Where is the best place for weights on a pinewood derby car?
PUT MOST OF THE WEIGHT IN THE BACK Science says the heaviest part of your car should be about 1 inch in front of the rear axle. The idea is that the farther back the weight is, the more potential energy you have because your center of mass is higher up on the track.
How do you put weights on a pinewood derby car?
- Clamp the pinewood derby block to a flat surface.
- Using a 3/8″ drill bit, drill two holes straight into the back of the block high enough so that you do not drill into the axle slot.
- Remove the clamp from the block.
- Insert the weights in the holes.
Where should the weight be in a car?
It’s a fairly cut-and-dry issue: If the road course has more right-hand turns, then the weight is biased to the right side of the car. The same concept applies to the left side. If there’s an equal number of left and right turns, then the left/right weight bias should be neutral.
Which axle is the front on a pinewood derby car?
Which end is the front of a 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.
Do heavier pinewood derby cars go 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.
How can I make my pinewood derby wheels faster?
Place all of the weight you can about an inch in front of the rear axle. The closer the weight to the back, the faster your car will roll (but you don’t want it too far back or else your car will be popping a wheelie).
Are cars heavier in the front or back?
Weight is effectively shifted to the front wheels but since the total remains the same, the rear effectively weighs less. Since there is less to press the rear tyres to the road, they will slide more easily, but this is not the same thing as saying a lighter car would therefore slide more easily at both ends…
Where do you drill the axle on a pinewood derby car?
Drilling a raised wheel for your pinewood derby car is easy. Just align and secure the PRO Driller™ Tool so the raised wheel hole is above the left (or right) front axle hole. Then drill into the bottom, center guide hole.
How do you distribute weight on a derby car?
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.
Do heavier Pinewood Derby cars go faster?
Which part of the car is the heaviest?
The Heaviest Parts of A Car
- Body. What is this?
- Chassis. The chassis is the main body of a car, containing all other parts that are not directly related to power or steering.
- Engine.
- Transmission.
- Sunroof.
Which side of the car is heavy?
In other words, the space between the top of the wheel and the wheel well is slightly larger (by 1 inch or so) in the rear left wheel than the right wheel. It sort of makes sense because 99% of the time I drive alone, so there is more weight towards the right.
What does left side weight do in a dirt car?
Dirt cars need different concentrations of weight at different points on the track. Going into the turn, left-side weight should transfer to the right-side tires to produce side-bite, which makes the car take a set (stop sliding).
Are Bent axles legal in pinewood derby?
Axles may be bent or inserted to cant the wheels. 4. Axles may be positioned to allow one wheel to NOT touch the track via adjustment, bent axle or placement as long as this DOES NOT violate any other specifications. 5.
Which wheel should be raised on pinewood derby car?
Lift One of the Front Wheels, so it Doesn’t Touch the Track – If your competition allows it, raising one wheel is an easy way to reduce friction. Decide which wheel to lift by sending your car down a straight line and seeing which side of the line it drifts toward. If it drifts left, raise the left front wheel.
Will a heavier pinewood derby car faster?