Table of Contents
Build a Fast Pinewood Derby Car in 6 Steps Step 1: Reduce friction to speed up your car. Step 2: Lubricate Axles and Wheels. Step 3: Prepare and Polish Axles – Essential for Speed. Step 4: Balance and tune your Wheels to Maxiumize Speed. Step 5: Add Weight to Increase Inertia.
How do you increase the speed of a pinewood derby car?
5 Quick & Easy Tips For Improving Your Pinewood Derby Car’s Speed Put all of your weight in the back. Lube the car at the body/wheel friction point. Spend a fair amount of time on axle prep. Make sure your wheels are ready. Finally, once your wheels are mounted, check their alignment.
Does a heavier pinewood derby car go faster?
Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow. In general, it’s best to place weight to the rear of your car because a heavier rear increases speed.
What is a fast time for a pinewood derby car?
Pinewood Derby Results. The average times with just weight added was 3.288 seconds. There was 0.188 seconds between the fastest and slowest car, about 23 inches. The average time was 2.994 seconds, about 44 inches faster than without graphite (0.353 seconds).
Where should the center of gravity be on a pinewood derby car?
The ideal placement for the center of gravity is 7/8-in. in front of the rear axle. Too far forward and you’ll lose potential energy (P=9.8mh or the energy caused by the item’s position). Too far back and your car will pop a wheelie, ruining any chance for a win.
Do fenders help pinewood derby?
Pinewood Derby Fenders / Air Guides Add pizzazz to your pinewood derby car with our sleek fender accessories! Fenders improve air flow over the wheels resulting in a few milliseconds of advantage, during a tight race. Both front and rear fenders are available and are typically used together.
Should 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 best 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.
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.
Do you 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.
What is the best type of paint to use on a pinewood derby car?
ByBrittney. Pinewood Derby cars were painted over 100 times, and we selected the best paints for them. Sand and paint are the best way to apply these high gloss acrylic paints – they do not require primer or wood sealer.
How do you weight a 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 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.
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.
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 do you reduce friction on a pinewood derby car?
The easiest way to reduce friction is to lubricate the surfaces that cause friction. Lubrication is an essential part of pinewood derby racing. Purchase a tube of dry PRO Graphite with moly and shoot it onto the axle shaft and inside the wheel bore. Spin the wheel so the graphite works in.
What makes a cardboard car go faster?
Reducing weight, minimizing drag, cutting friction and improving nozzle air flow will all help make your balloon car go faster.
What is a car pulley?
A motor pulley is a type of wheel that is affixed to the engine of an automobile or other vehicle; this wheel is used to guide a timing belt or serpentine belt that helps power peripheral devices in the car such as the air conditioner unit.
Will Home Depot cut my Pinewood Derby car?
“Our employees will use our tools to cut a seven inch block of pine into a winning race car. The workshop is free to Scout parents.”Jan 21, 2015.
