Pinewood Derby
A race with cars you build YOURSELF!
Creativity
Sportsmanship
Fun
Thrifty
Courteous
Friendly
A scout is…
Why?
Typical Rules
1) Car Specifications:
A) Overall Width shall not exceed 2-3/4”
B) Overall Length shall not exceed 7”
C) Weight: Maximum of 5 Ounces
D) Clearance width between wheels: 1-3/4”Min.
E) The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body so it does not rub on the track.
2) The car must have been made during the year in which derby is being held.
3) Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
4) The car shall not ride on springs.
5) Only official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby wheels and axles are permitted. The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded. You may remove the seams and imperfections from the wheels.
6) Only dry lubricant is permitted.
7) Details, such as steering wheel and driver are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width and weight specifications.
8) The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.
9) Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it may compete.
10) If, at registration, a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason for failure and will be given time within the official weigh-in time period to make the adjustment.
After final approval, cars will not be re-inspected unless the car is damaged in handling or in a race.
INSPECTION EVENT
Your car will be checked to make sure it follows the rules.
Once your car is inspected, it cannot be touched by you until after the race.
Building your car
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
Shape the wood Block
Template designs available through many different sources including books, magazines and websites. You can even design your own with some graph paper and a pencil. Just be sure to keep the design within the regulation dimensions.
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
Shape the wood block - use cutout template to trace on block
Sand the body up to 220 grit to reduce friction.
Tips for a fast car
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
Add Weight – Gravity is the engine that makes the car move down the track. I
f the car is too light, it will have less inertia in the flat part of the track. The heavier your car is up to the 5 oz limit, the faster it will be.
The ideal placement for the center of gravity on a Pinewood Derby car is approximately 1” in front of the rear axle. Too far forward and you lose potential energy. Too far back and your car could pop a wheelie and drag the rear of the car down the track, slowing it down.
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
Bake the wood Block – wood holds water, and water adds weight. While you want weight, you want it where it’s the most beneficial. Pre-heat your oven to 250 degrees, then bake your block for 2 hours. All the water evaporates, allowing more control over where weight can be placed.
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
Sand the wheels!
Also don’t forget to polish the hole where the axle passes through the wheel; this can be done with a pipe cleaner and toothpaste.
PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
Polish the Axles - The best method for polishing the axles is to put them into a hand drill. While using the drill to spin the axle, the shaft can be sanded with 2000 grit sandpaper.
REDUCE FRICTION
Lubricate Axles and Wheels – DRY Graphite with Moly and shoot it onto the axle shaft and inside the wheel bore. Spin the wheel so the graphite works in. You should immediately notice a significant improvement.
Prizes!