How to make a Cub Scout Pinewood Derby car go faster

The Pinewood Derby is a Cub Scout / Boy Scout institution. Every scout starts with the same block of wood, but it is the Scout who pays attention to simple physics that achieves the fastest times!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sandpaper or steel wool
• dry silicon or graphite lubricant

1. There are three frictional forces that slow down a Pinewood Derby car as races down the track.
   
   1. air resistance
   2. axle friction
   3. tire shape / condition
   
   By controlling these factors you can easily speed up your racer.

2. It is important to sand the tires and get rid of any burrs and make sure they are completely round. Use steel wool or light sand paper and rub then until they are as smooth as possible. The wheels must be perfectly round.

3. The next step is to polish the axles. Use the steel wool or sand paper and polish them so they are smooth.

4. When assembling the axles onto the car body make sure that the axle hole is in the center of each wheel. Also check the alignment and make sure that the car rolls straight. Any movement outside of a straight line will increase friction and slow down the car.

5. Use a dry silicon or graphite lubricant on the axles to reduce friction more and insure a smooth turn of the wheel. These simple steps should help make your car faster.

Tips & Warnings

• Add weight on the very back of the vehicle, up to the max allowed by Scouts
• Cut and sand your block into a slim and aerodynamic shape to reduce air drag.