How can I make my Pinewood Derby car go faster?
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 time for a Pinewood Derby car?
1 min 16.7 sec
The successful Pinewood Derby car was provided by Glenn Jewkes of Jewkes Engineering. It completed the run in 1 min 16.7 sec, and weighed 137 g (4.83 oz).
How do you win Pinewood Derby secrets?
10 Tips and Tricks to a Fast and Cool-Looking Pinewood Derby Car
- 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!
Do aerodynamics matter in Pinewood Derby?
Thus, this experiment shows that there is an aerodynamic effect with pinewood derby cars, and that the effect is significant. As a comparison, here are two other studies that show similar results: 1. A several year old study which measured a block shape against an aerodynamic shape.
Is it legal to sand Pinewood Derby wheels?
The wheels may be slightly sanded to remove any mold marks but may not be modified in any other way. Only the Official Scout Grand Prix wheels may be used. Wheels may be sanded (smoothed to remove knit/mold lines) but the wheel’s profile may not be altered.
How do you make a box car?
How to Make a Cardboard Box Car
- Seal a large box with packing tape.
- Have an adult use a box cutter to cut out a semicircle on each side to make the doors.
- Fold the cut top of the box to create a windshield.
- Have a grown-up cut out a windshield.
- Glue on paper-plate wheels.
- Attach plastic-cup lights with glue.
Can you put weights under a pinewood derby car?
In most races, the maximum allowable weight of a pinewood derby car is five ounces. By meeting this maximum limit – while also strategically placing your weights at the rear of your vehicle – you will improve your momentum and increase the distance your car travels towards the finish line.
How do I make my Pinewood Derby car lighter?
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.
Can you use hot glue on a pinewood derby car?
I don’t recommend hot glue for attaching wood to wood, but it does work well for gluing weight into pockets or holes.
Why do lighter cars go faster?
One logical solution is to make the car lighter. The amount of energy it takes to move a car from one point to another is highly dependent on the mass, so the lighter the vehicle, the less energy it takes to move it from one place to another. A lighter car is also a faster car.