Hobbies And Interests
Rail Cars
Otherwise known as "flying toothpicks," these cars are the lightest and most fragile of all configurations. Rail cars consist of a "pod" for the CO2 cartridge, wooden housings to hold the axles and a pencil-like rail to connect the front axle housing to the rear. Advantage: extremely low weight for great acceleration. Disadvantages: tends to snap in two at the end of the track, bad aerodynamics equals a low sustained speed, difficult to build without breaking.
Platform Cars
Platform cars are just like rail cars except that the rail runs the width of the entire body. Advantages: lowest weight short of a rail, much stronger than a rail, more aerodynamically stable than a rail. Disadvantages: frontal area and shape is similar to rail, so sustained speed remains largely unchanged; heavier and more leisurely acceleration than a rail.
Shell Cars
Full shell cars are the aero bullets of the CO2 car world and consist of a hollowed-out shell that contains fully enclosed wheels and a CO2 cartridge. This is the design of choice in classes that utilize a minimum weight rule to negate the rail car's advantage. Advantages: fantastic aerodynamics mean a high sustained speed, much stronger than a rail or platform, stiffer chassis keeps the wheels pointed straight. Disadvantages: far heavier than a rail, difficult to build, lower initial acceleration.
Form/Pod Cars
A formed (pod) car is a modified shell design whose outer profile follows the wheels and CO2 cartridge. Pod cars are some of the most visually interesting; a talented designer could easily sculpt the pod's contours into something resembling true sculptural art. Advantages: lower aerodynamic frontal cross- section theoretically allows for higher sustained speeds after the CO2 runs out, one of the most beautiful designs. Disadvantages: requires an in-depth understanding of aerodynamics to properly engineer, requires skill to build, possible heavier than full shell.
Hybrids
Hybrid cars utilize enclosed wheels on one end (usually the front) and open wheels on the other (usually the back). Advantage: easier to build than a pod car. Disadvantages: open wheels mean a penalty in drag and a reduced sustained speed.
Novelty Cars
Novelty cars can look like anything from real cars to elderly women in rocking chairs. These are by definition the most artistic, since they sacrifice any attempt at function in the name of form. If seeing a camel in an afghan streaking down the racetrack is more important to you than winning the race, then this is your build. Advantage: offers the greatest flexibility for artistic expression. Disadvantages: everything else.