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pinewood derby car

J

joecool

Platinum Member
just wondering how many people in here have boys in scouts and are working on a pinewood derby car? we've got ours cut (i made one for the open category), this weekend is time to sand and start painting ...
 
sorry, didn't even think of that. mine's going to be a serpent - the kids are pretty simple. i'll take some pix and post 'em next week in a new thread.
 
Making derby cars is one of my few fond memories I have of my childhood time spent with my dad. 🙂 Have fun!
 
Originally posted by: RiDE
I think that stuff is a complete waste of time.
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What do you do in your spare time? Fap?

I made one when I was a kid. I remember that the one that won was bullet shaped- veyr narrow, and drilled out completely- the drilled out areas were filled with shot to bring it up to the limit(legal) I think it took the guy several bodies to get it right.
 
Originally posted by: RiDE
I'm entitled to my opinion and so is he. 🙂
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Not really a fair comparison considering the point of a father/son project such as the Pinewood derby is to encourage family time together, and nascar's is the promotion of beer, tobacco, sluts and trailer trash celebrity 😉 j/k Nascar fans. Just not my cup of tea.
 
Originally posted by: RiDE
I think that stuff is a complete waste of time.
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As opposed to spending time on the forum? I'm sure you're making the best of your time here :roll:
 
Originally posted by: geno
Originally posted by: RiDE
I think that stuff is a complete waste of time.
Click to expand...

As opposed to spending time on the forum? I'm sure you're making the best of your time here :roll:
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I don't exactly have as many posts as you do. 😛 Besides, the OP made a similar post in the other thread. I don't see anyone ragging on him, just because NASCAR isn't popular around here but pinewood derby racing is? That was his opinion, this was mine, and you just posted yours. I don't have a problem with it.
 
Originally posted by: acemcmac
yep, but I did it myself. My car got owned 🙁
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last year, my first doing this as a dad, we screwed up the wheels on my sons car so both front wheels where cambered in towards the front. as a result the car bounced against the center rail the whole way down the track - didn't even make it to the finish line! i felt so bad, he tried to take it well, but he was bummed. at least he won the best design award - he was the only kid in the pack who actually made the car himself.

needless to say this year we're spending a lot of time to make sure we get the wheels in straight!

and sorry, RiDE, i just think watching other people do stuff on tv is a lot less interesting than actually doing stuff myself.
 
You should drill a big hole in the back, pop in a CO2 canister, and stick NOS stickers all over the car.
 
Originally posted by: joecool
and sorry, RiDE, i just think watching other people do stuff on tv is a lot less interesting than actually doing stuff myself.
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I understand that, it's just not my cup of tea either. But good luck to you. I apologize if i offended you or anything, some people here just get on your back rather quick. Sheesh. :beer:



 
I had a lot of fun doing that when I was a kid, but I know my dad had 10x more fun than I did. 😀

I have two 3rd place trophies from the state competition for my 3 years of doing it. That's mostly thanks to my dad.
 
Building for the Awana Grand Prix with my daughter. Two years ago we placed third out of seventy-eight cars, last year we bombed. We are hoping for a good run this year since it is the last year she can race.
 
Originally posted by: RiDE
Originally posted by: joecool
and sorry, RiDE, i just think watching other people do stuff on tv is a lot less interesting than actually doing stuff myself.
Click to expand...

I understand that, it's just not my cup of tea either. But good luck to you. I apologize if i offended you or anything, some people here just get on your back rather quick. Sheesh. :beer:
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hey, no problem, i wasn't offended, sorry if my post in your topic offended - it's a friday afternoon and i'm really bored!
 
Originally posted by: Kyteland
I had a lot of fun doing that when I was a kid, but I know my dad had 10x more fun than I did. 😀

I have two 3rd place trophies from the state competition for my 3 years of doing it. That's mostly thanks to my dad.
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wow, i'm impressed. your dad must be good! 'fraid i'm not quite that into it - i'll just be happy if our cars make it to the finish line (see post above about last years car)!
 
Originally posted by: joecool
Originally posted by: acemcmac
yep, but I did it myself. My car got owned 🙁
Click to expand...

last year, my first doing this as a dad, we screwed up the wheels on my sons car so both front wheels where cambered in towards the front. as a result the car bounced against the center rail the whole way down the track - didn't even make it to the finish line! i felt so bad, he tried to take it well, but he was bummed. at least he won the best design award - he was the only kid in the pack who actually made the car himself.

needless to say this year we're spending a lot of time to make sure we get the wheels in straight!

and sorry, RiDE, i just think watching other people do stuff on tv is a lot less interesting than actually doing stuff myself.
Click to expand...

Well I hate to say this but I recall when I was in that thing some years ago. My car didnt make it down the track either. My dad and I made it in like an hour because we didnt even know about it. (I wasnt into the scouts very much) I ended up winning best design as well. I have always thought they gave my car that award because of the inability of my car to even roll. lol
 
Originally posted by: joecool
Originally posted by: Kyteland
I had a lot of fun doing that when I was a kid, but I know my dad had 10x more fun than I did. 😀

I have two 3rd place trophies from the state competition for my 3 years of doing it. That's mostly thanks to my dad.
Click to expand...

wow, i'm impressed. your dad must be good! 'fraid i'm not quite that into it - i'll just be happy if our cars make it to the finish line (see post above about last years car)!
Click to expand...

My dad can be pretty clever when he puts his mind to it. 😉

The absolute most important thing on those cars is getting the wheels perfect. Body design is almost nothing. My very first car was very simple. I'll have to post pictures when I get home.

Another trick we did was to drill little wells filled with graphite behind each wheel. Every time the car bumped or rattled some more graphite lubricant would get on the axels.

We also put lead shot in to the nose of the car and came to the competition with a drill. The car inevitably weighed just a bit over the max limit, so we would just drill a little of the wood out of the bottom and have them re-weigh it.

Edit: Another tip about the wheels. They are just made from a cheap plastic mold so you should spend some time on each of them. Especially important is the little hole in the middle that your "axle" nail will go though. Get a drill bit and clean that sucker out, but make sure you don't mess up the alignment and don't make the hole much bigger, just smooth it out. Then keep it well lubricated. The wheel should roll smoothly and not rattle. All 4 need to be aligned or the car will be slow.
 
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