The front wheels are the standard hub-cap style design. When the starting gate falls, the weight falls all the way down within about 6 feet of track, propelling the car at impressive speed. By the time the track levels out, the ball weight is already down low so at this point it doesn’t matter that the rod is mounted with a rearward lean. If you know anything about physics, there is a relatively huge amount of potential energy stored in the car, with the ball weight so high at the start, that is converted to other energy, much of it kinetic, as the ball drops and the car drops in elevation down the track. This car has never been beaten, but I’m sure there are creative people out there that can do much better. I’d be happy to hear your ideas. Send them to [email protected]. 🙂