More pinewood derby fun:
Packs around the country are preparing to hold their annual pinewood derby. There are many ways to make your pinewood derby car go faster. Here are some of them.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PINEWOOD DERBY CAR DESIGN
The possibilities are endless when it comes to picking a shape for your pinewood derby car. Before you begin, consider the following guidelines:
Avoid designs with a pointed nose. A pointed nose will make it difficult for your pinewood derby car to rest on the pin at the starting gate. It may also cause your pinewood derby car to get bumped around when the pin drops, and it can create problems for electronic timing systems.
Leave enough wood in the rear of the pinewood derby car so you can place additional weight there. You will end up putting most of the weight in the rear of the pinewood derby car.
Be sure that it is very clear which end of your pinewood derby car is the front and which end is the back. In many races, the race officials—not you—will actually place each pinewood derby car on the track. Sometimes the officials put the pinewood derby car on the track backward because they can’t tell which end is which.
Choose a design that allows the air to move over and around the pinewood derby car body in a smooth manner. Pinewood derby cars with aerodynamic profiles go faster.
DESIGNING THE ULTIMATE PINEWOOD DERBY CAR
You don’t have to strive for the “ultimate pinewood derby car” to build a fast car and have fun competing in your pinewood derby. But if you and a helpful adult are willing to put in the extra time and effort, these tips are for you.
LOOKING GOOD How to give your pinewood derby car that glossy finish |
Bake the Block: Start with your block of wood, and before you do anything else, bake it in the oven at 250 degrees for around two hours to remove moisture and make it lighter.
Create the Design: Select a fast design.
Cut the Design: Draw the outline of your pinewood derby car on a sheet of paper, cut it out and attach it to your block of wood.
Make a Three-Wheeler: Raise one wheel about 1/16 inch higher so it never actually touches the track. Less friction = more speed.
Extend the Wheelbase: The front and rear wheels should be as far apart as possible.
Determine Weight Placement: A heavier rear increases speed. Add weight to the rear of your pinewood derby car.
Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed.
Sand the Pinewood Derby Car: Make it smooth to reduce friction.
Lubricate the Wheel Well: The less friction between the body and wheel, the better.
CHOOSING YOUR AXLES
Not all axles are created equal. Here’s a tip on choosing the straightest out of your bunch.
1. Start with a set of about 20 raw axles.
2. Can you tell the difference between the axles in the top row and the ones on the bottom? The ones on the bottom aren’t straight and will slow your car.
3. To tell which are straight and which aren’t, mark each axle with a marker about 1/2 inch from the pointed end.
4. Have an adult clamp a power drill into a vise, a device that will hold it perfectly still.
5. Have an adult help you clamp each axle into the drill at the location you marked in Step 3. Have the adult turn on the drill.
6. Bent axles will wobble as they turn in the drill. Straight axles will hardly wobble at all. Pick the ones that wobble least.
WANT MORE SECRETS?
Pick up a copy of “Pinewood Derby Speed Secrets” (BSA Supply No. 30538, 1-800-323-0736, www.scoutstuff.org) for lots more info on building the pinewood derby car body, preparing the axles and wheels, alternatives to the “ultimate pinewood derby car” and putting it all together.
And once you’ve built your pinewood derby car, get ideas on making it look great from “Pinewood Derby Designs & Patterns” (DK Publishing, $12.95 softcover), also available from a BSA retail store.
Remember: The No. 1 rule of a pinewood derby is that it’s supposed to be fun. While you should always strive to do your best, don’t get caught up in winning. Just enjoy the ride.
Tags: Pinewood derby
Used tips in Speed Secrets book to win 1st & 2nd & 4th at family reunion against 20+ cars. Other adults’ cars, including machinist and doctors, got humbled by the flying wedges. Solid information throughout the book helped me and my 12 yr old son build three cars into winners. Only used stock BSA parts from the scout store and kit. My axles beat ‘pro’ axles because of the speed tips.
Had a great time w/ my son building and racing the cars.
Also SHARED the tips and book w/ everyone. Helped my brother and his son take third.
Shape the inside of the wheel’s hub to a cone. Less friction against the body of the car.
David Meade’s book, Pinewood Derby Speed Secrets, is FANTASTIC!!
It explains the science and how to have fun, learn and do well.
He explains over and over again several key points that many racers ignore.
Check the local rules PRIOR to making radical modifications.
Good Luck!
Wheel and axle preparation is the key to speed followed by low profile car design. I have won first place for 5 years and fastest overall for 4 years and placed in the top 10 in District for 5 years.
Me and my dad just finished the finnal touches for my derby car. I hope these touches will get my car the win.
This stuff will hopefully work for my race.
Me and my dad just did the finishing touches on our winning car (hopefully). The district races are tomorrow at 10:00 AM. We followed the wheel adjustment and the weights in the back idea so I hope this will be the key winning feature. I willget back to Ya’ll tomorrow after the race BYE!
Buy Good Wheels/axles!!!! (A must) The weight a little in the middle, a lot to the rear of the car. Drill new holes for the axles and extend as far as you can. lift the right front wheel up just a little. A little graphite goes a long way. Soak your wheels/axles in grahite untill the race. Use a low profile car design and win the race.
On gPH cars There are almost flat wheels and have wooden axles. Any tips or secrets
Hey tjhawk I have GPH cars. Any tips. Yes i put graphite on and sanded the wheels.
Make sure your Axles are free of burrs. When the Axels are made there are small, extra pieces of metal around the axel head. Have an adult place the axel in a drill and use a small file to remove this excess metal. Not doing so will allow the metal to cut into your wheels and slow the car down. You can use emery sand paper to polish it then. Go a step farther and use steel wool.
pine wood derby is the best
I have never heard of the baking idea.
concentrating the weight(lifting one wheel) will slow you down….spread the friction(all wheels balanced well) and make sure your axels are firm in the wood …no chance to move at all out of perfect 90 degree angles to the body…good paint to cut air resistance(sand and re-paint alot)then go right to the max. weight…use a method that centers easily removed washers(you can bring the weight down a little at a time to qualify at race time..graphite and a little prayer and HAVE FUN!
i won 1st last year
these tips are SWEET!!!!!!!
i love pinewood derby.
thats why i named it eagle wing
the fastest derby car i have made had an air channel underneath the car to lift the car off the track meaning less friction.(i got fourth out of about fourty kids)
Which hot wheel gos faster.
i once was playing as a guest in a pwd and got second place with a friend!
i only got 4th this year
Raising one wheel is cheating and not fair to the other racers.
So race fair and have fun!!
good info
should try it
I like speed tips because its awesome.
I will think about doing these tips
We don’t get to do the pwd once you get past Cub Scouts.
these tip’s will hopefully work
thanks for the secrets,I can not wait to try them
I win 1st place every year
i am SUPER good at pwd ask me for help
speed secrets are cool
check your rules b4 lengthening wheelbase some packs and districts require the
factory axle grooves be maintained as is.
Also some p&d’s require only dry lubrication be used ie:graphite powder,available at most hardware suppliers.
I never took time to read some thing so intresting and fun.
I allready did this it got me !st place!! (try it)
i can never actuly win in a pinwood derby but know i think i have a chance
these tips are good. I thought a pointed car would be faster.
In my son’s pack if you extend the wheelbase, raise a wheel, modify the wheels (other than sanding off the imperfections) you will be disqualified. Before you start building, check your pack’s Pinewood Derby rules. Pay attention to the axles’ straightness and file/sand off imperfections and polish them. Graphite them well. Let the boy do as much work as he can.
I usually get 4th 5th or 7th place but next year I will get 1st 2nd or 3rd place by using these instructions. Iknow it!
i have raced for 3 almost 4 years and my cars have gotten me 4th place, 5th place,and 6th place so if you follow these rules you will have a fast car.
My son used these tip last year and came in 4th. This year the only change is we are buying good wheels and axles.
Here’s a tip: angel your cars whels so only the rim is toutching the track. Angle as
litle as possible not more than 3 degrees.
Warning!!!: make sure the bumps on the rim do not toutch the track it will slow your car down drasticly!
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what kind of wax to use on the finish of the car to make it slick?
Don’t forget to file down and grind smooth the raised burr on the nails too, these create friction and slow down your car.
We’re currently tuning our car for this Saturday’s race
I wish I read this earlyer because my Pinewood Derby race is tonight at 7:00!!!!!!!
I agree with tough
I am very glad I read this
sounds like good stuff. i’ll try it.
I am very bad at makeing fast cars and I hope these tips work