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.
Do aerodynamics matter in pinewood derby?
A more aerodynamic car (but very similar for other things) doesn’t give you much bang for your buck. Friction will get you. If you can reduce the coefficient of friction by just a little bit, it will make a noticeable difference. If you let your kids do most of the work, they will gain more than a win.
Where is the best place to put weight on a pinewood derby car?
Best Location to Weight Your Pinewood Derby Car When deciding on where to weight your car, you should try to reach a final balance point of the car 1 inch or less in front of the rear axle. To achieve this, place 2/5 of the added weight behind the rear axle, and the remaining 3/5 in front of the rear axle.
What makes a pinewood derby car go faster?
- 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.
Should I bake my pinewood derby block?
Should I bake the pinewood derby block? The short answer is no, do not bake the block. The idea behind baking the block is to remove moisture which will make the block lighter. … Baking might remove more moisture but the block will quickly re-absorb the moisture after it is out of the oven and cooled down.
What is the Pinewood Derby world record?
The longest Pinewood Derby track is 554.53 m (1,819 ft 3.75 in) and was built by the Boy Scouts of America Mid-America Council (USA) at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Nebraska, USA on 15 October 2016. The successful Pinewood Derby car was provided by Glenn Jewkes of Jewkes Engineering.
Are Bent Axles legal in Pinewood Derby?
CAN I BEND AXLES AND QUALIFY FOR STOCK CAR OR PRO STOCK DIVISIONS? No. Bent axles are not allowed in either racing class.
What is the best type of paint to use on a Pinewood Derby car?
We tested over 100 different paints and selected the ones that gave the best results on Pinewood Derby cars. These high gloss acrylic paints work best if no primer or wood sealer is used – Just sand and paint. All of our paints are water based. They are non-toxic and water wash-up.Why does adding weight to a Pinewood Derby car make it go faster?
Simply put: the more weight you can shift towards the rear of the car, the more potential energy it will have. The key important term is POTENTIAL. It is believed that the more stored energy you have, the faster your car can travel.
Does wheelbase affect speed?Steering opinions. ‘A longer wheelbase will be more stable at speed, and more stable with a load, but slower to turn. … A vehicle with a longer wheelbase will require a greater turning force to have the same steering effect as a shorter one.
Article first time published onWhy 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 much weight should I put in my Pinewood Derby car?
The maximum weight limit for a pinewood derby car is 5 ounces. Plan on adding 2 to 3.5 oz of weight to your car, depending on your car design and the weight of your pine wood block. A chunky car design has more wood so it needs less weight.
What is a good Pinewood Derby time?
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).
How far apart should the wheels be on a Pinewood Derby car?
The wheel base (distance from front axle to the rear axle) may not be altered. The cut slots must be used for the axles and the wheel base distance must be 4-1/4 to 4 3/8 inches. 8.
Should I glue Pinewood Derby axles?
7. Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don’t get glue on your wheels.
How can I make my soap box derby car faster?
Weight: Numerous formula-based calculations and real-life experiments have been done to determine if a heavier or slower soap box derby car will go faster. Consensus is that adding weight gives the car more momentum (acceleration/top speed) and cuts down on air resistance/drag.
Is Pinewood Derby only for Cub Scouts?
Pinewood derbyPetty SuperbirdOwnerBoy Scouts of AmericaCountryUnited StatesDatesAnnual
Is graphite legal in pinewood derby?
Graphite-coatings on axles and wheels are legal as long as your race rules allow graphite or dry lubricants.
What kind of wood is used for pinewood derby cars?
Pine – Any of a variety of soft, light-colored woods used for pinewood derby kits. Ponderosa Pine – A soft western pine. Sugar Pine – A soft, western pine noted for a sweet smell. White Pine – A soft eastern pine.
What is the fastest Derby time?
Secretariat, 1973, Time: 1:59.40 The fastest Kentucky Derby time of 1:59.40 minutes is held by Secretariat from the 1973 Derby. He is the only horse in the top ten Kentucky Derby fastest times to have won the Triple Crown.
What is the average speed of a Pinewood Derby car?
The Speed of Pinewood Derby Cars The distribution plot below shows a range of speeds from 177 mph to 229 mph, with most cars exceeding 200 mph.
Can you spray paint a Pinewood Derby car?
Step 3: Choose a color for your Pinewood Derby car. Then apply two to three coats of enamel paint to the car’s body. Spraying the model with paint from an aerosol can is easier than using a brush. … Seal and protect it by spraying the entire car with clear gloss paint.
Can you put weights on top of pinewood derby car?
When the paint has dried, mount the weight on the top of your car as far to the rear as possible. The weight should not extend past the rear of the car. Glue bottom weights to the bottom of the block to bring the total weight (including wheels and axles) to 5 oz.
What is the angle of a pinewood derby track?
The track should slope from about 30 degrees at the start line changing gradually to 0 degrees about 12 feet from the start line then the track should run flat to the finish line. The remainder of the track is an overrun area to allow the cars to stop.
Do you need to prime pine wood before painting?
If you don’t seal pine with a primer, the first coat of paint will be blotchy, because pine absorbs paint (and other finishes) very unevenly. … If you omit the primer when you’re painting knotty pine, you’ll be able to see dark spots around every knot.
How do you get the smoothest paint finish?
- Prep the Wood. Sand any bare wood to 120-grit and no finer. …
- Sand Your Primer. Without a smooth base, you can’t get a smooth finish. …
- Use Additives. …
- Buy The Right Paint. …
- Strain Your Paint. …
- Put it On, Leave it Alone.
Is longer or shorter wheelbase better?
Cars with long wheelbases tend to have better ride quality than those with short wheelbases. This is simply because there’s more time between the front and rear wheels hitting any bumps, so the car is less likely to become unsettled. … Short wheelbase cars are better for nipping around town and more fun on twisty roads.
What is the advantage of a longer wheelbase?
What a longer wheelbase provides is a more stable and comfortable ride, especially at higher speeds. It also provides more storage space and overall room between the axles. The effect of a longer wheelbase on longitudinal acceleration is analogous to having a wider track during lateral acceleration.
Why is the wheelbase important?
Why is wheelbase important? The main significance of wheel-base lies in the fact that it gives an indication of the dynamic characteristics of vehicle i.e. ride and handling. Along with the wheelbase, ground clearance also affects the handling of the vehicle.
