Coming from behind

I can't tell you how, but it sure makes for some exciting races!

Perhaps the car in front got it's speed in the drop from weight and that extra weight begins to slow it down in the stretch, allowing the second car which is lighter, to catch up and pass it.

No "physics ace" here, but...

As I've mentioned here before, I think it has something to do with the actual mechanics of the simple wheel & axle. To best explain this, allow me to clarify the 2 types of relative friction....'static' and 'active'.

Static friction is the resistance a car experiences while sitting still or @ lower speeds when the axle has the wet and with much more dramatic effect.

Make any sense?

GspeedR

and with much more dramatic effect.

Make any sense?

GspeedR

O yeah! I love the way you explain things...makes perfect sense. Very good answer...seriously.

Preacher

Well I think you made a very good explanation of why it's possible for a car to come from behind to win, but my 5 year old niece says "The car that was behind just tried harder." You know she may be right...

That's right! Some cars just never give up.

My simple opinion is that weight is beneficial on the gravity slope but on the straight-away, it can be counter-productive. More wight, more friction on the wheels, axles, and track.

When I started racing, I read a lot of pinewood derby physics stuff...same things apply here, just at a smaller scale. If nothing else it might give you some good ideas for future custom racers.