What is the best shape for a Pinewood Derby car?

wedge
Once your block is dried, most people want to cut it into an interesting shape, maybe make it into the profile of your dream car. But aerodynamics rule the day, and the best shape is a simple wedge.

How do you make a Pinewood Derby car go faster?

5 Quick & Easy Tips For Improving Your Pinewood Derby Car’s Speed

1. Put all of your weight in the back.
2. Lube the car at the body/wheel friction point.
3. Spend a fair amount of time on axle prep.
4. Make sure your wheels are ready.
5. Finally, once your wheels are mounted, check their alignment.

Where is the best place to put the weight on a Pinewood Derby car?

Weight should be placed towards the rear of the car. You can drill the weight holes in the bottom, side or rear of the car as shown in these examples. Stay at least 1/8″ away from the axle slots.

Should I sand the wheels on a Pinewood Derby car?

In the past, pinewood derby wheels had a mold mark on the wheel tread that had to be removed by sanding. The new wheels no longer have a mold mark. Sanding can still help by removing variations in the wheel circumference making the wheel rounder but sanding is no longer as necessary as it was.

Are Bent Axles legal in pinewood derby?

No. Bent axles are not allowed in either racing class.

Do heavier cars go faster?

What’s clear is that a lighter car will accelerate more or require less force to accelerate like a heavier car. As the acceleration is slower with a heavier car of the same power, you have to accelerate for longer (more time) to cover the same distance so you use more fuel.

How much weight does paint add to a pinewood derby car?

Paint only adds a few grams (hundredths of a ounce). We generally weight up to 4.9 oz and then do the last weight adjustment at check-in.

Why does my pinewood derby car wobble?

Pinewood Derby Wheels Wobble are a very common issue. Derby wheels are made with an injection molding process. Because they are not machined from raw material, flaws such as concentricity (wobble) will cause a wheel to wobble because the bore is not aligned with the outer diameter.

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.