Pinewood
Derby
Last
updated 24 August 2005
Tips
and Techniques
-
A car
with a sleek, aerodynamic shape generally races faster than a car with
a "boxy" shape.
-
Take
plenty of time to sand the racer body. Make the body as smooth as possible.
-
Add weight
to the body. Cars are allowed to weigh a maximum of 5 ounces. We've all
seen many "fast-looking" cars line up to race only to see them slow down
considerably near the end of the track. This is usually the sign of a "light"
car.
-
Weights,
templates, graphite, decals, and paint can all be purchased at the Scout
Shop.
-
Seal
the body. Use some sort of wood sealer or "Dull-cote" spray to seal the
wood grain of the racer. This will result in a glossier finish.
-
Spray
paint normally results in a much better finish than brushed on paint. Many
(8 to 10) coats of light spray paint result in a hard, bright, and shiny
finish.
-
Don't
put the wheels on before you paint the car! Finish the body of the car
completely before attaching the axles and wheels.
-
As noted
in the Guidelines, ensure that the axles are perpendicular to the body
of the car. Axles installed at an angle will guarantee that the car will
run slow.
-
Once
the axles and wheels are installed and properly aligned, a small drop of
glue near the point of each axle (toward the center of the car body) will
help to keep the alignment from shifting. Don't get any glue near the wheel
end of the axle!
-
No matter
how much fun it is to push these cars around on the floor, wait until after
the race to do so. Scooting the racers around, dropping them on the floor,
etc., can damage the wheels and can knock the car out of alignment. Treat
the car with care until after the race is over!
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