Pinewood Derby Anyone?

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I spent a fair amount of time this weekend (with Danny, after I was done with the power tools) working on the car. I don't think we are allowed to modify the front end of our cars - but I honestly won't know until we get to the test session this Friday night. I had 2 other Father/Son teams over to our place this weekend, we are all learning together and none of us know what to expect.

I spent most of Saturday moving weight around, trying to get it to the back of the car. I drilled out most of the underside of his car body so I could add tungsten slugs out back. We put a few coats of primer on it Saturday night, I was shocked at how much weight that added - I sanded most of it off, which simply gummed up the sandpaper. Why do these things take so long to dry???? We put a light coat of silver metallic over the primer so we can stripe it before spraying the blue top coat - I had to put the car on a heater vent all night for it to dry!

Also, found out that the night Danny got his car, there was a guy (multiple guys!) cutting the wood blocks for the kids, and another guy polishing axles for everyone. Karen had time to get Danny's car block cut, but not the axles polished - which I did myself (thanks to you guys) but I was thinking that I was the only one doing it - not! The field just got a bit tighter! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img]

So, is this an all age run type of event, or does each kid only race other kids in their age group? How does this all work? I have baseball workouts with Benjamin while Karen takes Danny to Scouts - I can't seem to figure out how to be in 2 places at once....

- just watched the video, what do the car run into at the end of the track?? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] Doesn't that impact knock out some alignment, or knock some weights loose?

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So, is this an all age run type of event, or does each kid only race other kids in their age group? How does this all work? I have baseball workouts with Benjamin while Karen takes Danny to Scouts - I can't seem to figure out how to be in 2 places at once....
</div></div>

In my area the kids run in age groups (Wolf, Bear, Webelos I, II, etc) and the fastest 2 or 3 from each age group in the Pack advanced to a Council Derby later in the year. We also awarded a overall &quot;Pack Champion&quot; based on the fastest time. We used the electronic/computer timing system (Derbymaster I think is the name of the software) so that there was no subjectivity involved in the results

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
- just watched the video, what do the car run into at the end of the track?? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img] Doesn't that impact knock out some alignment, or knock some weights loose? </div></div>

Our track had about a 2-3' section at the end where the center part was raised and had sandpaper attached to it to slow the cars down before they hit a large block of foam to stop them - but yes, occasionally there are casualties.

Jake

[PxTx]

To aid in stability, are you gonna run a long wheel base Marlin? Your rules didn't say anything against it, or even promoting the use of the factory slots. I think it would only help. Just make sure there is just a bit of the body beyond where you place the wheels.

Jake is right. The kids in similar rank/den usually start off running each other first. Not sure how many kids get to go on to the district, but that may dictate how far the brackets go.

There was just a foam block and the raised center rail in the video. The Batman car was dropped by my kid earlier and I had to glue some wood back on. Despite flying off the track, the car was still fast on other runs. There is plenty of luck in the PWD. I would make sure you bring basic tools, spare parts and superglue!

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I have tools, I have spare parts, and would welcome just racing in an age group - none of us know what we are doing!

I thought long and hard about extending the wheelbase, just couldn't quite figure the advantage other than being able to put more weight in front of the rear axle. Given the car design that Danny chose, I don't know if it would help us or not.

I've been really thinking of drilling axle holes instead of using the slots (which would/could lead into a wheel base extension), but I'm not sure I can drill a 3 degree cant into the holes. I have a jig, and there is enough play to raise one side of the body - which could get me 3 degrees... but, I felt like I was running out of time, and so we started the paint process. I might still drill holes, or might use the 2 hack saw blades to run a 3 degree angle in the slots....

This is too stressful.... feels like Jr Dragsters all over again....

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif[/img]

[SmallHurst]

Just finished with my sons car and the last year of doing it. Best showing we have had. One thing I was told about that I have never done is the axle install tool. It puts the axle in straight and true.

Helped put together a brand new, 6 lane aluminium track. Electric timer shows the placement and time of the run. The Webelos were running fast. The fastest cars were running 2.65 seconds for the track. Most were flying.

Marin.. feel free to call. My cell is 816-654-3400.

[PxTx]

2.65 is fast and ounds like a competitive group, probably a 35' track.? I would love to try out a 6 lane track! Rusty, toss up a pic of this year's car!

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Well, we painted the top coat and put it on the heater vent last night - it dried by morning! Danny is thrilled, I think he's getting excited now, he can't wait to put his number stickers on it.

I have to decide tonight if I'm going to try drilling new axle holes with a 3 degree cant, knowing me - I'll try it. If I decide to go with the original axle slots, it shouldn't be a big deal. We are going with a 3 wheel unit too, will have more questions as I go...

Command Central! At the bar, in the newly finished basement, Danny can watch the big TV while we work on his car! What better place to work on a Derby car! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]



Our 'paint booth', I can spin the car by turning the hanger handle on top. Danny likes to paint, but can't yet push the paint can nozzle down - so I have to help a little! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Race day is fast approaching...!

[SmallHurst]

I will get pictures when I get home. C of G was 1&quot; in front of the rear wheel. Car weighed. 4.9 oz. We polished the axles with seven grades of emery cloth ending with 2000 grit. I then chucked the axles and wheels together and ran those on together for 2-3 minutes. When graphite was added, the wheels would spin 20-24 sec. Some have one wheel barely touching the ground. My way of thinking, 4-wheels, 4 hit the ground.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

It was a good day - we took home 1st place for his age group, happy kid!



I ended up drilling canted axle holes for the rear wheels, straight up holes for the front with the left front slightly raised - it still touched but just barely. We were able to move enough weight to the rear of the car to get the COM at 1.5&quot; in front of the rear axle, it was the best I could do.



The track is 30' long, 4 cars wide, times were 2.44-2.48, our avge mph over the 8 runs was 204.9mph - good enough for 1st place as the 2nd place car averaged 204.1mph.



So, Danny advanced into the final round of 30 cars, that meant 60 heats - took a little over an hour. Once we went up against the older kids, it was a different game! Danny came in 12th out of the 30 finalists, not too bad. The #1 car was hitting 207.0 - 207.1 mph! I had to tell him that he was essentially #12 out of ~90 kids. We'll take it, [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]



Thanks to all for answering my rookie questions, the best is just the smile on your child's face. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]