My
Dad helped me get information from the Internet. Different people said different things about how to make a fast
car. They didn't have any data. So I ran tests to find the data.
Polishing
and graphite on the axles make the car go fastest more than any other thing
(use sand paper and polishing compounds).
By just doing this you can make your car fast.
But,
to win you must: Cut the wheel tread
down thin (wheel width, is often against the local rules); Put the weight in
the back of the car (gravity works longer if the weight is in the back – it’s
up higher on the track);
Deburring
the axle head with a file (the nail has two little slivers of metal on the
inside of the axle head); Make the car as heavy as allowed (rules say 5oz.);
Wax the wheels; Lift one wheel just off the track (front); Make the car shape
as thin as possible.
Name of Test (in Seconds) |
Result |
Old Average |
Average |
Time 1 |
Time 2 |
Time 3 |
Time 4 |
Time 5 |
Shape of Car with 1
3/4" air wing |
-0.13 |
2.976 |
3.106 |
3.11 |
3.1 |
3.09 |
3.08 |
3.15 |
Shape of Car with
3/4" air wing |
-0.044 |
2.976 |
3.02 |
3.05 |
3 |
3.01 |
3.02 |
|
Deburring axle head |
0.114 |
4.584 |
4.47 |
4.44 |
4.54 |
4.21 |
4.76 |
4.4 |
Polishing axle and
graphite lube |
1.35 |
4.47 |
3.582 |
3.71 |
2.98 |
2.98 |
2.96 |
2.97 |
Round wheel hub by body |
-0.032 |
3.12 |
3.152 |
3.21 |
3.12 |
3.14 |
3.15 |
3.14 |
Cut the wheel tread down
thin |
0.166 |
3.152 |
2.986 |
2.95 |
2.99 |
2.96 |
3.03 |
3 |
Lifted one wheel just of
track |
0.01 |
2.986 |
2.976 |
2.97 |
2.97 |
2.97 |
2.96 |
3.01 |
Add 1oz of weight |
0.054 |
3.09 |
3.036 |
3.02 |
3.02 |
3.05 |
3.02 |
3.07 |
Wax wheels |
0.034 |
3.036 |
3.002 |
2.98 |
3 |
3.02 |
3.01 |
3 |
Weight in back of car |
0.138 |
3.068 |
2.93 |
3 |
2.92 |
2.93 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
Wheels close together |
-0.188 |
2.974 |
3.162 |
3.21 |
3.19 |
3.16 |
3.04 |
3.21 |
Wheels far apart |
-0.176 |
2.974 |
3.15 |
3.14 |
3.17 |
3.15 |
3.13 |
3.16 |
We
used our Lego Mindstorm parts to help
do the time keeping.
Doing
the Calculations (Dad use to work for Tektronix – So we used a Tek Counter
Timer too, plus a Radio Shack kit for power.