Manitoba Geocaching Association

[1Queenand4Jokers]

Who better than the caching genius community to turn to for advice about engineering a kid's hobby club race car for speed. This is the kit where you get a block of wood, 4 wheels and 4 axels and a maximum weight restriction listed.

Have any of you done this before and how do you build a winning car? What do you use for even weight distribution? Lead? Or...

We've never built a speedy one with the boys but we have built several that have won design...We know it has to be very aerodynamic. We're open to all hints.

[grnbrg]

One suggestion I would have love to have had when I was building my own: Get as close to the weight limit as possible. Lighter is not faster in this case -- additional weight gives the car additional energy to overcome friction.

My , anyway...


grnbrg

[TheStuntman]

My boys have built many over their years in cubs and scouts. Here's some pics of a typical cub car.

The most important things to watch are making sure your car is at its max weight (important to speed) then putting that weight as far back as possible but not too far that the front wheels want to pop the car off track. Secondly, make sure the wheels roll freely and are properly aligned to go straight down the track and not making the car scrub the side of the track, slowing it on the way down.

Good luck with your racer.

P.S. I have a track to donate to a cub or scout group if you want to practice/tweek/cheat/pre-race/test/tune.