Pinewood derby cars are made from kits containing a wood block, plastic wheels and metal nails for axles. The completed cars race down a multi-lane track powered by gravity and slowed by friction and wind resistance.
What kind of wood are pinewood derby cars?
Pine – Any of a variety of soft, light-colored woods used for pinewood derby kits. Ponderosa Pine – A soft western pine. Sugar Pine – A soft, western pine noted for a sweet smell.
What are pinewood derby axles made of?
Pinewood derby axles are one inch long, 0.087 inch diameter zinc plated steel nails. The minimal axle treatment is the removal of the burrs and crimp marks with a file, followed by sanding and polishing. When it is allowed by the rules, the axle shaft can be cut with grooved and the head tapered.
What makes a pinewood derby car fast?
Aerodynamics have little effect in such a short race, but weight does and putting the weight at the back of the car will make your car faster on the flat of the track. Tungsten weights, in most cases, are best because of their high density. Lube the car at the body/wheel friction point.What are pinewood derby weights made of?
Tungsten is the best pinewood derby weight because it is about 1.8 times denser than lead (a heavy metal) and 3 times denser than zinc.
Is pinewood derby only for Cub Scouts?
Pinewood derbyPetty SuperbirdOwnerBoy Scouts of AmericaCountryUnited StatesDatesAnnual
Are Bent axles legal in pinewood derby?
Bent axles are not allowed in either racing class. Although canted axles are allowed in both. A canted axle is straight throughout its length.
What is the fastest Pinewood Derby car time?
We used ultralight wheels and grooved axles. It was very fast. Nobody even came close to us. Our best time was 2.516 seconds on a 35 foot aluminum track.What is the fastest shape for a Pinewood Derby car?
But aerodynamics rule the day, and the best shape is a simple wedge. Just like a spoiler on the rear of a sports car, the wedge shape allows as much air to flow over the top of the car without hinderance while keeping the car pinned to the track.
Should I glue Pinewood Derby axles?7. Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don’t get glue on your wheels. 8. Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow.
Article first time published onShould I bake my Pinewood Derby block?
Should I bake the pinewood derby block? The short answer is no, do not bake the block. The idea behind baking the block is to remove moisture which will make the block lighter. … Baking might remove more moisture but the block will quickly re-absorb the moisture after it is out of the oven and cooled down.
What is the perfect weight for a Pinewood Derby car?
First, the basics: Your car should weigh as much as it’s allowed. In most races, a Pinewood Derby car’s weight is limited to 5 ounces. If your car weighs less than that, add coins or other weights. As far as where you should attach those weights to your car … well, let’s just say opinions differ.
What is the best weight for Pinewood Derby?
The more your pine car weighs, the faster it will go on a downhill ramp. Most rules specify a 5 oz. maximum weight. Most Pinewood Derby cars weigh between 1.5 oz and 3.5 oz (depending on design) without weights so a car may need 3.5 oz or more of additional weight.
Are weights allowed in pinewood derby cars?
The maximum weight limit for a pinewood derby car is 5 ounces. Plan on adding 2 to 3.5 oz of weight to your car, depending on your car design and the weight of your pine wood block. A chunky car design has more wood so it needs less weight. A thin, small car design has less wood so it needs more weight.
Is graphite legal in Pinewood Derby?
Graphite-coatings on axles and wheels are legal as long as your race rules allow graphite or dry lubricants.
Why does my Pinewood Derby car wobble?
Pinewood Derby Wheels Wobble are a very common issue. Derby wheels are made with an injection molding process. Because they are not machined from raw material, flaws such as concentricity (wobble) will cause a wheel to wobble because the bore is not aligned with the outer diameter. … No wheel mold is safe from flaws.
How far apart should the wheels be on a Pinewood Derby car?
The wheel base (distance from front axle to the rear axle) may not be altered. The cut slots must be used for the axles and the wheel base distance must be 4-1/4 to 4 3/8 inches. 8.
Who invented Pinewood Derby?
A lot has changed since Cubmaster Don Murphy dreamed up the idea for the Pinewood Derby in 1953. But a lot has stayed the same, too. The Pinewood Derby is still about Cub Scouts and their parents turning four plastic wheels, four nails and some wood into a custom race car.
What is a Pinewood Derby block?
A high quality pine block, pre-cut to the standard pinewood derby dimensions of 7 x 1-3/4 x 1-1/4 inches. Ready to accept axles holes or slots. Pine Block quantity.
Why is it called Pinewood Derby?
He asked the Management Club at his company, North American Aviation, to sponsor a miniature racing event for his Cub Scout pack that he had named a “pinewood derby.” The club agreed to pay for the wood and other materials. Murphy designed a miniature car that could be carved out of soft pinewood and wrote the rules.
How long does Pinewood Derby last?
How long does it take to run the race? From user reports, with the RaceManager each heat should last about two minutes (or less!) per racer. See Running the Race for an explanation.
How do you make a gravity car go faster?
If you want to go fast, the car needs minimal air resistance. As crazy as it sounds, a simple wedge shape car solves this problem. Don’t forget to slant the back of the car so it doesn’t drag when the car hits the bottom of the hill. Wheels – The wheels provided in the standard kit are excellent.
How do you weigh a Pinewood Derby car?
Best Location to Weight Your Pinewood Derby Car When deciding on where to weight your car, you should try to reach a final balance point of the car 1 inch or less in front of the rear axle. To achieve this, place 2/5 of the added weight behind the rear axle, and the remaining 3/5 in front of the rear axle.
How can I make my Pinewood Derby car faster?
- Bake your block. …
- Max out your weight at the regulation 5 ounces. …
- Use all of the graphite (dry lubricant is usually allowed). …
- Sand and polish your wheels and axles. …
- Check alignment. …
- Spend time on sanding. …
- Use a high-quality paint. …
- Add decals!
Where is the best place to put weight on a Pinewood Derby car?
Weight should be placed towards the rear of the car. You can drill the weight holes in the bottom, side or rear of the car as shown in these examples. Stay at least 1/8″ away from the axle slots.
How do you dry Pinewood Derby car?
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. This will allow you to place more weight to the rear of the Pinewood Derby car where you actually want it.
Do aerodynamics matter in Pinewood Derby?
A more aerodynamic car (but very similar for other things) doesn’t give you much bang for your buck. Friction will get you. If you can reduce the coefficient of friction by just a little bit, it will make a noticeable difference. If you let your kids do most of the work, they will gain more than a win.
How much weight does paint add to Pinewood Derby car?
Paint only adds a few grams (hundredths of a ounce). We generally weight up to 4.9 oz and then do the last weight adjustment at check-in.
