Gravity Racer brakes

[udallcustombikes]

I am building my gravity racer for the Coaster's spring shoot out and I can't stop it yet.
It is a old riding mower chassis flipped upside down. I stripped out everything from the gearbox so it will roll freely. Now I need help figuring out how to stop this thing once it gets rolling. I am building it on the cheap, so let's hear some ideas. My thoughts right now are some simple paddles that would press against the tread of the rear tires.

 

[CCR]

thats how my old big wheel stopped, also had a soap box derby racer, it was fiberglass with a wood floor, there was a piece of 1x on a springed hinge mounted to the underside, when you stepped on the brake pedal a wire would pull the 1x down to the ground and drag, the end of the 1x had a piece of thick rubber so the wood wouldnt get torn up. i still think the wheel brake would be the better idea due to the weight.

 

[udallcustombikes]

That idea had run through my head as well. But my engineering skills are severly lacking and I don't know that I could make that system work well enough not to kill myself or someone else.

 

[icyuod2]

parachute!

bed sheet, gromets and rope. even if it only slows you down a little, it will be cool as heck!
stick it in a small cardboard box, and throw it over your shoulder.


btw don't forget to paint your parting words on the cute.
gravity sucks! :lol: :lol: :lol:

magnesium plate on a lever. grind that sucker into the ground for cool sparks and stopping power.

 

[aka_locojoe]

My thoughts right now are some simple paddles that would press against the tread of the rear tires.

That's the first thing that came to my mind.

Wess' car has a pad that hit the ground. Think they're replacing the pad here. you get steering worked out yet?

 

[udallcustombikes]

I think so. I used some of the gears from the inside of the gearbox to make my own steering set up. Just need to find a 36"x3" piece of flat stock to build a mount.