When deciding on where to weight your car, you should try to reach a final balance point of the car 1 inch or less in front of the rear axle. To achieve this, place 2/5 of the added weight behind the rear axle, and the remaining 3/5 in front of the rear axle.

How do you attach weights to a Pinewood Derby car?

drill one or more holes in the bottom of the car just in front of the rear axle and insert enough of the Fine Tune weight to bring your car up to 5 oz. Glue the weight in the hole. 8. Add the wheels and axles to your pinewood derby car.

How do you stop a Pinewood Derby car from wobbling?

Remove the axles from the car. Insert each axle in a drill and spin it. The axle should not wobble. Replace any axles that wobble.

How much should a Pinewood Derby car weight?

Your car should weigh as much as it’s allowed. In most races, a Pinewood Derby car’s weight is limited to 5 ounces. If your car weighs less than that, add coins or other weights.

Where is the best place to put your weights 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.

How can I make my soap box derby car faster?

Weight: Numerous formula-based calculations and real-life experiments have been done to determine if a heavier or slower soap box derby car will go faster. Consensus is that adding weight gives the car more momentum (acceleration/top speed) and cuts down on air resistance/drag.

Is a heavier Pinewood Derby car faster?

Much has been written about the physics of pinewood derby cars, and this is one rare case in racing where heavy = fast. Aerodynamics have little effect in such a short race, but weight does and putting the weight at the back of the car will make your car faster on the flat of the track.

Are Bent Axles legal in Pinewood Derby?

CAN I BEND AXLES AND QUALIFY FOR STOCK CAR OR PRO STOCK DIVISIONS? No.Bent axles are not allowed in either racing class.

Do you 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.

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.

Article first time published on

How do you remove weight from a Pinewood Derby car?

Re: Pinewood Derby Car Weight 1) Go at 5oz, and if you’re overweight at the weigh-in, take off a little weight. You can bring a cordless drill and drill a little wood out of the bottom, for example. Doesn’t take much to lose 0.1 ounces. 2) Go in underweight and bring some “trim” weight to the weigh-in.

What is the best shape for a Pinewood Derby car?

But aerodynamics rule the day, and the best shape is a simple wedge. Just like a spoiler on the rear of a sports car, the wedge shape allows as much air to flow over the top of the car without hinderance while keeping the car pinned to the track.

What is a good Pinewood Derby time?

Pinewood Derby Results. The average times with just weight added was 3.288 seconds. There was 0.188 seconds between the fastest and slowest car, about 23 inches. The average time was 2.994 seconds, about 44 inches faster than without graphite (0.353 seconds).

What is the fastest soapbox car?

The fastest speed in a soapbox is 137.78 km/h (85.61 mph) and was achieved by Guy Martin (UK) at Mont Venoux, France, on 16 October 2014.

How much does a soap box derby car weigh?

Stock cars can accommodate a racer up to (approximately) 5’3″ tall and 125 pounds. The car weighs approximately 70 lbs. put together with Z-Glas® wheels. The combined weight of the assembled car and the driver shall not exceed 200 pounds including the Z-Glas® wheels.

How fast does a soap box derby car go?

Soapboxes are delicately balanced; they race at speeds upwards of 30 miles per hour.

What kind of wood is used for pinewood derby cars?

Pine – Any of a variety of soft, light-colored woods used for pinewood derby kits. Ponderosa Pine – A soft western pine. Sugar Pine – A soft, western pine noted for a sweet smell. White Pine – A soft eastern pine.

Is graphite legal in pinewood derby?

Graphite-coatings on axles and wheels are legal as long as your race rules allow graphite or dry lubricants.

Can you spray paint a Pinewood Derby car?

Step 3: Choose a color for your Pinewood Derby car. Then apply two to three coats of enamel paint to the car’s body. Spraying the model with paint from an aerosol can is easier than using a brush. … Seal and protect it by spraying the entire car with clear gloss paint.

Will Home Depot cut my Pinewood Derby car?

“Our employees will use our tools to cut a seven inch block of pine into a winning race car. … The workshop is free to Scout parents.”

How much does a Pinewood Derby car weight out of the box?

How much does a Pinewood Derby car weigh out of the box? The official Pinewood Derby car weighs about 3.5 ounces without any modifications. The wooden block is about 3.3 ounces, and the wheels and axles add about 0.2 ounces.

What is the best graphite for Pinewood Derby?

Pinewood Pro’s dry powdered PRO Graphite is a special blend of ultra-fine natural graphite with sub-micron molybdenum disulfide (also known as “moly”) additive to give you the best graphite blend to minimize friction and make your car the fastest it can be.