Hello I would like to see the teams build a soap box derby car. I think that is what the vehicles are called. Its the kind of cars you built when you were a kid. You would carry to the top of the tallest hill and ride them down. No engine just a steering and gravity.

-- Erik (fultonracing@mail.com), March 06, 2001

Answers

This would be great! How about adding a little twist? Say putting a "scoop" on the front end of the car and have them try to "hit" pedestrians(stuffed animals) on the way down. the one that finishes first and with the most toys wins!

GOOD IDEA!

-- tim kirkman (u2can642@usa.net), March 06, 2001.

They're called GPV's (Gravity Powered Vehicles) and are popular in the Western US (i.e.: in the Rocky Mountains). These things range from land luge designs (essentially really long skateboards) to bicycles without drive trains. For J.Y.W., you'd have to establish some rules- How many wheels, minimum/maximum weight, brakes or no brakes, etc., etc. Maybe the folks that host the real Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio can help you out on this! The bottom line: It's really not a very complex machine, nor would it be much of a challenge to build.

-- Chip Haynes (ehaynes@co.pinellas.fl.us), March 06, 2001.

Chip , how about having them build GPV's for each person on the team so they can have a team race. Some of the people can try and be the blockers while the faster ones try to get te the finish line first. I just think it would be fun to watch them racing while having a little contact.

-- Erik (fultonracing@mail.com), March 06, 2001.