Pinewood Derby - Open Division

[Clark Addison]

I didn't know if this should go herer or in the foyer. Mods, feel free to move.

Our ward is having an "open" pinewood derby later this month, meaning no weight restrictions and artificial propulsion means allowed. The only rules are:

- no fire (including model rocket engines)
- no CO2
- No touching your car after the race starts
- The car has to stay in the lane
- No blocking other lanes

I have done this once before and had very good success with a simple rubber-band and propeller set-up. I don't know if that will work this time, as you need a pretty good sized propeller to make it work on the length of track available. Last time we had a two lane track, and I rigged it so I could swing the propeller to the right or left of the car, depending on the lane I was in. I am now in a ward that has a three lane track, so I would probably have to use a smaller propeller, which wouldn't work as well.

Anyone have any ideas? With all the engineers on the board, I would imagine several people here have won these before.

[Tim]

MAG-LEV!!!

Add a metal strip to each side of the rail, then install a series of rotating magnets all along the side of your car. It might cost you a couple thousand dollars to build, but it'll win! ZERO FRICTION!!!

Alternatively, build a car that's the length of the track.

[Clark Addison]

MAG-LEV!!!

Add a metal strip to each side of the rail, then install a series of rotating magnets all along the side of your car. It might cost you a couple thousand dollars to build, but it'll win! ZERO FRICTION!!!

Alternatively, build a car that's the length of the track.

At the last one I did, someone tried to do something along those lines (the long car, not the magnets). He built a 3 foot long spike onto the front of the car. The problems with it were A) it tended to drag when the track curved, and B) some people felt that the entire car needs to start behind the start line.

[Uncle Ted]

I didn't know if this should go herer or in the foyer. Mods, feel free to move.

Our ward is having an "open" pinewood derby later this month, meaning no weight restrictions and artificial propulsion means allowed. The only rules are:

- no fire (including model rocket engines)
- no CO2
- No touching your car after the race starts
- The car has to stay in the lane
- No blocking other lanes

I have done this once before and had very good success with a simple rubber-band and propeller set-up. I don't know if that will work this time, as you need a pretty good sized propeller to make it work on the length of track available. Last time we had a two lane track, and I rigged it so I could swing the propeller to the right or left of the car, depending on the lane I was in. I am now in a ward that has a three lane track, so I would probably have to use a smaller propeller, which wouldn't work as well.

Anyone have any ideas? With all the engineers on the board, I would imagine several people here have won these before.

Build a rail gun launcher powered by an huge array of charged capacitors...



Here is the idea in action.

[Moliere]

At the last one I did, someone tried to do something along those lines (the long car, not the magnets). He built a 3 foot long spike onto the front of the car. The problems with it were A) it tended to drag when the track curved, and B) some people felt that the entire car needs to start behind the start line.

I have plenty of ideas but I'm sure most of them would not work. Here are a few:

- Cut out the middle of the car all the way to the back. You basically have a long "U" shape and you place the car so the top of the "U" is facing down the track. This gives you a couple inch headstart since part of your car is already down the track.

- Use a dowel that is spring loaded. The dowel is facing backwards but when the car starts to go, the dowel comes up over the car until it is facing forward. Depending on the length of the dowel, you could cut the length of the track down by a foot or two. If you are really good you could engineer the spring-loaded dowel to also turn the wheels to propel the car. Obviously you'd need more traction, which means rubber wheels of some sort.

- Put some small missilies on the front of the car. When another car is in front of you, use a remote control to launch a missile and shoot the other car into oblivion.

A Utah ward I once lived in had an open division. We had everything from ax heads to bricks to you name it. My sons car, which was pinewood derby regulation in all respects and had just won the cub scout division, actually took second in the open division. The problem most people have is they want to make their car incredibly heavy, however the increased friction from the weight tends be a disadvantage on such a short track. Acceleration and maintaining speed are more important than potential top speed.

[Pheidippides]

I have plenty of ideas but I'm sure most of them would not work. Here are a few:

- Cut out the middle of the car all the way to the back. You basically have a long "U" shape and you place the car so the top of the "U" is facing down the track. This gives you a couple inch headstart since part of your car is already down the track.

- Use a dowel that is spring loaded. The dowel is facing backwards but when the car starts to go, the dowel comes up over the car until it is facing forward. Depending on the length of the dowel, you could cut the length of the track down by a foot or two. If you are really good you could engineer the spring-loaded dowel to also turn the wheels to propel the car. Obviously you'd need more traction, which means rubber wheels of some sort.

- Put some small missilies on the front of the car. When another car is in front of you, use a remote control to launch a missile and shoot the other car into oblivion.

A Utah ward I once lived in had an open division. We had everything from ax heads to bricks to you name it. My sons car, which was pinewood derby regulation in all respects and had just won the cub scout division, actually took second in the open division. The problem most people have is they want to make their car incredibly heavy, however the increased friction from the weight tends be a disadvantage on such a short track. Acceleration and maintaining speed are more important than potential top speed.

I did a lot of research and development of a co2 cartridge powered car. Unfortunately, I didn't have the tools to fabricate with sufficient precision. I'm convinced the idea can work and have seen videos of it in action.