Soapbox Derby

[TinmanMS6]

Can we design it then to have the "driver" (aka Steve) laying flat so he goes down the hill head first? The head is supposedly the heaviest part of the body, so that should help acceleration.

He'd get hurt good, but the center of gravity would be too low for anything really spectacular. I'm picturing this thing flipping over, spewing parts all over the place, landing on Steve, and, if at all possible, bursting into flames. I love Steve and all--in a completely hetero way--but that'd be badass!

 

[TinmanMS6]

It does have to pass a safety thing and brakes are required.

Well, yeah, they have to be there. From the looks of the videos I saw, though, most of them don't really do much stopping.

 

[Velocifero]

He'd get hurt good, but the center of gravity would be too low for anything really spectacular. I'm picturing this thing flipping over, spewing parts all over the place, landing on Steve, and, if at all possible, bursting into flames. I love Steve and all--in a completely hetero way--but that'd be badass!

So we'll just retro some small propane tanks in the under belly to pop once it flips.

 

[aMaff]

He'd get hurt good, but the center of gravity would be too low for anything really spectacular. I'm picturing this thing flipping over, spewing parts all over the place, landing on Steve, and, if at all possible, bursting into flames. I love Steve and all--in a completely hetero way--but that'd be badass!

Your vision is way cooler than mine. Kudos to you sir! I need to go grab more coffee apparently...
(coffee)<= how this morning has gone so far.

 

[TinmanMS6]

Grab two more cups. We've got some engineering to do!

 

[TinmanMS6]

So we'll just retro some small propane tanks in the under belly to pop once it flips.

If the explosion were to cause the flip, I'd be OK with that too.

 

[noleson]

if you guys do this, i've gotta watch.

 

[autoxes]

anyone good with fiberglass? You could make a form out of chicken wire and end up with pretty much whatever shape you wanted.

 

[kcbhiw]

Alright, I just saw a clip on this on PBS, and it turns out a guy I haven't seen since college does it. So I'm in. I have lots of resources between home (bikes) and the shop. Let's try to get something going here!
Or else I'll have to do it on my own.

Funny that you bring this up. There was a brief discussion about this at yesterday's auto-x. The ideas were....interesting.

 

[TinmanMS6]

I barely remember what was discussed. By the time I left the event yesterday I felt like I was already drunk, and hadn't had a drop. Fittingly enough, I'm pretty sure most of the discussion revolved around how drunk we'd have to be.

 

[kcbhiw]

if we don't tear it up too much.

....this requires too much alcohol tolerance.

 

[TinmanMS6]

I don't think the frame should suffer much...more so everything around it, including driver.

 

[TinmanMS6]

Can we strike a happy medium with "shitload of fun while achieving world domination"?

A penis can be aerodynamic as well...

 

[RacerXGirl]

and those two quotes have now been immortalized in the "funny quotes by members." (members being a funny word too...)

 

[Prodigy]

Here's a question for you guys, do you want this to be competitive, or would you rather it be totally for fun, ie a big GACC penis or something. I'm leaning towards competitive.

I've been thinking on this, since wood is my forte right now, seeing that I own a woodshop. Maybe make a moncoque frame out of 3/4" plywood with a thin fibreglass skin somewhat similar to making a custom sub box. I'm a rat rodder myself, but maybe an F1 type design would be more aero. Also, should we make it so that tinman and me could possibly drive it, or just the skinny little farts like Chris?

Just the skinny farts. (no)



Actually, I'd go with a F1 design for all sizes unless it destroys the overall shape of the car.
I have 2 carbon fiber spoilers that may come to good use with this project.
competition > *

I can get wheels for next to nothing at work. (all have a 5/8" bore and bad bearings)

 

[BigB]

what about the frictionless rollers from the plane on the treadmill?

 

[BigB]

If you put a soapbox derby car on a treadmill facing downhill, will it roll forward?








Kinda funny actually, that's really the same question as the plane on a treadmill isn't it.

Not so much.

1) Gravity is just a theory.

2) This theoretical "gravity" is a constant force and does not act independent of the wheels themselves, i.e. does not provide thrust. Ergo, the kart will stay in place.

 

[aMaff]

 

[BigB]

Warning: "Gravity" is only a theory

 

[TinmanMS6]

Warning: "Gravity" is only a theory

Not buying your Catholic website source. Need something resembling science, thanks.