Gravity Racing Car

Abstract

An improved gravity racing car which includes an interior cavity for the arrangement of removable weights/ballast, removable tires, and body savers/sliders which is particularly suited for use in gravity racing down a track with lane dividers and turns, twists and/or banking section of race track. The participant may alter the number and configuration of weights/ballast within the car body, alter the type of tires used for a particular race, and alter the number and position of body savers/sliders on the car, thereby adjusting the performance characteristics of the car during a race event on various track layouts and configurations.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A gravity racing car comprising:
 a car body with two transverse, full-width axle slots and an interior cavity accessible through a detachable cover on its underside;   two full-width axles, where said axles are seated within said two transverse, full-width axle slots;   four wheel hubs for receiving the ends of said full-width axles;   four wheels secured about each of the ends of said full-width axles by one of the four wheel hubs;   four tires mounted about said four wheels; and,   at least one ballast weight removably attached to at least one ballast site within said interior cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The car of  claim 1  further comprising at least one body-saver detachably secured to the car body. 
     
     
         3 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said car body is unpainted. 
     
     
         4 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said car body is pre-painted. 
     
     
         5 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said at least one ballast weight comprises two or more ballast weights. 
     
     
         6 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said at least one ballast weight comprises two or more ballast weights of identical mass. 
     
     
         7 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said at least one ballast weight comprises two or more ballast weights of differing mass. 
     
     
         8 . The car of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said four tires provides a different level of friction than the others provide. 
     
     
         9 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said car body is in the shape of a stock racing car. 
     
     
         10 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said car body is in the shape of a racing truck. 
     
     
         11 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said car body is in the shape of a formula race car. 
     
     
         12 . The car of  claim 1  wherein said car body is 1/24th scale. 
     
     
         13 . The car of  claim 1  where said ballast weight is removably attached to the car body by one of hook and loop fasteners, adhesive tape, magnets, or slotted groove fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . The car of  claim 1  wherein the car body is one of injection molded plastic, wood, metal, or resin. 
     
     
         15 . The car of  claim 1  wherein each wheel is placed between two axle washers located on the ends of each axle. 
     
     
         16 . A method for gravity car racing, comprising:
 assembling a gravity racing car with an interior cavity accessible through a detachable cover on its underside;   placing at least one removable ballast weight within said interior cavity to modify the performance characteristics of the car; and,   releasing said car on an inclined race track.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the track includes at least one turn. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the track includes at least one turn with a gradient bank. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the track includes at least one sidewall.