Impulse G4 Race System

Regular price $1,995.00
Regular price Sale price $1,995.00
Grades 6-12

The Impulse G4 Pairs Tournament-Grade Race Hardware with Two Powerful Web Apps to Run Your Entire CO₂ Dragster Program

Regular price $1,995.00
Regular price Sale price $1,995.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.

⚠️ Clearance Item - Final Sale

All clearance sales are final. No returns, refunds, or exchanges.

SKU: SKU:94214

Introductory pricing available through the end of July—now is the time to upgrade your CO₂ dragster program. The Impulse G4 pairs microsecond-precision race hardware—dual-sided Christmas tree lights, automatic winner detection, and large customizable LED displays—with two included web apps: an Event Management App that runs brackets, leaderboards, and exports from any device, and a Live Results Viewer that lets spectators follow along in real time with zero setup. Whether you are running a Tuesday classroom race or a two-hundred-student regional invitational, the G4 handles the spectacle and the logistics so you can focus on coaching.

Out of Stock - Please allow 2-4 weeks for shipping.

Students Served: Full class or tournament
Large Customizable Displays
Large Customizable Displays
Two Web Apps Included
Two Web Apps Included
Pitsco Exclusive
Pitsco Exclusive
CTSO / Competition Approved
CTSO / Competition Approved
WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • Start gate
  • Finish gate
  • 4 gate supports
  • Spool of monofilament lines
  • 2 launch pods
  • 2 launch triggers (one red and one black)
  • 2 finish detector pigtails
  • Power supply
  • 2 deceleration towels
  • Junction box
SPECIFICATIONS & SAFETY
  • Tools and Materials Required: Screwdriver and duct tape
Always wear safety glasses when handling CO2 cartridges or viewing CO2 dragsters.
View full details
Impulse G4 Race System

Impulse G4 Race System

Regular price $1,995.00
Regular price Sale price $1,995.00

Frequently Bought Together

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CO2 dragster fusion single kit with user guide challenges students to apply the full engineering design process. Fusion is best for Beginners & CNC/3D design workflows.
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CO₂ Dragsters – Getting Started Package

Total: $5,676.75 (3 items)
Impulse G4 Race System

Race Day, Reimagined.

The G4 replaces stopwatches, spreadsheets, and guesswork with microsecond-precision timing and a built-in race manager that handles brackets, leaderboards, and data exports automatically. Students focus on engineering faster dragsters—not running the tournament.
Microsecond Timing with Automatic Winner Detection

Microsecond Timing with Automatic Winner Detection

Precision photobeam sensors capture reaction times and finish times down to the microsecond and instantly identify the winner. Large, customizable LED displays make results easy to read from anywhere in the room—whether that is a classroom of thirty or a gymnasium of two hundred. When a student shaves time off a run, the data proves it.

Christmas Tree Starting Lights and Victory Effects

Christmas Tree Starting Lights and Victory Effects

Dual-sided staging lights count down through amber, green, and red with an audio sequence that hushes the room. False-start detection keeps competition fair. When a winner crosses the finish line, LED celebrations and audio cues erupt—the kind of moment that turns a STEM class into the highlight of the week.

Web Event Management App

Web Event Management App

All-in-one event control from any device via Bluetooth. Set up professional brackets, manage multiple divisions, view instant wireless results, and export everything to CSV. Cloud-connected with save, load, and export flexibility so your race data is never trapped on one computer. No software to install, no subscriptions, no IT requests.

Web Live Results Viewer App

Web Live Results Viewer App

Give spectators, parents, and competing teams real-time results from anywhere. Participants access results with a secure event code—zero setup on their end. The viewer displays complete event information and updates automatically, no refreshing needed. Perfect for large tournaments where not everyone can see the finish line.

What Students Will Do

Students design, build, and race CO₂-powered dragsters with tournament-grade timing and data.
  • Design and shape a dragster from balsa or basswood blanks
  • Sand, seal, and add wheels and axles
  • Load a CO₂ cartridge into the launch pod
  • Set the dragster on the launch pod and align with the start gate
  • Watch the Christmas tree count down and launch
  • Read reaction time and finish time from the LED displays
  • Analyze race data in the built-in race manager
  • Iterate on dragster design based on timing data
  • Compete in automated bracket tournaments with real-time leaderboards

Compare Similar Products

Feature Current Product
Impulse G4 Race System
EZ Start Gate Dual Lane Race Timer
Price $1,995.00 $339.00
Timing Precision MicrosecondMillisecond
Starting Lights Dual-sided Christmas tree + victory effects
Race Manager Software Event Management + Live Results Viewer
Winner Detection Automatic with LED + audio celebrationsManual comparison
False-Start Detection Large customizable LED panelsBasic digital readout
Launch Pods Included 2 included
Best For Advanced programs and tournamentsAffordable elementary racing Adding timing to existing setup
View Details

From Unboxing to Race Day

Setup: Position the start gate and finish gate at opposite ends of your racing lane. Attach the four gate supports and run monofilament lines between the gates. Connect the junction box to the power supply and plug in the start gate, finish gate, launch pods, and launch triggers.

Race Prep: Load a CO₂ cartridge into each launch pod. Set dragsters on the pods and align them with the monofilament guidelines. Connect to the built-in race manager via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on any device with a web browser.

Launch: The dual-sided Christmas tree staging lights count down with an audio sequence. Students press their launch triggers on green—or set the system to automatic launch mode. Photobeam sensors capture reaction times and finish times to the microsecond. The system detects the winner automatically and displays results on the large LED panels with victory effects.

Educators loading co2 dragsters into the race track with the impulse g4 displaying their race times

Every Race Is a Physics Lesson

Science

  • Acceleration
  • Newton’s third law
  • Data collection and analysis

Technology

  • Data collection
  • Testing/evaluation
  • Tools

Engineering

  • Iterative design
  • Data analysis and predictions
  • Timing circuits

Math

  • Aerodynamic computations
  • Calculating speed
  • Measurement (time and distance)

Why Coaches Love the Impulse G4 Race System

Race Day Runs Itself

Race Day Runs Itself

The Web Event Management App handles brackets, leaderboards, and results via Bluetooth while the hardware handles launches and timing. No spreadsheets, no manual tallying, no arguments about who won. You coach. The G4 does the rest.

Students Actually Iterate

Students Actually Iterate

When microsecond timing shows that a reshaped nose cone shaved real time off a run, students stop guessing and start engineering. The precision drives design conversations you cannot get from a stopwatch.

One Setup, All Season

One Setup, All Season

Modular plug-and-play components mean you set up once and race all year. No dedicated computer, no software licenses, no IT tickets. Power on, connect via Bluetooth, and go.

Fills the Room with Energy

Fills the Room with Energy

Christmas tree lights, audio countdowns, and LED victory celebrations turn every heat into an event. Students who never engaged with physics are suddenly sprinting back to the design table.

Scales from Classroom to Tournament

Scales from Classroom to Tournament

Run a class race in period four and a regional tournament on Saturday with the same system. The Live Results Viewer lets spectators and parents follow along from their own devices—no crowding around the finish line.

Pitsco Backs Every System

Pitsco Backs Every System

Direct phone support, replacement parts, and curriculum resources from the company that invented classroom CO₂ racing. You are never on your own.

Flexible Purchasing Options

Pricing and volume discounts are built in—choose the path that fits your purchasing process.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CO2 dragster race system for Science Olympiad and classroom tournaments?

The Impulse G4 Race System is Pitsco’s most advanced option, built for programs that need microsecond-precision timing, automatic winner detection, and tournament management in one package. The built-in Web Event Management App runs automated brackets and leaderboards, and the Live Results Viewer lets spectators follow along from any device. It is designed for grades 6–12 and supports everything from a daily classroom race to a multi-division regional invitational.

Do I need separate software or a dedicated computer to run a CO2 dragster tournament?

No, the Impulse G4 includes two web apps that work on any device with a browser. The Web Event Management App connects via Bluetooth for all-in-one event control—professional brackets, multi-division support, instant wireless results, cloud-connected data, and CSV exports. The Web Live Results Viewer gives participants and spectators real-time access with a secure event code and zero setup. No installs, no subscriptions, no IT involvement.

How is the Impulse G4 different from the Impulse G3?

The G4 is a complete redesign. It adds microsecond-precision timing (versus millisecond on the G3), dual-sided Christmas tree starting lights with audio countdowns, automatic winner detection with LED and audio victory effects, false-start detection, large customizable LED displays, and two web apps for event management and live results sharing. The G3 does not include starting lights, race management software, or automatic winner detection.

Can spectators and parents see race results during a tournament?

Yes, two ways. The large customizable LED displays on the hardware show reaction times, finish times, and winner identification visible across a classroom or gymnasium. For anyone not at the finish line, the Web Live Results Viewer app provides real-time results on any device—participants access it with a secure event code, no downloads or setup required, and it updates automatically.

What CO2 cartridges does the Impulse G4 use and is it safe for students?

The G4 uses standard 12-gram CO₂ cartridges, the same cartridges used across all Pitsco dragster systems. Safety glasses are required when handling cartridges. The system includes false-start detection and supports both manual and automatic launch modes for controlled, repeatable starts. Designed for grades 6–12 with appropriate adult supervision.

Is the Impulse G4 available now and is there a discount for early adopters?

Yes. The G4 is available for pre-sale at an introductory price of $1,995 (regular price $2,195) through the end of July. Orders ship in early June. Pre-order now to lock in the introductory price and have your system ready for the upcoming school year.