, Sep 20 2012


What's with this big bucket of something in race cars idea? I've had a big bucket of something in a race car used to explain something to me a few times. Usually it's a lesson in causation like "if you drive with a big bucket of shit in your car and you win doesn't mean you have to drive with a big bucket of shit in your car everytime" or something like that.
-- rcarty, Sep 20 2012


// Of course real air conditioning isn't feasible because it's heavy //

As is a big bucket of whatever...

// and/or involves a dangerous large extra block of metal to potentially harm the driver //

As does a big bucket of whatever.
-- Alterother, Sep 22 2012


Liquid nitrogen could be carried in a foam container. It doesn't need to be pressurized, especially if you are letting some boil off for air-conditioning use.
-- baconbrain, Sep 24 2012



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