Pinewood Derby Car Tips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Basic Tips

The most important of tips is to keep the car as close to the maximum weight allowed which is 5.0 oz. Also be sure to polish the axles and lube them with a graphite based powder to eliminate friction, which is the biggest enemy to pinewood speed.

General Rules

1. The car weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces. The official race scale shall be considered final.
2. The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.
3. The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.
4. The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.
5. The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body.
6. The wood provided in the kit must be used. The block may be shaped any way that is desired.
7. The wheels supplied with the kit must be used. The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded. You may remove the seam from the wheels.
8. The axles supplied with the kit must be used. They may be polished or lubricated.
9. Wheel bearings, washers or bushings are prohibited.
10. The car must not ride on any type of springs.
11. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices.
12. No loose material of any kind, such as lead shot, may be used.

Pinewood Derby Related Sites

Here are several sites that have tons of information on making your car faster. The information they have goes from the basic stuff to explaining the physics of the pinewood derby racer.