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.
How do you increase the speed of a pinewood derby car?
- 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.
How do you make a fast Pinewood Derby axle?
- 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.
How do you add tungsten weight to a pinewood derby car?
drill one or more holes in the bottom of the car just in front of the rear axle and insert enough of the Fine Tune weight to bring your car up to 5 oz. Glue the weight in the hole. 8. Add the wheels and axles to your pinewood derby car.
Is it legal to polish pinewood derby axles?
Because pinewood derby car kits all use nails, which have many surface imperfections that have to be removed so the car can roll, all rule sets allow filing, sanding and polishing the nails. Six stated that narrowing or putting grooves in axles was prohibited .
Do heavier pinewood derby cars go faster?
Why is a heavier pinewood derby car faster? Pinewood derby cars are powered by gravity. They start on a slope and the weight of the car pushes the car down the slope. A heavy car will get more push as it goes down the slope .
Do aerodynamics matter in pinewood derby?
What about air resistance? Yes , there is air resistance with these pine derby cars. And yes, for that effect the mass of the car does indeed matter.
What is the fastest wooden car?
A B.C. red cedar on wheels is up for auction after setting the world record as the world’s fastest log car. The Cedar Rocket was built by the team at Pioneer Log Homes of Williams Lake, B.C., whose wood-based creations earned them four seasons as the stars of the television show Timber Kings.
What is a fast time for Pinewood Derby?
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 weight be 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 much weight does paint add to a 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.
How do you balance a Pinewood Derby car?
Take a ruler, attach it to some sort of base so that it can rest on the edge side up. Mark the range of 1⁄2′′-1′′ in front of the rear axle of your completed car , then start the balancing game. Add Pinewood Derby Car Weight to the front two pockets until you can get your car to balance on its own within that range.
