So what exactly is CO2 Racing? Well, basically, it is exactly what it sounds like. It is the same idea
as all other types of car racing, except our power source is carbon dioxide. First, what is a CO2 car?
A CO2 car is basically a 8 x 1.5 x 4 block of wood with holes drilled for axels. For different
examples of cars, you can visit cars. The majority of CO2 car builders are
students and normally, they learn how to build and race their cars in middle school. A CO2
race can be with one car, two, or as many as there is room for in the hallway. In a one or
two-car race, the cars are placed in a starting gate with their CO2 canisters underneath
a puncturing needle.The starting gate can start the cars automatically at the same time, or
they can be started with a trigger. When they are started, the needle punctures the CO2 canister
and the CO2 built inside the chamber rushes out pushing the car forward. To keep the cars from
straying right or left, two eyelets are placed on the underbody of the car and a fishing line is
run through them to a finishing gate. The tracks can be anywhere from 40 to 200 feet in length.
The usual length is 60 feet. The cars ride the fishing line to the finishing gate and run through
a laser beam which marks their finishing time.(if they finish)
When racing two cars, the racers can test their reaction time by starting their cars in synch with a
flashing light. By hitting a pressure-sensitive button, the racers can puncture the CO2 canister and
heighten the contest. This is especially popular among middle-school students who want to control
their own cars.
Below are three frames taken by a digital camera of two CO2 cars traveling at very high speed. Even with the high
shutter speed of the advanced camera, the cars are still barely a blur.
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