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| The crowd assembles in anticipation of the finals – one car will emerge the victor from a field of the nation's top 16.
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A record 340 cars were checked in for the racing events at the 2010 TSA National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. That’s 340 1:20-scale CO2-powered racers – rocket cars, if you will – set to battle for top honors on the drag strip, a 65-1/2' long, elevated raceway in the Grand Ballroom of the Baltimore Marriott.
The CO2 racing events have been a staple of the TSA conference for more than 30 years. This is a hands-on contest where student competitors engineer their cars for speed. It has often been described as “like pinewood derby, but much, much faster.” The cars, propelled by high-pressure gas escaping from an onboard cartridge, cover the race distance in about one second. It’s a spectacle that one must witness to appreciate.
Indeed, there were many on hand to both witness and appreciate. Enthusiastic spectators crowded in to watch the excitement during the two-day event. Students, some sporting wild costumes, represented their schools by cheering on their teams. Here are a few more highlights that made the 2010 events memorable:
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| This Aston Martin is rocket-powered. 007 would approve. |
- This year’s Transportation Modeling theme focused on cars in movies. This inspired the best field of TMod Cars to date. Exquisitely crafted renderings of Batmobiles, General Lees, Mustangs, Mystery Machines, and a beautiful Aston Martin of James Bond notoriety graced the track. View TMod Gallery
- 2010 may be remembered as “The Year of the Dimple.” Six entries featured a dimpled surface, like that of a golf ball. (See Dimple Derby story.) This was another example of students using creativity to gain an edge over the competition.
- Students from Bradenton, Florida, have thrown down the gauntlet by taking home first place in both middle and high school Dragster Design events. In the high school event, four of the top 16 finalists were from Bradenton schools.
More from TSA 2010:
