Derby Talk

Thanks Mike and Randy, looks like I'll have to pick up a few cans of spray on Kilz for some after Christmas pwd car building - after we get the trophies built first... This sounds like a good newletter tip!

Da Graphite Kid

John, Someone at the Council level will have to approve any activity outside of your normal meeting place. This is done by filing out a Local Tour Permit (#34426E) even though you may only be travelling a few miles. I suggest that you have your contact your Pack Committee and have them go up the cha...

We just tell the boys to list the top 4 "coolest" or "best looking" cars with theirs being listed first. We let the Cub Scouts judge for best of show as they know what they like better than any adult!


Da Graphite Kid

PW Grashopper, I can't really give a good opinion of which worked the best as these were used over several years. Last year we used what we had on hand but I do remember that the resin gummed up sandpaper more than the sealers. The one thing about the resin I did like was that it dried/cured fast. o...

4Racers, As others have suggested: Check the rules first as there is no use showing up with a car that you can't race! Since you are asking which way is forward and since others have mentioned cars that run better backwards than forwards; I will mention something for you to consider in your car desi...

I agree with Teeeman; the more rearwards your cm the more potential energy you should have. Where this is on a Cubmobile is anyone's guess as unlike in a pinewood derby car where everyone uses a pinewood block to build the body and frame from; everyone may not have to use the same wood or materials ...

Pinewood Daddy, We have and have not used some kind of sealer on the pwd cars that we have built. when we did it was not with the intent of sealing the wood as there is no practical way of doing so as we also route out the underside of our pwd cars and this leaves lots of exposed wood. We have alway...

We have used the plastic inspection tool which as it turns out is the same thickness as a credit card (or at least the one I measured). For the past few years we have been using a credit card with a slot cut in it. The reason for this is that the boys can easily use this. If someone has data that sh...

Karlene, For me there was no choice between a wood and metal track. Our bigest problem was where the track is stored which is in an outdoors shed. Living in Alabama you learn what the statement: "it's not the heat, it's the humidity" is all about. The last track that our local Cub Scout Pa...

Alexia and John, Boy did you come to the right place for help! :mrgreen: In addition to the many suggestions so far I would add: Boy Scouts. Most of these boys have already gone through Cub Scouits and so would have a better chance to have built a pinewood derby car. Check with your Cubmaster, Unit ...

Darth Gator, Yes, my sons put tape over the axle slots and the ends of the slots before painting. This is like the third thing we do: 1. Sand the sides of the uncut pinewood block so that the area that the wheel hubs touch the body at will be smooth, flat and square to the body. 2. Drill pilot holes...

Steve, I guess you posted while I was re-reading my post. I would ask your DE where this BSA Policy came from period. If it is not a BSA Policy (a "Policy" and not a "Guideline") or if it is not a local Council Policy than there is nothing forbidding the use of metal cutting blad...

Steve, I too would like to hear where this "BSA forbids the Boys using power tools in a workshop with or without a Tour Permit" comes from as I just did a quick look through the Guide to Safe Scouting (version "E") and did not see anything stating this. It is true that you will n...

No snappy comebacks here but I can tell you that from my experience you are wasting your time. It seems there are there are three types of people when it comes to boys building Pinewood Derby Cars: #1) those that know that boys of this age can build a great looking and fast Pinewood Derby Car with t...

Sporty, As always; Thanks for the information! This iwll be really helpful for those of us who want to run a Cubmobile Derby but have not done so as yet (maybe this Summer!). Don't worry about misspelling words :lol: as I have worn out the spell checker feature on my PC at work at least twice! :shoc...