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Jetmobile

Race Order	Entry #	Driver Name	Car Name	Mass (grams)	Length (inches)	Width (inches)	Height (inches)	Distance Traveled (feet)	Running Time (seconds)	Awards
13	39	Kim Aaron	Jetmobile	32	5.5	2.75	1.5	12.25	5.65	Smallest

Balloon car designer Kim Aaron writes:

• Design approach taken - explain how it worked.

  This vehicle was purchased from Hearthsong gift shop in Walnut Creek, CA. Cost was about $6 for two vehicles. A single balloon is inflated and the air is expelled through a nozzle at the rear.

• Materials of construction (mention unique parts you used or fabricated)

  The vehicle is made of four snap-together molded plastic parts.

• Reasons behind any significant design choices you had to make

  It was cheap.

• Lessons learned (what you'd do differently next time)

  The balloon comes up through the top through where the driver would sit. It was important to center the balloon left-right. If it hung down to one side, the vehicle would turn quite strongly to that side.

• Anything else you'd like to add

  I entered this one mostly as a joke. I was amazed that a balloon powered car was available commercially. I'd never seen one before. But within days of Paul announcing the contest, I happened to see this one in the store. I was surprised to win a category (smallest vehicle) with this vehicle. My "serious" entry - the Lego Car - performed better, but did not win a prize.

MB 1/9/99