Paper Car Crash Design Challenge: Ordering track, wheels and axles

As seen in the January 2013 NSTA journal articleThe Science Teacher(Figures 1-3)

“A Science That Saves Lives” (Vol. 80, No.1, p. 32-36) by Griff and Linda Jones.

Supplies for Crash Track:

(2 qty.) RAINGO® Vinyl Gutter, 10-foot length, RW 100U – white, retail cost $3.39 each

-Available at Lowe’s or Ace Hardware stores

-Manufacturer: Genova Products, 7034 East Court Street, Davison, Michigan 48423,

(1 qty.) RAINGO® Vinyl Gutter Slip Joint, RW 105 – White, retail cost $3.49 each

-Connect two 10’ vinyl gutters with a gutter slip joint creating one 20-foot vinyl gutter “crash track”

Sources for wheels and axles:

A great source for the wheels and axles is PITSCO. The wheels on the student cars in the NSTA article and the IIHS video were from PITSCO. See the first picture with the black wheels on the white/red dragster. The easiest way to cut the metal PITSCO axles into the 2” sections is with a big bolt cutter.I borrowed one from our school maintenance man.

PITSCO ()

  • Lx Wheel, W30846, 100 pack, price approximately $9.00,
  • Axles 1/8” solid rod for axles, W54576, 12” length, $1.50 each

Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories ()

Science Kit & Boreal Labs sellsa kit of track, wheel and axles. They also sell refill packages with only wheelsand axles for the kit. Their wheels are different from PITSCO’s. They are wider and use plastic axles. See the second photos with the white wheels on the light blue car. The SK plastic axles are cut with sharp scissors.

  • Refill Kit for Crash Track Kit, item number WW01801M04, provides wheels and axles, $27.00.
  • Crash Track Kit, item number WW64631M01, $103.00.

Free viewing of two crash science education videos on YouTube at:

Video #1: Understanding Car Crashes – It’s Basic Physics

Video #2: Understanding Car Crashes – When Physics Meets Biology

Copies of the Understanding Car Crashes DVDs that include Teacher’s Guides with inquiry activities are available from:

  • Arbor Scientific,
  • Educational Innovations,
  • Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,
  • Science Kit & Boreal Labs,

If you run the competition please send me pictures or videos of your students and their cars. I would like to send them to the IIHS. They also appreciate written testimonials from students on what they learned from the activity and video. Here is a short video of the Paper Car Crash Challenge with 5th graders.

Thank you for your interest in our NSTA article. Griff Jones