Any Other Pinewood Derby Dads?

[KennyG]

When my son was in Cub Scouts we built a car every year. We never won and I know he wanted to win. However, I insisted that he design the car and do everything on it that it was safe for him to do. His cars were always cool but didn't stand up so well to the ones that were obviously built by the Fathers.

He's now in high school and, for science competitions, builds and programs robots and creates musical instruments from scratch. He's one of the few "math and science" kids that can weld, design and wire electronic circuits, and do quality woodwork.

I didn't want this to be a lecture, but get started early and spend the time to let the kids do the most they can.

 

[KubotainNH]

I insisted that he design the car and do everything on it that it was safe for him to do. His cars were always cool but didn't stand up so well to the ones that were obviously built by the Fathers.

Exactly. I have no idea why my son's did so well but he enjoyed it.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I'm glad my boys are now older than that. Our first year we had no idea what we were doing, and we won. Super derby was so unorganized, my son's never wanted to go again. They did want to win, they just didn't want to have to go to the superderby. We found the thin cars did the best. I never heard about the wheel tricks others have mentioned of smoothing the nails. We had to use the official BSA kit, with the nails as the axle. We did use graphite. Some of the years they would put it on the cars, other years you had to add it yourself. We would add the weight right up to the limit, only to go to the race where they had uncalibrated scales and everyone would weight too much, so everyone would have to remove 2-3 oz's instead of them acknowledging their scales were off. The first couple yrs I didn't have scales, my wife would take the cars to the post office and they would weight them on their scales, finally I bought scales. The cars are nice memories.

 

[RobertN]

Ours was always fairly well organized. What was really nice though, is when our Pack bought a sensor and software package. That made our organized event super-organized!

The track sensors gave not only the winner(we had had numerous "photo finishes" in the past) but their time, their speed etc. All the kids were logged in the software. We used a projector on a wall. So it showed who was currently racing, and who was up next.

We had a couple derby's at a local fire station in the engine bay. A couple of the firefighters made a pinewood derby fire engine and water tender(actually had dual wheels on the rear), and the local Sheriff built a car.

Our first year we had no idea what we were doing, and we won. Super derby was so unorganized, my son's never wanted to go again. They did want to win, they just didn't want to have to go to the superderby.

 

[bdeboer]

I remember one year with my oldest son, one of the cars that had been thrown together with one wheel off the ground, seemed like it did the best. I am not sure it was the track they used that year or what.

 

[MossRoad]

I remember one year with my oldest son, one of the cars that had been thrown together with one wheel off the ground, seemed like it did the best. I am not sure it was the track they used that year or what.

Don't laugh. There is a large following of three on the ground cars. Some swear by it.

 

[beppington]

I remember one year with my oldest son, one of the cars that had been thrown together with one wheel off the ground, seemed like it did the best. I am not sure it was the track they used that year or what.

Seems logical: 1 less contact point = less friction :thumbsup:

 

[bdeboer]

Don't laugh. There is a large following of three on the ground cars. Some swear by it.

I briefly thought about adjusting one of my son's wheels but didn't. Second son has his first derby as Cub Scout soon.

 

[RobertN]

I would lean towards getting, or making an alighnment jig. That makes a big difference. And, once the car is set up, put it away safe. I have seen a lot of kids have a good car, but then play with or drop it, throw the alighment off, and the car is really slow.

Polished axles and good alighnment...

In fact, I have also seen cars where the nail/axle slots were recut/located(usually same spot, but they flip the car over, cuase the old slots wil be cut out when the car is shaped), just to get perfect toe in(actually no toe-in...).

I briefly thought about adjusting one of my son's wheels but didn't. Second son has his first derby as Cub Scout soon.

 

[KubotainNH]

Here's some pics of my son's car. It had a wing but it got broken off.