There are many tips out there for making a Pinewood Derby car go fast. But how do you know what are the most important to pay attention too? This list will help you navigate through what you may or may not have heard and let you focus on making your Pinewood Racer fast. Speed Tip #1 Alignment - Make your derby car go straight. This may seem like an afterthought to many, but if your Pinewood Racer doesn’t go straight, the wheels will rub against the track, causing it to slow down. Remember, friction is your enemy. Speed Tip #2 Weight - It is vital to have your Pinewood Derby car weigh the proper amount. Depending on your race rules, the car may be required to weigh 5 oz., 5.5 oz. or 6 oz. S&W Crafts suggests a 6 oz car, however many groups have a 5 oz. limit. No matter what that weight limit is, it’s imperative that your car is as close to that limit as possible, without going over. Bonus tip: weight placement is also important. Place as much of the weight as you can approximately 1” in front of the rear axle. This is called the center of gravity or center of mass. Your Pinewood Derby car should be able to balance at this point on the car. Speed Tip #3 Lubrication – Remember, friction is your adversary and less friction your ally. To reduce friction you need to use the right lubricant. There are many Pinewood Derby lubrications on the market and here are some of the best. Graphite is perhaps the most widely used and accepted Pinewood Derby lubricant out there. Molybdenum (Moly) is also used, both alone and more commonly, mixed with graphite. Graphite and graphite with moly are the best lubricants for your car. They are reasonably priced, perform well and are accepted by almost all groups and organizations. Here are a few more lubrications to consider. Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) is a dry lubricant with an extremely small grain size. It’s not as well known but offers the lowest co-efficient of friction available and is compatible with other wet and dry lubrications. However, it is more expensive then other dry lubricants. That said, a little of this stuff goes a long long way. Oils are generally not recommended and often against the rules. If your group does allow oil lubricants, there is Nyoil II, silicon spray and Krytox. Many Pinewood Racers will say that thin film oils are the way to go, but remember they can and will attract dirt and dust causing your wheels to gum up if not handled with great care or applied properly. Another bonus tip is to look for ultra fine graphite. It has a smaller grain than flake graphite and is an all around better Pinewood Derby car lubricant. It’s even better if it’s mixed with Molybdenum! Again, check your race rules to make sure you aren’t using any prohibited lubrications. Speed Tip #4 Wheels – Polished wheels that spin freely and for a long time is your goal. It’s best to use a polishing kit that is made for a Pinewood Derby car. They contain the right abrasives and will tell you how to properly polish a wheel without damaging it. You can even try tooth paste (not gel) to polish your wheels in a pinch, but the right plastic polish will make all the difference to your car on race day. Bonus Tip: no matter what you use to polish your wheels, don’t over do it. If you do, you’ll open up the hole for the axle too much or make it out of round, causing the wheel to not work well or destroying it completely. Speed Tip #5 Axles – A polished axle will give you a smooth shiny surface for your wheel to ride on. When combined with a polished wheel and lubrication, your Pinewood Derby car will be performing at the highest level. Ensure all burs or bumps have been removed from the axle by using a small file. Most wheel and axle polishing kits will come with the materials needed to properly polish the axles on your car. By Greg Kathol
FAQs
How to make your Pinewood Derby car the fastest? ›
- 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.
Pinewood Derby Car Shape: The Wedge
The Wedge is the foundation of many cool car designs, and it is designed to be aerodynamic and is a one-cut wonder.
Your pine wood derby car moves from the force of gravity and is slowed down from friction. Friction acts like brakes.
How to make a soap box car go faster? ›To conclude it is clear that sitting as low as possible and placing as much of the ballast weight in the rear, will give a driver the best chance at crossing the finish line of a race quicker than a racer who is sitting higher in their car or who has placed their ballast weight in the front of the car.
What shape makes the fastest Pinewood Derby car? ›To go fast, it's all about aerodynamics, 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 fenders make Pinewood Derby cars faster? ›Fenders can help efficiently direct the air around the wheels resulting in more speed. There are a few different types of fenders: Leading Edge Fenders: These fenders are placed in front of the wheels and help direct air over them, leading to a faster car.
Is a lighter Pinewood Derby car faster? ›Assuming all other factors are equal, a heavier car will be faster than a lighter car. The Pinewood Derby rules limit the weight of each car to 5 ounces.
Should weights go on top or bottom of Pinewood Derby car? ›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. Install some of the weight behind the rear axle and the rest in front of the axle.
Is a shorter Pinewood Derby car faster? ›Can a pinewood derby car be shorter than 7 inches? Yes, you can make your car shorter but it is not recommended. A shorter car will have a lower center of mass at the start so it will have less energy to convert into speed when going down the track.
Should you prime a Pinewood Derby car? ›Try to make the wood as smooth as possible for best results. Do not pre-coat with primer or wood sealer.
What is the fastest speed for 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.
- Reduce Weight. ...
- Upgrade Brakes. ...
- Change Spark Plugs. ...
- Improve Air Intake. ...
- Remove Over-sized Rims. ...
- Upgrade Tires and Suspension. ...
- Contact Our Auto Repair Specialists.
Converting the toy from a 12 volt battery to a 18 volt battery will give your Power Wheels toy approximately a 50% faster top speed, while adding a 24v battery to the car will double its velocity.
Is a heavy or light soapbox better? ›Aerodynamic drag can be minimised by designing a fully enclosed body that reduces the drag coefficient, but given that this can be a highly technical thing to achieve especially for the amateur builder, and given that some aerodynamic drag is inevitable, a heavier cart will always do better than a lighter one with the ...
What factors might affect the speed of a Pinewood Derby car? ›The following parameters made pinewood derby cars faster: using graphite on the axles and wheels, using lightweight wheels and polished axles, lifting the left front wheel and bending rear axles also raised speed.
Are heavier Pinewood Derby cars faster? ›Assuming all other factors are equal, a heavier car will be faster than a lighter car. The Pinewood Derby rules limit the weight of each car to 5 ounces.
Does baking a Pinewood Derby car help? ›Baking your Pinewood Derby wooden block helps to remove the moisture so that you have more wiggle room to add extra weight at the end. Remember, every little bit of weight in the right place makes a difference! Bake it in the oven at 250° for about 2 hours.