Building an attractive, fast Pinewood Derby car is one thing. But it’s quite another thing to win the event. While there are several steps that you can take, here are some that can give you the best chance of winning the race:

1. Maximize the inertia and minimize the friction

In a Pinewood Derby car race, inertia is your friend, while friction is your enemy. In particular, you should reduce the amount of friction between the wheels and axles, the wheels and body, and the wheels and center guide rail. You can take various steps to achieve this goal. For instance, smooth and polish both the wheels and axles. You can use a drill and vice to polish the wheels, and a drill and dremel drill press to polish the axels. The key is to make the wheels and axels more aerodynamic, without altering their fundamental design.

3. Make the body’s shape as aerodynamic as possible

Like a full-size sports car, it’s important to shape your Pinewood Derby car so it’s as aerodynamic as possible. While you don’t need to earn a PhD in physics, it’s crucial to do some research about the most effective ways to make your car sleeker. The key is to reduce as much air resistance as possible, without negatively affecting the car’s performance.

Inferno EX Pinewood Derby Car Plans

4. Test your car and then tweak it

Do your initial test runs on a long board that’s minimally inclined. Although this test won’t guarantee that your car will in the Pinewood Derby race, it will indicate any tweaks that you need to make to the car. After making any necessary modifications, do the final test run on an actual track. This will give you the chance to make any final modifications before the race.

3. Add weights toward the back of the car

Experts generally agree that you should add weight to the back half of the car. Simply drill holes in that region, and then fill it with lead, tubular weights, or another type of weight.

5. Get the wheels and axles aligned

There are several ways to align the wheels and axles of the car, but keep in mind that some of them would likely be too complex for a Cub Scout to do himself. However, some of them are quite feasible when the Cub Scout’s father provides some help. Also, make sure that all tuned wheels and axels abide by the rules for Pinewood Derby cars.

6. Watch your weight

The key is to get your car as close as possible to the maximum allowed weight-without exceeding it. So it’s crucial to accomplish this mission before you’ve assembled the car. At that juncture changing the weight of the car can cause a lot of headaches. So make sure that the car won’t need any extra work after you’ve assembled it, including painting, sanding, patching, and so on.

By taking certain steps, you can maximize your son’s chance of winning a Pinewood Derby race. Make sure to do your homework, so the design of the car will be competitive, and just as importantly-legal.

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