whodathunkit wrote:So I don't think I'd try for speed..
I think Whoda & Darin may be on to something. As far as I can tell, the track appears to be mostly downhill. As the drop (h) increases, so does its speed (v)Darin McGrew wrote:...perhaps it would help to design a slower car.
Thus, with the starting line very high, these cars are reaching speeds at which ramp defects become perilous. I like Stan's suggestion of weighted wheels. It stores the energy into rotational momentum (like four flywheels) and thus regulates the car's linear velocity down the ramp. It also has the potential to better maintain speed through the level area near the end.
The extra performance usually gained by an aft CoM placement seems negligible given the excessive height of the ramp. I would also agree to keep the CoM in the middle and align to run with minimal toe.