Hi Kids! My name is Alfie.
Welcome to Audrain Kids Club – a place to play games and learn about cars! The Audrain Kids Club is where we will offer the museum’s youngest car enthusiasts the chance to participate in events, online and in-person! Stay tuned for more information as we gear up to make this truly a fun, family experience.
Dress up Alfie for the Racetrack or the Opera
In Racetrack to the Opera: Marques That Did It All we see how one brand can produce very different types of vehicles for many different reasons. The show has pairings, two cars of the same brand, one a racecar, the other a grand touring model. It showcases how a brand can produce a car that focuses on power and speed, or a car that focuses on luxury and comfort, but both are top-performing vehicles.
There are certain aspects that all racecars need, and certain aspects that all touring models need as well. Racecars are often smaller with a lightweight and aerodynamic design. The purpose of these cars is to go fast, and the engines are very powerful. That often means they are not the most comfortable to drive in, there might only be one seat for the driver and because it has to protect the drive at top speed it is tight and formed to the body. Grand touring cars are made to be beautiful, they are bigger, have a fancier design, the interior is meant to be as comfortable as your living room, but they won’t go as fast as their racecar version.
Look at the pairings of cars featured in this exhibit and see if you can determine what makes a racecar different from a touring car. Then, take those details and apply them to Alfie. Download the coloring page and color Alfie to look like a racecar (add racing stripes, a number, bright colors, etc.) or a touring model (add a hood ornament, fancy details, etc.). Don’t forget to share your version of Alfie and tag us on social media @audrainautomuseum #AAMKidsClub.
Racetrack to the Opera Puzzles
Check out our games! Learn key vocabulary related to each exhibit as well as facts about the different vehicles and about the Museum! Hint: all the answers can be found on our website, look at the exhibition pages to learn about the cars and put your knowledge to the test.
Click a puzzle to start solving
Word Scramble
Word Search
Projects
Projects allow you to learn more about how cars are built. While vehicles are feats of engineering and design, a lot of the concepts come from simple ideas. Use the tutorials to see how basic scientific principals are used to build supercars. Ask an adult for help and get crafty!
Aesthetic
(n.) A specific concept or theme regarding beauty and art that is often pleasing to one’s preferences (I like the aesthetic of the Jaguar brand)
(adj.) Of or relating to beauty, art, and design (adv. He collected Porsche cars because they were aesthetically pleasing)
Ergonomic
(n.) The design of an object that considers the human body and how it moves in order to use that object (The ergonomics of this steering wheel make it very comfortable to grip)
Horsepower
(n.) A unit of measurement to express output power of an engine. (That sports car has a lot of horsepower, it can go really fast.)
Iconic
(adj.) An image, style, or symbol that helps to distinguish a brand so it is easily identified. (The Mercedes emblem is iconic, everyone recognizes that logo for the company.)
Kinetic
(adj.) Often in reference to sculpture or art that have mechanical moving parts as part of its design (Cars are kinetic sculptures, you really see the art of design and engineering when they are running)
Marque
(n.) a make of a car, a specific brand (Bentley, Porsche, Jaguar)
Racecar
(n.) an automobile built or modified to race, often lightweight and with large engines to perform at high speeds
Torque
(n.) A measurable quantity that determines the amount of force needed to twist or turn an axis, such as a gear.
Touring car
(n.) an automobile designed for to carry passengers and luggage, often large and luxurious
