Re: Pinewood Derby Anyone?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RPOLS3</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> So, if you have any tips/tricks, I'm all ears. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] </div></div>
Took 4 years of trying to finally get 1st place but my son did back in 2011, his final year. It's all about the kids learning and having fun (not Dad building the car for them) but the secret to going fast is in the wheels/axles and getting the weight right at 5 ounces (the weight limit).
Jake </div></div>
I agree with the 5 ounces and wheels. Both my sons won first place in our local Pinewood Derby & my oldest Son Billy went to the Midwest Nationals held in Schaumburg Illinois back in 1992? The meet included 1st. place winners from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, & Indiana. He finished 11th out of 295? cars. I remember being there from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The key is to put the wheels in a cordless drill by the hub, and sand them to a point with a sanding block removing all the square tread molded in the flat part. Then put the nails (axles) in the drill chuck and polish them with emery cloth. before installing the wheels into the car with the nails, fill the center where the axle rides with powdered graphite used by Locksmiths. The final thing to do is make SURE it weighs 4.99 ounces! We had a dad that was a printer (we used his ink scale to weigh the cars), another that was a Plumber (he had sheet lead used in sweating pipes) we hollowed out the underside and drilled the weight into the bottom of the car with counter sunk wood screws. We offered everyone in our local Derby a chance to "Tune Up" there cars before checking them in to make it a closer race, but did and some didn't.
Being the Mechanic in the group and my son coming in 1st. (by a large margin) I was accused of cheating by some fathers. So we offered to race anyone again with our car backwards. We did and beat them all! It's all about the weight & wheels, there are no aerodynamics in play.
I hated the father who showed up with a polished Bat Mobile or Star Wars car. You knew the son never made them, it was sad for the kid. Our's were both Chevy Orange cut with a hand coping saw and looked like it. I hope this helps. Have a great time with your Son, he will always remember it.
Bill
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