How long is a pinewood derby track?
How long and wide is a pinewood derby track? Track dimensions can vary slightly but a typical track lane is 3.5" wide with a 1 5/8" center guide rail. The guide rail is 1/4" high. Most tracks for official races are 35 to 45' long.
What is rail riding in Pinewood Derby®?
The slower cars always did this with the non-dominant front (raised wheel) and would either oscillate back and forth, or stay there and run really slow, sometimes even making a “squealing” noise. Thus began the “Rail Riding” era in Pinewood Derby® racing.
How wide should the front of a pinewood derby car be?
A narrow front may cause a delay in the time triggering at the end of the track so the front of the car should be flat and at least 1/2 inch wide. There was an advantage to raising the front of the car but that is no longer the case with spring loaded starting gates. What does a pinewood derby car weigh? What is the pinewood derby weight limit?
What are the dimensions of a race track?
Track dimensions can vary slightly but a typical track lane is 3.5" wide with a 1 5/8" center guide rail. The guide rail is 1/4" high. Most tracks for official races are 35 to 45' long.
What is the width of a Pinewood Derby track?
1-5/8″ wideDerby Magic pinewood derby tracks are designed to race standard 5 ounce pinewood derby cars. The lane guides are 1-5/8″ wide and 1/4″ tall. The lane spacing is 3-7/8″. The start gate end of the track is raised 48″ above the floor.
What is the angle of a Pinewood Derby track?
The track should slope from about 30 degrees at the start line changing gradually to 0 degrees about 12 feet from the start line then the track should run flat to the finish line. The remainder of the track is an overrun area to allow the cars to stop. Keep transportation in mind when you are designing your track.
Is rail riding allowed in Pinewood Derby?
Steer the Car Align the screwdriver slot in the axle head vertically, so the steering slot is straight up and down. Next, you need to measure the car's drift to steer it for rail riding. You will need a long table or wide board to roll the car on.
Why do heavier Pinewood Derby cars go faster?
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.
How do you make a cheap pinewood derby track?
0:004:40DIY Pinewood Derby Track - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo just a standard door hinge. Put some rods there a spring here. And then made a little hook thereMoreSo just a standard door hinge. Put some rods there a spring here. And then made a little hook there so you just put that and it flips up and releases it i'll show you one more time.
How much weight does paint add to Pinewood Derby car?
I painted a car with primer and 3 coats of the spray and it was less than an 1oz of change it . 03oz. So get the car as close to 5oz then add the paint.
What is rail riding in Pinewood Derby?
Railriding means you steer your Pinewood Derby car into the center guide track just enough that you keep the car from bouncing around. This helps reduce friction and saves energy for speed. See video for details. 5.
Can you use duct tape on a Pinewood Derby car?
The wood provided in the kit must be used. The block may be shaped any way that is desired. by "sticky substances", e.g. tape, or tack spray. The weight MUST NOT be taped on (i.e., masking Page 2 tape, duct tape, scotch tape…).
Can I glue weights on Pinewood Derby car?
For pinewood derby cars, white glue works fine for gluing wood to wood (such as adding wood accessories) and for repairing chips or cracks in the wood. It can also be used for holding the axles in place. White glue doesn't work well on metal, so don't use it to glue metal accessories or weight to the car.
Should I glue Pinewood Derby axles?
7. Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don't get glue on your wheels. 8. Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow.
How do you cheat on a Pinewood Derby car?
2:047:30Five tips for fastest pinewood derby - CHEATS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo here's what this sticky noses a sticky nose is put something sticky right on the nose of yourMoreSo here's what this sticky noses a sticky nose is put something sticky right on the nose of your Pinewood Derby and then when that when it goes into the gate. It sits like this as the gate drops.
What is the most aerodynamic shape for a Pinewood Derby car?
simple wedgeBut aerodynamics rule the day, 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.
How long is a pinewood derby track?
The guide rail is 1/4" high. Most tracks for official races are 35 to 45' long. The start of the track is typically 45" to 50" above the floor.
Which is faster, the right or the left in the Pinewood Derby?
The fastest pinewood derby cars have more wood in the back and very little in the front. All else being equal, the car on the right is faster than the one on the left. The goal is to move as much weight to the rear of the car as possible.
How to bend axles in a block?
It is best to bend the axles slightly (1 to 2 degree) then insert in the block. The bend should be at the point that the axle exits the block. Several tools are available for bending the axles the proper amount and at the correct point. insert the axles so that the bend is up.
Why is liquid lubricant not used in the Pinewood Derby?
You want a very thin film on the axles. Most Pinewood Derby car races prohibit liquid lubricants because the liquid can drip onto the track.
Why is the end of the block farthest from the axle slot?
Either end can be the front of the car but the end of the block farthest from an axle slot gives you an advantage if it is the front of the car. The reason for this is that you can put weight farther back on the car if the rear slot is close to the end of the block.
What is the easiest tool to cut a pinewood car?
A band saw is by far the easiest tool to cut a pinewood derby car. If you don't have access to a band saw then a coping saw will work. Coping saws are inexpensive and available at hardware stores and online. Learn more about using a coping saw. Both the band saw and coping saw can cut curves and other shapes.
How long does a spinning wheel last?
A long spinning wheel has less friction so the longer a wheel spins, the better. A good wheels will spin for around 20 seconds but the spin time can vary with the type of wheel, lubricant and with the amount of force used to start the spin.
How many surfaces does a pinewood derby have?
There are 32 friction causing surfaces on a pinewood derby car. These include the surfaces of all four wheels which touch either the axle, the body or the track and the surfaces of all four axles which touch the wheel. Neglecting to polish and lubricate any of these 32 surfaces will result in degraded performance.
What is the Pinewood Derby?
Scouting portal. The pinewood derby is the wood car racing event of the Boy Scouts of America. Pinewood derbies are often run by packs of the Cub Scouts program.
How many lanes are there in a track race?
Competition. The track usually has two to eight lanes and slopes down to the ground, since the cars are powered by gravity. Tracks may be owned by the pack or rented. The race is run in heats, giving every car the chance to run on each lane.
How many pieces of wood are needed for a Scout car?
When using a kit sold through Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the Scout begins with a block of wood, four plastic wheels, and four nails for axles. The finished car must use all nine pieces, must not exceed a certain weight (usually five ounces (150 grams)), must not exceed a certain width (usually 2-3/4 inches (7 cm)) and length (usually 7 inches (17.8 cm)) and must fit on the track used by that particular Scout pack.
What pack was the 50th Pinewood Derby?
In 2003, Pack 713 celebrated the 50th Pinewood Derby along with Packs 287, 759, 275, and former Cub Scouts from the 1953 Pack 280c. A shoulder patch for the Western Los Angeles County Council that depicted a pinewood derby car and a message of honor to Murphy was released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event.
Is Pinewood Derby a BSA trademark?
Pinewood derby is a registered trademark of the BSA, so most use different names. Each derby has slightly different rules for making and racing their cars. A small industry has developed to provide organizer equipment (e.g. tracks, timers, and scales) and awards (e.g. trophies and ribbons ).
Who made the miniature wood cars?
The concept was created by the Pack's Cubmaster Don Murphy, and sponsored by the Management Club at North American Aviation. Murphy's son was too young to participate in the popular Soap Box Derby races, so he came up with the idea of racing miniature wood cars.
How does riding a rail help a car?
Riding the rail stabilizes the car as it runs down the rail, which allows you to bias the center of gravity further back. So instead of COG being 1.25" in front of the rear axle, you can get away with 1" or even a little less. Moving COG further back converts more potential energy to kinetic energy. Basically, your car goes faster, longer.
What happens if your track sections don't mate?
In the worst case, the car could hit the bump and jump off the track . If your track sections don't have clean transitions where the sections meet, don't make a rail rider car!
When did the Pinewood Derby start?
The Beginning. Since the start of the Pinewood Derby® in 1953 both common sense and the laws of physics have told us that to get the fastest car possible you need to get the car to go perfectly straight without ever touching the center guide strip.
How to steer a car into rails?
If not, rotate the rear axles slightly fore and aft until both are perfect and do not migrate. Use slight rotation fore or aft of the front axle (dominant side) to steer the car into the rail.
