Pinewood Derby car.........

[MasterCASTER!]

Getting ready to start our first Pinewood Derby car. My son just got it last week - and the big race is March 11th........

So......what do I need to know? Anyone have some good advice/tips for me??



Also - what's the best thing to cut the shape out with? Scroll saw? Band saw? Jig saw?? My dad and I used to cut mine out with a jig saw........but I'd like my son to have a little better car than I used to run. A car that's still a block shape with a slanted hood just ain't gonna cut it these days..........

[j6824]

Hust raced ours a couple of weeks ago.

best thing you can do is find out what type of track you're racing on (what it's made out of and whether there's a center guide rail or side rails). That'll determine how to build your car.

I didn't do this beforehand and we suffered for it as a result.

The book Pinewood Derby Secrets was helpful with regard to the basics, but there's a lot of time and effort that will be wasted if you don't know what type of track you have.

[JohnM]

My advice is to remember it's something you do together.

[Dbl00CustomBaits]

Put a brushguard on it and brag about it nonstop. Everything else will take care of itself.

[bpettus1]

g-o-o-g-l-e there are so many ways to make it go faster almost cheating

[billius]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Dbl00CustomBaits &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Put a brushguard on it and brag about it nonstop. Everything else will take care of itself. </td></tr></table>

Dang Damon...you beat me to it.

[assfault]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Dbl00CustomBaits &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Put a brushguard on it and brag about it nonstop. Everything else will take care of itself. </td></tr></table>

[fordguy_85]

If you write Tundra on it, the other ones will be too afraid to race you

[billybas]

One quick tip I can offer you is to make sure when you build the car only 3 wheels are touching the track (less friction)!

[MasterCASTER!]

I'm actually thinking about doing a Tundra pinewood derby car - and finding a brush guard from a model and slapping that bad boy on there!

Great minds!!!!

I was also thinking about a fish/ski model..........but don't want all the bass boat dad's getting jealous..........

[assfault]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by MasterCASTER! &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I'm actually thinking about doing a Tundra pinewood derby car - and finding a brush guard from a model and slapping that bad boy on there!

Great minds!!!!

I was also thinking about a fish/ski model..........but don't want all the bass boat dad's getting jealous.......... </td></tr></table>

Don't forget to tint the windows.

[MasterCASTER!]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billybas &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">One quick tip I can offer you is to make sure when you build the car only 3 wheels are touching the track (less friction)!</td></tr></table>


Yes - I've heard this also.

plus I've read that depending on what track - if ours has a center bumper - to put brad nails with beads on them under the car next to the wheels - so the wheels never come in contact with this center bumper.......

I've got to find out exactly what track we use..........

[GamblerSam]

Build it together, enjoy his ideas, designs, fellowship, and let him do most of the work. Just a few tips from an old eagle scout and pinewood derby scout:

1. There is a weight limit. After you carve your cars shape, you can drill holes in the body and pour in hot lead to weight it for speed. clean up with putty and paint. Good balance is important. Pay attention to the instructions on wheel base /width.

2. My memory was that long and lean (kinda like the indy cars of the 60's & 70's worked really well. Faster than the just paint the block deal.

3. A tube of graphite powder for lubing the plastic wheels/axle is a good thing to have. Make sure they spin freely.

Test the car if possible prior to race day. HAVE FUN !!!!!

[local16]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Dbl00CustomBaits &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Put a brushguard on it and brag about it nonstop. Everything else will take care of itself. </td></tr></table>

Build the car together and forget all the tricks, it's all about the build

[MasterCASTER!]

I was actually thinking about this design too - but have to run several ideas past my son.




I'm actually leaning twords this design - seems simple enough and above all - it's COOL!

[boogerbuttbaits]

Polish your axles till
They look like mirrors. Do a search on line.

[jseasor]

We added weights to mine, lubricated the wheels real good and made an aerodynamic car. It won.

[timberland]

My nephew's have won the past 2 years.....for real green money or pay pal "gift" he will sell you his secrets

[JerryT]

Its always good to see the cars that the fathers built and the kids going along with the whole lie pretending they helped

[assfault]

Astro glide those axles up real good