What
is a Pinewood Derby?
A bunch of fun! On race day it is a
Pack of Cub Scouts racing gravity powered wooden cars of various shapes and colors rolling
on plastic wheels down a plywood track. But the actual competition is only a small part of
it. The building of the car, from coming up with the design to applying the last coat of
paint, is where the real fun is. Each Cub Scout gets a kit with a block of wood, four
nails for axles, and four plastic wheels. Always keeping in mind the Pack's rules he
shapes and paints his block of wood into a form to race car. This block of wood on wheels
may end up looking like a car, a fish, a cartoon character, or even a coffin on wheels!
Almost anything!
- How Do You Race?
After years of using eye ball method of judging the winner, we now use 'The Fast
Track' electronic timer with computer interface. Racing will be on a drag racing
computerized time basis. The timing is accurate to .001 seconds. It helps to realize that
a tenth of a second equals a couple of inches on the track at the finish. The cars will
race once on each of the four lanes. The scoring will be a total time of all 4 runs. This
eliminates the 'fast lane syndrome'. The computer will assign the lanes and cars for each
heat. Thanks to our electronic finish line, we have completely eliminated the need for
reruns! It is amazing how smoothly the race runs without all of the debates at the finish
line.
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CAR BUILDING BASICS
Read all the instructions before you
build the car. Be cautious about applying tips, first make sure they don't violate any
rule. For example: many sites suggest using hubcaps to pack graphite in. In our district
that car would be disqualified. The owner would be handed a new set of wheel (with the
nail still burred) and asked to use those.
Use a blueprint to help you design the car.
Design twice (or more) cut once.
Build your car as close to the 5 ounces as
possible. The Post Office has an accurate scale, which you can use to see what your car
weighs.
Many grocery stores also have accurate
scales they will let you use.
Remove the ribs on the nails with a file.
Weights can be placed anywhere. Use screws
and putty to hold it in place.
To keep the car stable, make sure all four
wheels roll flat on the floor.
Sand the car so it's nice and smooth.
Glue the nails in so they don't fall off.
Give the glue time to dry before the race
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TIPS
- REMEMBER...
- The only way to be a sure fire
winner is to do everything you can to make sure that all of the Scouts have fun!
Remember that the purpose of the Pinewood
Derby is not just to win! It is a fun event, where parents get to assist their sons on a
project. Help your son design, cut, build, paint, finish, whatever, his car. There may be
a lot of things that he just doesn't have the knowledge or ability to do, help him out!
Show him how! But don't build the car for him! The rules that we have for our Pack allow
all of the Scouts an equal chance to do their best and have a chance at winning, i.e. we
don't allow radical changes like wheel carving or axle moving.
I have seen a more or less box-stock car with a little graphite take a lot of heavily
worked cars to the cleaners!
Please, don't show up the day of the race and claim that the rules don't
specifically say that you can't use Super-Gravity Magnetstm (or whatever) in
the car! |
Basic Tips and Tricks
- Don't trust the slots! True the axles
using a drill press, run a drill bit slightly smaller than
the axle into the axle slot, ensuring that all of the axles go into the slots at right
angles and at the same height. leave only an axle-length of drill bit showing, and go
slowly. this allows the bit to cut the wood and not just flex and follow the slot.
- Remove axle flash and polish them.
Chuck the axles in a drill, and with a small file, remove
any flashing from around the head
- slightly bevel the head outwards to the edge
- use 600, then 2000 wet/dry sandpaper (wet) to polish the end of
the axle and around the head
- finish with chrome/metal polish for a mirror finish
- Clean the wheels of flash.
spin wheels with a drill, using a small nail or mandrel,
and use sandpaper to remove casting flash
- finish off with 600+ wet/dry sandpaper (wet) and chrome polish
- Lubricate well. Graphite!
start with a fine graphite and work it in
- lube before the race with a graphite
- Weight just short of max.
just get it close, the 'official' scales may be off
- that last little bit of lead really doesn't help, especially if
you have to drill it out!
- Personal Observations
Don't push the weight limit. Nothing will ruin a
good-looking car quicker than having to drill it out at weigh in.
Distribute the mass down the centerline of the car. This
helps keep the car pointed straight down the track.
Keep the weight centered (left/right).
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