Derby Talk

I first started this concept about 2 years ago when I helped my two daughters build cars for a youth division outlaw race that we ran at a Girl Scout Powder Puff Derby. They wanted cars that their dollies could ride in, so I made them as light as possibly by building them up with hobby plywood and b...

This is similar to how I plan to help my kids build cars for this year's Derby season. Wafer car base with a hollow CA-glue-reinforced balsa shell for looks. I pretty much did the same thing with a few cub scouts who came to my workshops this season. They didn't want to do a wing design car. So I s...

Another thing you can do is contact your local council and request a "Certificate of Insurance" for the location you are thinking of using. They usually can make one and have it prepared for you in under a day and it is usually good for all activities at that location for up to one year. T...

Yep, seen a number of these myself (but never on both sides). I'd have to go with Scrollsawer on this one. Use wood glue and put it in a clamp or a vice over night. Once set, you should open the axle holes back up with your #44 drill bit (in case any glue dried in there).

-Nitro Dan

Wow, it has been a real busy season this year. Besides running three pack races, six workshops, and a Girl Scout District race, our Pack took on the hosting of our District's 1st (and hopefully annual) Pinewood Derby this year. We didn't want to limit the event to just those that would qualify from ...

We are thinking of holding a workshop as we have as bunch of new tigers coming in this year. If there is a weakness in making the derby car at a workshop, it is cutting the car by hand, IMO. How long should we plan for it to take to cut out a basic "thin" shape from the official block? Th...

Haven't tried running a District wide workshop yet. I've been running multiple pack workshops for the last six years. I ran six of them this past season and I get anywhere from 20 to 75 racers per session. They are a lot of fun, but I find difficulties getting volunteers to help out at each session....

I usually do a 20 minute orientation at the begining of my workshops, designed to show the parents how their boys can partisipate at each station. This usually gets everyone involved at the start, but a young boys attention span can only go for so long. To help compensate, I offer three workshop day...

Neat! I like the Max V wheels much better than the BSA. Since the difference doesn't appear to be that much, I'm going to make a set of razor wheels from the Max V tires and give them a try next year. My wife has beaten me two years in a row now, so it's abouit time for me to make a come back! :) -N...

Actually that is the two daughters cars that you are referring to. Wheel choice between the cars isn't by preference. Most of these cars are Outlaw division cars while the daughter's cars (Catepiller and GS Uniform) are designed for the official Girl Scout races. Two different sets of rules, so two ...

Ok, now that the season is nearing its end, here's the pictures of the cars my family did this year: http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t279/Tellco/DadsCar_2012.jpg This is my Mr. Yuk outlaw car. I saw a scout car last year that ran very fast that was using a single round weight mounted on it's side...

Do any of you have rules prohibiteding mold matched wheels? We do have a rule that says you have to use the wheels in the box. Then we purposely open the all the kits before handing them out and make sure there are different mold numbers on each wheel in the box (no matched wheels). At inspections ...

,,.after all a good pinewood derby race is all about parent/child interaction. I usually tell folks the cost of my advice is to do likewise – pass it on and help someone else who needs it. Amen. I've been running workshops for six years now with our pack (I run three sessions in the weeks before th...

... I informed the parents this year that I would love to conduct a workshop if there is interest. No one chimed in. I offer hints and tips whenever asked. I have tons of experience from my days in scouting as a youngster. People often have to see the proof in the pudding before they will accept so...

I'm curious as to how many of you that have workshops have the parents sign liability waivers before letting the kids work on their cars in the workshop? We've been doing this regulary since we started doing workshops four years ago. The charter organization has insurance of course, so I feel we pri...