I'm building a car and racing it tomorrow

[Huskymaniac]

http://www.wink106.com/common/page.php?id=631

Myself and three other people need to build a pinewood derby car out of Legos and run it down an ice track. Any suggestions? I'm thinking we should keep the center of mass at the exact center of the car so, if it starts spinning on the ice, it won't wobble. Not sure about long and skinny versus short and wide or if a bigger wheelbase is better or worse in this case. I guess it depends on whether or not one assumes the car will lose traction and start spinning. If it spins, you don't want a large rotational inertia to rob you of energy. However, a large wheelbase might keep it from spinning. Since we won't have limited slip differentials (or will we...) I have to think it is likely we will lose traction one wheel at a time.