Gravity Racing Car

Abstract

An improved gravity racing car which includes an interior cavity for the arrangement of removable weights / ballast, removable tires, and body savers / sliders which is particularly suited for use in gravity racing down a track with lane dividers and turns, twists and / or banking section of race track. The participant may alter the number and configuration of weights / ballast within the car body, alter the type of tires used for a particular race, and alter the number and position of body savers / sliders on the car, thereby adjusting the performance characteristics of the car during a race event on various track layouts and configurations.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a miniature-scale gravity-racing model car with adjustable ballast and weight distribution for use in gravity racing.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Model-car (and / or miniature-car, miniature-scale car) racing is an activity enjoyed by many. While there are many forms of model-car racing, such as radio-controlled model-car racing and electric slot-car racing, one form in particular—gravity racing—has become quite popular among children and young adults across America. “Pinewood Derby” style gravity racing is currently one of the most popular formats and attracts more than 3 million participants each year. The majority of gravity derbies are run on straight tracks where competitors' cars accelerate from a standstill by descending several feet down a ramped surface, usually a drop of 3 to 4 feet. Pinewood-style derbies allow participants to express their ingenuity by creating and racing their own wooden cars, which are typically c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Participants who assemble and race gravity-racing model cars with adjustable ballast and weight distribution can benefit from investigating and experimenting with physical properties and phenomena including but not limited to: centrifugal (or centripetal) force, gravity / weight, center of gravity, surface friction, rolling resistance, mass, potential energy, and kinetic energy. Pit stops between heat races during competitions allow participants to adjust the interior weight and center of gravity system of the car, make tire changes, and lubricate axles to modify and enhance the performance of the car during a race.

Problems solved by technology

Although the existing Pinewood-style derbies give participants an opportunity to showcase the results of their pre-race construction and design efforts, there is relatively little that can be done at or during races to affect the outcome.

Whereas a participant might be able to make minor adjustments, (e.g. lubricate or re-lubricate his or her car axles to help the wheels rotate more freely), the participant would not be able to correct for a serious and / or immutable characteristic, such as his or her car is too top-heavy to avoid toppling while accelerating down a steeper-than-anticipated ramp.

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