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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.
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.
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 the average speed of a pinewood derby car?
The Speed of Pinewood Derby Cars The distribution plot below shows a range of speeds from 177 mph to 229 mph, with most cars exceeding 200 mph.
Where is the best place to put weight on 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 long should pinewood derby wheels spin?
How long should pinewood derby wheels spin? A long spinning wheel has less friction so the longer a wheel spins, the better. A good wheels will spin for around 20 seconds but the spin time can vary with the type of wheel, lubricant and with the amount of force used to start the spin.
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.
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.
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.
How do you time pinewood derby?
Scroll to the End Marker and adjust it so it is exactly on the position where your pinewood derby car hit the box or the track break. Note the time in the End Marker. Subtract the start time from the end time to get the car’s total time. Tap you phone’s back button to start over and time another run.
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.
Where is the center of gravity on a pinewood derby car?
Center of gravity placement should be between 1⁄2″ – 1″ in front of the rear axle. This is true for all wheel base types. Whether you are using a standard wheelbase or an extended wheelbase.
How do you use tungsten Putty pinewood derby?
Tungsten Putty can be easily used for fine-tuning the weight of pinewood derby cars. Simply pinch off a piece of the putty, knead it until it is pliable, and press the putty into a cavity or hole in the car. If the car is too heavy, use a small screwdriver to remove some of the tungsten putty.
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.
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.
What is the best 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. Water is the base of all of our paints.
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.
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.
