O O O !!!!!!!!!

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus) 03/27/2018 at 14:02 • Filed to: None

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my daughter has a pinewood derby in about 2 weeks. what are some tips to make a car that still looks like a kid made it, but might do a bit better than average?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/27/2018 at 14:12

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2-d drawing on the side. Carve the block. Don’t sweat the scoops and curves too much besides that. I loved making F40s and 911s when I did pinewood derby.

diplodicus > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/27/2018 at 14:17

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All the weights as far back as possible. I don’t think aero is a big factor. Get an alignment.

OPPOsaurus WRX > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/27/2018 at 14:17

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i can work the tools fairly well, I was thinking more of go-fast tweaks that are within the rules but you know...

Ash78, voting early and often > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/27/2018 at 14:46

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Simple wedge. Then put the weight as high and rearward as you can get it.

But some decent wheels and axles ($5-$20+), anything is better than the BSA kit.

Lots of graphite powder!

Those are the Big 3 tips, everything else is just fine tuning.

TheRealBicycleBuck > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/27/2018 at 14:49

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At this scale and these speeds, aerodynamics don’t matter. It’s all about the wheels and axles . When you install the wheels, mount one of the front wheels slightly higher. As long as the weight is distributed properly, t his effectively makes it into a three-wheeler. Be sure to polish the axle nails to a high gloss. Remove any burrs from the wheels. Some racers will sand the wheels down so only a narrow portion of the “ tread” area touches the track. Some places don’t allow this, so check the local rules first. Make sure the axles are mounted square to the body and the body is straight. This sets the wheel alignment. A good investment is an axle tool (visit your local Scouting store). It will help you get the nails straight and aligned properly to the body. Be sure the nails aren’t pounded in too deep and binding with the wheel. Lube the axles liberally with graphite.

There are tons of videos and websites with tips and trick, some rules-compliant, some not....  

SmugAardvark > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/27/2018 at 14:58

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I’m guessing these are not allowed...

They’d sure as hell make it go faster.

OPPOsaurus WRX > TheRealBicycleBuck 03/27/2018 at 15:03

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haha i was just watching a video, he was talking about bending the axles and having it steer slightly to one side because the ricochet effect slows the car down alot no matter how perfectly straight it is aligned

arl > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/27/2018 at 15:37

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My son and I decided to go full pirate a few years ago. We were slow, but we looked good doing it!

Chariotoflove > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/28/2018 at 00:22

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Question: how does your daughter come to be involved in Pinewood Derby? When I was a kid, it was a Boy Scouts thing. I know that the Boy Scouts just decided to admit girls too. Is that it, or has Pinewood Derby expanded beyond just Boy Scouts?