Sports Magazine

I received an interesting email the other day from one of my blog readers, and have posted excerpts of it below.  It’s a great story.

My Team built a very high tech and unusual gravity race car and set the track record on the hill that has hosted the National Soap Box Race for the last 77 years. The Soap Box Derby began in 1933, but has never seen the kind of innovation that has taken place the last 3 or 4 years.  At one time there were very few rules which allowed a great deal of innovation.  In recent years the cars have been assembled from kits and have had many rules to keep the cars more even.  About 7 years ago a new division was formed to once again allow innovation in gravity racing at the Akron Hill.  The Ultimate Speed Division has very few rules, mostly safety related.  I think the Ultimate Speed publication from Akron says it best:
The Ultimate Speed Challenge is an All-American Soap Box Derby sanctioned racing format developed to preserve the tradition of innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship in the design of a gravity powered racing vehicle while generating intrigue, excitement, and engaging the audience at the annual All-American Soap Box Derby competition.  The goal of the event is to attract creative entries designed to reach speeds never before attainable on the historic Akron hill.

Since this division has very few rules, it allows very creative and interesting designs in the pursuit of speed.   For instance, the car I built for my daughter (My daughter drove the car the first 2 years and Sheri Lazowski drove it this year.) uses prisms so that she is looking straight up with her head flat with her body.  The prisms allow her to see straight down the track without lifting her head.  This reduces the profile of the car for better wind resistance.  Our car also has the steering wheel above her head so she drives with her arms above her head which also reduces the car’s profile since her shoulders are narrower with her arms above her head verses at her sides. The car doesn’t even use axles, but has a completely unique design. The shell is cantilever mounted on a center plate with outriggers that contain the wheels.  (please see pictures)  Our car is certainly not the only one with very innovative ideas.  These cars are very futuristic and sleek.  A lot of work, research, testing, etc goes into these cars.  Our team and others have even developed new urethane and rubber materials and built custom wheels in an effort to reduce rolling resistance.  These exotic materials are then treated with chemicals to make them even more resilient. We developed a urethane material for this race that is almost certainly the most resilient urethane ever produced. (Over 90% rebound)  We did have the help of some of the top R & D chemists in the country at a major chemical manufacturing company. These resilient urethane and rubber materials will lead to more efficient wheels for skates, skateboards, industrial rollers and even automobiles.

I think this competition, the car designs, and the technology involved would be of interest to your readers. There is currently a movie being produced by Corbin Bernsen that highlights the Soap Box Derby.  It is called “25 hill” and is scheduled to premiere next July.  www.25hill.com The movie tie-in might also be of interest.  I would be happy to provide any other information, pictures etc. you might need to put together an article.  I know the race organizers at the All American Soap Box Derby would also be more than happy to provide anything you might need.

Thanks for your interest,

Mark Overmyer

Links to articles:
http://blogs.physicstoday.org/newspicks/2010/07/physics-helps-father-daughter.html
http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x109281659/-Simple-physics-helps-Oregon-engineer-set-soap-box-derby-record
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/sports/2549576,6_2_NA30_SOAPBOX_S1-100730.article

Links to photos:
http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0098009/photos/20599388@N04/3992906109/
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=jlazski00&target=ALBUM&id=5498436616894614561&authkey=Gv1sRgCLavrNvjq6zNGg&feat=email