- Pinewood 2009 tips.pdf
- PINEWOOD DERBY
- Vroomans Nose Questionaire.doc
- Questions each scout must answer to receive badge
Cooperstown Cub Scouts Pack 12
We anticipate this website will offer you the advantage of receiving information on scouting and upcoming events within our pack and council.
Upcoming events and dates:
August:
28-30th- Family Campout at Glimmerglass State park. For more information please contact Sarah Ralston @ wralston@capital.net
Contact your leader for meeting date, time and locations that are not listed.
January:
23rd- Pinewood Derby, Hartwick Community Center 1 p.m.
30th- Pack meeting- Elementary School 6:30pm
February:
27th- Blue and Gold Banquet, Hartwick Community Center 5:30 p.m.
March:
29th- Pack meeting- Elementary School 6:30pm
April:
26th- Pack meeting- Elementary School 6:30pm
May:
June:
12th- Moving Up Ceremony, location TBD
PINEWOOD DERBY INFO (also attached as a PDF file):
Pinewood Derby Tips
Websites: Here are a couple of websites with either tips or supplies available for your cars:
Maximum
‐velocity.com Abc‐pinewood‐derby.comIf you Google pinewood derby you will find that there are many more sites out there dedicated to this Cub
Scout sport.
During our gathering activities we have talked about design tips, which will be reviewed here and I will touch
base on some of Januaries topics.
Weight:
gravity pulling that weight downward that causes your car to accelerate from the starting point to the bottom
of the sloped portion of the track. The further back in your car you can place the weight, the longer gravity
will cause your car to accelerate. Baking your block at 200 degrees for one to two hours will remove excess
moisture (weight) from your wood allowing you to place more weight to the rear of the car. Extending the
rear axle hole back with a drill press will allow you to move the rear wheels back and move your center of
gravity backward in the car. Remember your center of gravity most be located in front of your rear axles or
your car will wheelie and not stay on the track.
There are two principals that will also help you increase your initial speed, but also act to slow your car once it
reaches the level part of the track. Reducing these effects will help your car maintain speed on the strait
away. They are called
Weight is the engine of your car. Your car can not weigh more than 5 ounces, and it is the effect ofAerodynamics and Friction.Aerodynamics:
air and slow your car down. A wedge shape will cut the air and cause it to flow above and below your car.
Similarly a flat back will cause a vacuum as your car goes down the track slowing it. (How does all that dirt get
on the back window of a van?) Similarly, design features that make your car unique will have an effect on air
flow, the trick is to design it so this drag is reduced.
How the air flows around your car is called aerodynamics. A big blocky front end will catch theFriction:
by having your axles as perpendicular to the car body as possible to ensure the car rolls strait, and secondly if
your car does steer to the right or left consistently, turning a wheel to compensate. Second, your car wheels
rub on the axles as they roll. Polishing your axles and wheel hubs, and lubricating your axles with graphite will
reduce this source of friction. Third, your wheels can rub on the axle hub or the car body. Removing wood
where the tire can rub will help. Also if you set your axles level the tires should ride in the center of the axle
between the hub and car body thereby rubbing on neither. Finally, your tires may not be perfectly round, and
often have lumps from the tire mold. Polishing your tires to make them truly round which also removes the
mold marks will reduce this source of drag on your car.
Good luck!
Friction occurs in four ways. First, your car wheels can rub against the track rail. This can be reduced
