Lamborghini Pinewood Derby Car Template (2024)

FAQs

What is the fastest shape for a Pinewood Derby car? ›

No need to get crazy here, but simply having a wedge-shaped Pinewood Derby car instead of the standard block out of the box will equal a 1.4-car advantage at the finish line.

Pinewood Derby Car Shape: The Wedge

The wedge is a classic and probably the easiest shape (besides keeping a block) to build your Pinewood Derby car. The Wedge is the foundation of many cool car designs, and it is designed to be aerodynamic and is a one-cut wonder.

Baking your Pinewood Derby wooden block helps to remove the moisture so that you have more wiggle room to add extra weight at the end. Remember, every little bit of weight in the right place makes a difference! Bake it in the oven at 250° for about 2 hours.

In order to win, your Pinewood Derby car needs to maximize the gravitational pull, reduce friction, and let air flow around it with the least resistance possible. The physics of how this happens is simple: the Pinewood Derby car turns potential energy into kinetic energy.

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. Tungsten weights, in most cases, are best because of their high density. Lube the car at the body/wheel friction point.

If the weight is placed towards the back of the car, it has longer to "drop" (by several inches) than if the weight is placed towards the front of the car. This difference is highly significant in terms of race times. Therefore, weight should be concentrated towards the rear of the car.

First, the basics: 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.

Thus, the best position for the additional mass is very low down (even below the line of the axles if possible), at the back. Having been in the derby and lost as a kid, and as parent, it is true that the angle tapers back, so you could gain a small amount of potential energy by placing it back as far as possible.

Slide the axles and wheels onto the car and glue into place. Use an epoxy or nonresin glue, and make sure you don't get any on the surface of the axle where the wheel rides.

Is it legal to sand Pinewood Derby wheels? ›

You may not significantly change the wheel dimensions. Wheels may be sanded/lathed/filed to smooth out molding imperfections in the tread area. The contact surface of the wheel must be flat as it sits on the track.

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.

If you don't have access to a band saw, a coping saw will do. Coping saws are economical and can cut unusual shapes and curves. Coping Saws are intended for cutting curves in thin material but they can be used for cutting your Pinewood Derby car.

Either end can be the front of the car but the end of the block farthest from an axle slot gives you an advantage if it is the front of the car. The reason for this is that you can put weight farther back on the car if the rear slot is close to the end of the block.

Your pine wood derby car moves from the force of gravity and is slowed down from friction. Friction acts like brakes. Reduce friction and your car goes faster. Increase friction and your car slows down.

Yes, you can make your car shorter but it is not recommended. A shorter car will have a lower center of mass at the start so it will have less energy to convert into speed when going down the track.

In most races, the maximum allowable weight of a pinewood derby car is five ounces. By meeting this maximum limit – while also strategically placing your weights at the rear of your vehicle – you will improve your momentum and increase the distance your car travels towards the finish line.

The longer the wheel base, the greater the turning distance (a short car turns much more quickly than a long car). A pinewood derby car should go as straight as possible, so a longer wheel base is an advantage.