JACKSON, Miss.—For guys who spend their spare time elbow-deep in engines, it sounded like a dream assignment: Build a fleet of racecars for Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s Downhill Derby, set for Nov. 12-13 in Jackson.
But before their enthusiasm could shift into overdrive, Methodist’s biomedical engineering staff learned there was a catch—motors aren’t allowed in this competition. In gravity car racing, the rallying cry is: Gentlemen, start your ingenuity. To win, you’ve got to finagle the forces of downhill momentum.