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Re: Pinewood Derby Tractor
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Posted by john d on March 02, 2001 at 13:47:57 from (206.141.74.34):
In Reply to: Pinewood Derby Tractor posted by latta on March 02, 2001 at 08:20:03:
Great idea on making it into a tractor! Post a picture if it comes out good! Having been throught this process with my son several years ago, and a couple of my friend's offspring since, there are some things you can do to increase the chance of success. Check closely for any rule changes that have occurred since I was involved, however! Wouldn't want to steer you in directions that aren't allowed! 1) Try to have the same amount of weight on the front and back wheels. 2) Check the block of wood they gave you to see if the slots for the axles are square across the face of the block. Occasionally they aren't, and the car built with axles not square with the body is doomed. 3) Make sure the wheels are ROUND. Some groups allow sanding, some don't. We actually put them in a small lathe and took the high spots off. 4) Get some EXTREMELY fine sandpaper (600 grit or finer) and polish the nails/axles. Also remove any burrs on the underside of the nail heads. 5) If you can route out a small area in the bottom between the axles, you can put a lead strip in there with a couple of screws, By slotting the lead strip, you can shift it forward and backward to balance the weight, and also break off a little lead if necessary to "make weight" at the track. 6) No matter what scale you use to weigh your car, don't assume that the one they'll use at the track will say the same thing. Their numbers are the ones that count, so have some means of quickly altering the weight of the car. 7) Wind resistance plays a role, but at the speed these things travel, it's not the end of the world when your child demands a design that isn't very aerodynamic! 8) Adjust, tweak, fiddle with, and tinker with that thing until it sets evenly on all four wheels, and rolls STRAIGHT! 9) Have a lot of fun!
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