Car Design and Speed

[galaxie]

My son wants to design his car after a cartoon character that is triangle shaped, with arms and a hat. I tried to convince him that the design might compromise the speed, but was wondering if the pros have any insight as to how much.

Here is a rough picture of the design, where the width before the front axle is 1/2 inch. Will the arms and narrow point greatly affect the speed and stability?

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[Crash Enburn]

I see no reason for denying him this design. From the pic, it looks like it should still be largely aero, with the arms falling into the turbulence behind the front wheels. It probably wouldn't win a NPWDRL race, but it's perfect for what you're doing.

 

[Quicktimederby]

You could also do a wedge design with a custom wrap made with his favorite character on it. You could put a bunch of other stuff on it also. If that interest you call or email Lara at www.cmiquickcopy.com tell her Joel sent ya and she'll hook you up!

 

[Kinser Racing]

You could also do a wedge design with a custom wrap made with his favorite character on it. You could put a bunch of other stuff on it also. If that interest you call or email Lara at www.cmiquickcopy.com tell her Joel sent ya and she'll hook you up!

This!

It'll have greater optical clarity and you can have the shape for speed!

 

[Vitamin K]

I see no reason for denying him this design. From the pic, it looks like it should still be largely aero, with the arms falling into the turbulence behind the front wheels. It probably wouldn't win a NPWDRL race, but it's perfect for what you're doing.

I agree with this. How competitive is your son's pack, and how important is winning to him, vs building the shape he wants?

 

[galaxie]

Winning is very important to him (although I wish it wasn't). He won the last 2 years and this is his last year. He definitely wants to go out with a three-peat. I also helped one of his friends this year and that design is built for speed (i.e. full width and very thin) with all of the same prep that my son has.

So, it sounds like there will be some noticeable loss (maybe in the hundredths?) or has this not been quantified (between a full body car and one with some shape to the midsection)?

 

[B_Regal Racing]

Winning is very important to him ..... So, it sounds like there will be some noticeable loss (maybe in the hundredths?) or has this not been quantified (between a full body car and one with some shape to the midsection)?

It all depends on what you want to do. 2 hundredths could be the difference between 1st and 5th. I would do what QT suggested; its faster and just outright easier as well.

You could also do a wedge design with a custom wrap made with his favorite character on it. You could put a bunch of other stuff on it also. If that interest you call or email Lara at www.cmiquickcopy.com tell her Joel sent ya and she'll hook you up!

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

At the scout level, this design should do well. I would let your son have his ownership in the car.
If things don't go his way in the race, next year you can focus a little more on the aero design of the car.

I always asked my kids," Do you want a cool car, a fast car or do you want to make the other boys cry?" /images/boards/smilies/bawl.gif
The answer changed every year.

 

[bracketracer]

Dude, it's his car. Don't be THAT dad.

If you explained to him that it will look cool but it may cost him a win you've done all you can. Let it be his choice.

 

[Cramjet]

At the scout level, this design should do well. I would let your son have his ownership in the car.
If things don't go his way in the race, next year you can focus a little more on the aero design of the car.

I always asked my kids," Do you want a cool car, a fast car or do you want to make the other boys cry?" /images/boards/smilies/bawl.gif
The answer changed every year.

That's funny! I asked the scouts I am helping the SAME thing. "Do you want it to be so fast it makes the other boys cry?" The two I asked said yes they do.

 

[Quicktimederby]

This should be your sons and your choice by me suggesting wraps, was a solution to your design and speed quest. These to are wraps she made for us 4&5 years ago. I think my boys had more fun designing the wraps than they did with anything else.

 

[BulldogRacing]

those wraps are sweet! I gotta call them.