Help! Pinewood Derby tips needed!
I just found out that Mazda is going to hold a pinewood derby at a press preview coming up in a couple of weeks. (I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say which car they're previewing, but anyone familiar with Mazda's product lineup should be able to put three and three together.) For those not familiar, a pinewood derby is a race between little wooden cars powered by gravity. Mazda's last pinewood derby was at the Mazdaspeed 3 launch, where Jason Fogelson's About.com Flyer put us in second place, behind MazdaSport Magazine.
So now it's up to me. Mazda's sent the kit (a PineCar West Coast Growler) and the rules (7" long, 2.75" wide, 6 ounces, no graphite). Here's the deal: I want first place. Here's the problem: I know zilcho about pinewood derby cars. So I'm hoping you can help. Please email me at cars.guide@about.com with your best pinewood derby tips. Don't leave them in the comments section -- for all we know, those communists at MazdaSport Magazine are reading our site! In fact, if you want to put misleading pinewood tips in the comments section, go for it. Just don't tell anyone what you're up to... -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Robert Gold
Comments
Check out ebay.com. They have kits, books, and etc. You can buy a prebuilt car if you want. Some are even guaranteed to win. Googling “pinewood derby car tips” produces 37,000 hits.
I am a father of all girls so I don’t have much experience but I did help my nephew once.
Scientifically: max weight, low friction (wheels), low drag (shape) = speed. Here are some of the basics. Folks go nuts over this stuff. Many fathers spend hundreds of hours working on cars for both looks and speed. Do the basics and hope for the fastest lane and some dumb luck!
Weight: One mistake i saw at the track was anchoring the weight too low on the underside: it drug on the track. For weight, I prefer hollowing out the car (just use a drill like a dentist would) and pouring melted lead into the cavity. Those automobile wheel weights (stop by any tire shop) melt easily on the stove top using a tin can. If you overfill it, just file or drill it out. This method is actually easier than it sounds because lead is so soft and it makes an elegant design.
Shape: I don’t think shape matters too much.
Friction: I think the most important issue is the wheel. Out of the box, the axles (nails) have spurs on the head. You need to file them off and polish the nail. Be careful when inserting the nail, the wood can be fragile.
Have fun and good luck. P.S. My nephews car won first place at his derby (dumb luck.)
Before constructing the car, it is essential that you use a Dremel tool to rough up both the inside surface of the wheels and the provided axels. This should provide an additional 2.5 metz of slinkostatic sloughing in the drivetrain components.
I heard if you rub a banana peel on the wheels just before go-time you can significantly increase your track time.
Good advice above (except for the banana, Never heard of that one.) Also, the prettiest care seldom wins. I have seen wheels put onto the generic block and win going away. I do think it is important also to have the wheels aligned perfectly. If they rub against the track- you lose
I remember my dad helping me get ready for pinewood derbies. He used to put each nail in a hand drill and start it spinning while I polished it by holding my fingers around it with toothpaste. I got first place.
We used ethuey’s method for weight as well. Try to get it as heavy as you can but within the limit. I’d also try to make sure you have a way to adjust something at the event in case their scales say you are over the weight limit.
People do go nuts at these events. Sometimes in some very nasty ways. The best advice I can give you is: if your car is doing well through the eliminations stand next to it every second. Someone will probably tamper with it to throw it out of whack. I saw someone “inadvertantly” lean on my son’s car, bending its spindles, giving it wobbly wheels and an immediate last place finish in the finals. It broke my son’s heart and I wanted to break the kid’s dad’s jaw…
use the scale at your local post office to check the weight and use the drill and weight method it works, polishing the nails will also help a lot
good luck!
I polished the axles and used a drill press with the wheels mounted in an arbor to narrow and polish the surface of the wheels.2 time district winner
As a 2 time winner(through my kids of course)of pinewood derbys,I have the secrets necessary for winning.
1. Deburr the plastic wheels of their flash and attachment points.
2. The nails(axles) must be perfectly perpendicular to the sides of the car.(No rubbing)
3.Graphite can not be used but silicone can. Use it!
I’ll send you a photo of our 2 trophies.
Ahh Daveyboy…living vicariously through his children and with them every step of the way. Your a good dad and we need a whole lot more dads like you!!!
Go to DerbyTalk.com, everyone knows that the place where the real physics experts in Pinewood Derby hang out. Good Luck.
You can check out www.pwdracing.com for all kinds of tips and tricks to make your derby car fast.