620 N Cedar Bluff Rd, Knoxville, TN 37923
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Build Tips - Fastest Car on The Track
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5 Quick & Easy Tips For Improving Your Pinewood Derby Car’s Speed
- Put all of your weight in the back. Much has been written about the physics of pinewood derby cars, and this is one rare case in racing where heavy = fast. Aerodynamics have little effect in such a short race, but weight does and putting the weight at the back of the car will make your car faster on the flat of the track. Tungsten weights, in most cases, are best because of their high density.
- Lube the car at the body/wheel friction point. Do not paint the car on the small semicircle point where the wheels meet up with the body (where the wheel well is on the car in your driveway). Rather, sand this point to a smooth finish with a very fine sandpaper. Next, after masking off the body’s paint, gently massage some dry graphite into the wood. This will reduce friction and increase wheel speed.
- Spend a fair amount of time on axle prep. Using a file and fine sandpaper, make sure you remove any burrs and defects from the axles, near the head of the nail. Some people will put a number of axles in a power drill and spin them to find the axles that are most straight (and eliminate any with noticeable wobble).
- Make sure your wheels are ready. Depending on your pack rules, polishing (or sanding) the business side of the wheel can improve rolling resistance. You can also massage powdered graphite into the wheel edge to further reduce friction. There are plenty of vendors who sell improved wheels, but if your group is like ours, these are outlawed. You can also polish (with graphite again) the wheel’s bore. Once your axles and wheels are finished, a good rule of thumb is that, with a flick of a finger, they should be able to freely spin for 20 seconds.
- Check wheel alignment. Finally, once your wheels are mounted, check their alignment. Find a long board and mark off a racing lane, about 6 inches across. Put the board on a very slight incline and allow your car to roll a few feet. If, at the end of this test run, your car has moved significantly to one side or the other (or the wheels have moved in or out), move the axle up or down to adjust your alignment.
Adapted from an article by Dave Banks - February 25, 2009
Where can I get cool stuff for my car?
The Scout Shop! They have everyting to trick out your car. Tell the clerk you have a Scout in Pack 630 and they will get you everything you need and more.
- Address – 1333 Old Weisgarber Road - Knoxville, TN 37909
- Hours – Monday – Friday 9:00 – 6:00 and Saturdays 10:00 -3:00 (Closed Labor Day)
- Phone – (865) 588-1940
Directions – From the church turn right on Cedar Bluff Road and head north turning right on Middlebrook Pike and drive East 4.6 miles then turn left at Old Weisgarber Road heading north for 0.2 mile and turn left into the parking lot of the Scouting Building parking lot. The Scout Shop is inside on the left and is open Monday – Saturday