Pinewood Derby Cars

[revnate]

Well, it is time for the pinewood derby again. I am not good at building the cars, but wonder if anyone has an idea about carving the car? My boys never win, but they have an open class. does anyone have an idea about carving a pinewood derby car into something that could still go down the track? L

[lorax]

Last year I carved a rabbit for the open class. It failed miserably, but was very cool looking. My son's car wasn't much better (we didn't know that the weight was supposed to go in the back)

[millhoused]

One year my son carved his car in the shape of a giant pencil.
He won a trophy for the design.

Another year his car was a wedge of swiss cheese with a mouse driver. No awards but it looked pretty cool.

He received lots of compliments on both.

Thanks,
Don

[Rogheff]

Boy Scout Leader speaking here - LET YOUR SON MAKE HIS OWN CAR!!!!!!

Ok, now that I have that out of my system. I have two sons who have gone all the way through Scouts. We always had an Open Class too, so I made a car every year.

My oldest son and I would spend every evening in the shop. I would have them draw the design on the block, I'd cut it out when they were younger, they'd do the rest. My youngest wouldn't touch his until it was the day before the race.

I'd have 40 hours into my car - it was perfect. He would have 1 hour on his (and it looked like he had one hour's worth of work on his car - sticky paint most years).

Without fail, his was the faster car - go figure.

[Clifford_Parker]

Winning Pinewood Derbies has nothing to do with car design and EVERYTHING to do with the weight placement, wheels, and axles!! I proved this last year in the "parents class" by racing a 5oz "brick". (took the original block, added weight, and painted it red ) I spent over an hour filing, sanding, and polishing the axles and wheels but only 20 minutes on the car body.

That said, GO WILD!! As long as you leave the original axle slots and enough wood to place the weight low and toward the back you are good to go.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Clifford is on the mark. My boys and I drilled out a hole on the bottom of the blank toward the front and then filled it with led to bring the weight up to the allowed limit. Then a little graphite squirt into each wheel and they both had screamers. Designs and paint jobs are nice but it's what under the hood that counts!!

Remember that kid and his father years back in the Soap Box Derby where they figured out a way to hook up a magnet to the front of the car so the starting block would give it an extra push when it dropped? Wonder what ever happened to the kid. I know he was disqualified but he's probably head of GM now!!

[Lightningbolt]

Here's an idea for a 100% carved derby car... how about a bear? I did this one for a friend but I only did the carving because I still wanted my car to win! Unfortunately, during that year's PWD race (2005) I came in second place and the bear placed waaaaaaay back because she did nothing to make it fast... but it sure got a lot of compliments for looks.

[revnate]

Thanks. I am going to carve one for the "open class." I sure like the bear and the pencil idea. That is great! Thanks. Any other pics, post em up.

[Lightningbolt]

<<<SNIP>>>

Originally Posted by revnate

Any other pics, post em up.

Okay, you asked for it and I just don't have any resistance so here's a few more that either my students or myself have made. I tried to pick the ones which, like you requested, are more "carved" than "machine" made. And yes, that is a real turtle shell attached to a pwd body. and again, yes it did beat the rabbit... by a far shot!

Enjoy, have fun, and good luck!

[Lightningbolt]

A few more...