2026 Science Fair Rubber Band Powered Car Race Registration Information

 

- Registration Closes 3/25/26 @5pm -

 

 

This year at Alcott, our PTSA is bringing to the Science Fair an exciting opportunity for students to put their creative ingenuity on full display by participating in a Rubber Band–Powered Car Race!

 

This friendly and fun competition is designed to celebrate innovation, problem-solving, and engineering skills. All participants will receive a certificate and prizes, and the overall winner will proudly take home a trophy! We are so excited to see your designs and builds at this year’s Science Fair!

 

Registration is required to participate.

 

 

👉 Click Here to Register for the Rubber-Band-Powered Car Race!

 

🚗 Rubber-Band-Powered Car Rules and Regulations

1) Vehicles must be built from household materials (e.g., toilet paper rolls, empty plastic water bottles and caps, popsicle sticks, paper straws, cardboard boxes, etc.).

2) Only rubber bands may be used for propulsion.
No battery-powered motors, balloons, pushing, or wind assistance are allowed.

3) Vehicles must be single, self-contained units.
They may not be touched after release, and no parts may fall off during operation.

4) The car must start completely behind a designated starting line and travel on a flat surface.

5) Once released, the car may not be touched until it comes to a complete stop.

 

🚗 Competition Guidelines

We will have two competitions - Distance and Speed.  To ensure a fair and exciting race for everyone, the following guidelines will apply:

 

Distance: The winner of the Distance Competition will be the car that travels the greatest distance in a straight line.

Speed:  The winner of the Speed Competition will be the car that reaches the finish line in the shortest amount of time.

Weight Limit: Cars may not exceed 2 pounds in total weight.

Winding: Rubber bands may be tightened by hand only. The use of power tools or mechanical devices to wind the rubber bands is not permitted.

No Slingshots: The car must move forward by the rubber band releasing tension on an axle. It may not function as a catapult or slingshot.

Materials Constraint: For an added challenge, participants are encouraged to use fewer materials. Simpler, more efficient designs are encouraged for creativity and engineering ingenuity.

 

🚗 Tips for Success

Want to give your rubber band–powered car a competitive edge? Keep these helpful engineering tips in mind:

 

Friction Reduction: Use plastic straws as axle guides or make sure skewers are straight and properly aligned so the axles can spin freely. Less friction means more distance!

 

Traction: Add balloons, rubber bands, or tape around the wheels to improve grip and prevent the car from spinning in place.

 

Structure: Build a frame that is both sturdy and lightweight. A strong yet light design helps maximize efficiency and allows your car to travel farther.

 

Get ready to design, build, test, and race your creation — we can’t wait to see the incredible cars our students engineer! 🚀

 

👉 Click Here to Register for the Rubber-Band-Powered Car Race!

 

 

Fun Examples: