The Racer
The Racer

Pinewood Derby Times
Volume 6, Issue 7
December 27, 2006

In this Edition:

- Editor's Notes

- Feature Article - Feelers: Do they Work?

- Speed Tip

- Newsletter Subscriber Specials

- Car Showcase

- Memory - Boy-Built Car

- Q&A


Editor's Notes
Free Decals!

We just purchased the excess pinewood derby inventory from a hobby shop in Pennsylvania. Some of the items we purchased are marked way down in our Inventory Clearance Area

However, we purchased over 50 decal sheets which we are going to give away to newsletter subscribers. These decals include PineCar-brand dry transfer and sticker decals, and PinePro-brand sticker decals. To get your free decal sheet:

  1. Make a purchase of $25 or more.


  2. In the comment field of the order, type in the following: "Please include free decals".
For every $25 in the order subtotal, we will include a free decal sheet (limit of two sheets per order - sorry, we cannot take requests for specific sheets). Don't delay! These decals will go quickly, and this offer is only valid while the excess inventory lasts.

Help! We are all out of Memories.

At least, we are out of pinewood derby memories for the newsletter. So if you have an anecdote that is unusual, sad, heart-warming, etc., please send it to me in an e-mail ? Don't worry about literary polish. We will edit as needed, and review it with you before publishing. Also, please read our Submission Policy.

If your story is used, you will receive a $10 coupon in May of 2007.

Can We Help?
If we can help you in any way with your pinewood derby project, or if you have any feedback regarding this newsletter, please contact us at: info@maximum-velocity.com

MV Car Kit

Are you dissatisfied with the kits used by your organization? In answer to the concerns expressed by many people, we are now offering a top quality kit at an attractive price. Features include:

  • Quality Block - Unlike the blocks provided by some organizations, our blocks are cut precisely to 7 x 1-3/4 x 1-1/4 inches to accurately duplicate the dimensions of standard pinewood derby blocks from BSA.


  • Simple Axle Preparation - Don't worry about filing off flaws, or losing hub caps. Our Speed Axles have no burr or crimp marks, and install without hub caps.


  • Quality Wheels - Forget cheap, out of round wheels. We supply top-quality, PineCar-brand wheels to give great performance.
So, if your organization does not mandate a particular kit type, consider our Maximum Velocity Car Kits



We are clearing some inventory and have several items priced to sell. Supplies are limited so Click Here to get these discounted products before they are gone!

Feature Article

Feelers: Do they Work?

Feelers?1 What are you talking about? Well, do you know what automobile 'curb feelers' are? These (largely obsolete) devices are spring-steel wires that protrude from underneath the car. They are positioned so that they extend just past the tires. When parking along a curb, the feelers contact the curb before the tires touch the curb. The feelers make a loud scratching noise which helps the driver park the vehicle without rubbing the tires on the curb (or parking too far away).

Clearly, we don't park pinewood derby cars. But we do like to avoid contact with the center guide rail. So, what if feelers were installed which prevented the wheels from touching the guide rail. Would the frictional loss due to the feeler contact with the rail be less than, or greater than the frictional loss of the wheels touching the guide rail? Well let's run an experiment and find out.

How To Construct Feelers
First, we must construct a car with feelers. I did this by first gluing a piece of wood onto both sides of the car. This extra wood is drilled to accept feelers. Next, I fashioned two types of feelers: (1) rolling bushings, and (2) thick nylon line.

Figures 1 and 2 below show the rolling bushings. These consist of 'Awana' axles (0.092 OD smooth axles) and #4 Flanged Nylon Bushings (hardware store item). I lubricated the bushings with a drop of thin film oil.


Figure 1
Rolling Bushings Mounted on Car


Figure 2
Close-up of Rolling Bushing

The nylon line feelers are shown in Figure 3. I used 0.068 nylon line from a lawn edger. For both feeler types, holes were drilled in the wood extensions such that both feelers contact the guide rail just before the wheels, and prevent the wheels from contacting the guide rail.


Figure 3
Nylon Line Feelers

Test 1
As shown in the photos, I used an extended wheelbase car with outlaw-style wheels. The outlaw wheels were chosen as they tend to produce the most consistent results.

I aligned the car, and then made five runs without any feelers. Next, five runs were made with the Rolling Bushings, followed by five runs with the nylon feelers. This three step sequence was then repeated, except that due to the poor results, the nylon feeler runs were not repeated.

The tests were run on a 32 foot Piantedosi anodized aluminum track. The results are shown in Figure 4 below.

Trial No Feelers Bushings Nylon Line
1 2.527 2.542 2.702
2 2.527 2.549 2.614
3 2.526 2.535 2.665
4 2.523 2.542 2.635
5 2.526 2.546 2.616
Ave 2.526 2.543 2.646
6 2.526 2.544  
7 2.526 2.533  
8 2.526 2.547  
9 2.519 2.536  
10 2.527 2.538  
Ave 2.525 2.540  
Figure 4
Test Results for Outlaw Wheels

As shown in the data, both versions of feelers actually slowed down the car.

Test 2
After running these tests, it dawned on me that one of the big advantages of outlaw-style wheels is the minimal contact with the guide rail.(2) Therefore it is quite possible that the test results would have been different if standard BSA wheels were used. So, I prepared a set of BSA wheels, and repeated the tests with no feelers, and with the bushings. The results are shown in Figure 5.

Trial No Feelers Bushings
1 2.588 2.559
2 2.594 2.545
3 2.597 2.546
4 2.599 2.550
5 2.593 2.554
Ave 2.594 2.551
6 2.618 2.550
7 2.602 2.554
8 2.596 2.557
9 2.569 2.554
10 2.594 2.553
Ave 2.596 2.554
Figure 5
Test Results for BSA Wheels

Apparently, the BSA wheels generate significant losses when they contact the guide rail, so much so that the bushings provide a big advantage.

Conclusion
The testing indicates that when used with BSA wheels (and I assume any other type of standard profile wheel, such as PineCar or Awana), bushing-type feelers provide a significant advantage. But when using narrow profile wheels, the bushing are generally counterproductive.

Are feelers legal? I have never seen a rule set that prohibited feelers. However, I strongly suggest that you either get a ruling from your officials before using them, or be prepared to remove them at the check-in. You never know when a pinewood derby official may decide to 'legislate from the bench'!

1Sometimes, these devices are called 'whiskers'.

2Outlaw wheels contact the guide rail at the upper edge of the rail, resulting in less frictional losses than a standard pinewood derby wheel.


Speed Tip
Pro-Hub Tool on Awana Wheels

Submitted by John VanHolstyn

I work with Awana cars only and have purchased most of the Pro Tools that work on them. I just wanted to let you know that the Pro Hub Tool can be used on the outer hub as well as the inner hub of the Awana wheels. So although the Pro-Outer Hub Shaver doesn't work on the Awana wheels, the Pro-Hub Tool takes its place!

Speed Tips, Web Site or Product Reviews?
If you have a speed or construction tip, a web site review, or a product review that you would like to share, please send it to: info@maximum-velocity.com

If your submission is used, you will receive a $10 coupon in May of 2007. Don't worry about literary polish. We will edit it as needed before publishing. Also, please read our Submission Policy.


Special Offers for Newsletter Subscribers



Tapered Tungsten Cylinders
$4.00 off

We have rolled back priced on these tapered tungsten cylinders! These weight are 3/8 inch long and taper from 5/16 inch to 7/16 inch in diameter. Your 4 ounce (nominal) shipment of Tungsten Cylinders will contain eight, 1/2 ounce cylinders.

For more information on the Tapered Tungsten Cylinders, Click Here.

but make sure to Purchase Here


Down & Derby DVD
$2.00 off

Didn't get it for Christmas? Get the Special Scouting Edition DVD of "Down and Derby" in our after Christmas sale! Your whole family will enjoy this outrageous pinewood derby comedy that transforms an average group of dads into an awkward bunch of competitors.

For more information, Click Here

but make sure to Purchase Here

These specials are valid through January 9, 2007.


 Car Showcase

Since we are out of submitted photos for the showcase, I thought I would share our cars from earlier this year.

Modified Wing: Elisa Davis


I built this car for my wife to run in the parent-sibling race. The body is an extended wing, which I modified with the side curves. I also had to enlarge the weight pocket to account for the wood reduction and the light weight wheels. Using a drop of Krytox 100 in each wheel hub, the car took 1st Place for speed.

Patriotic Stealth: Janel Davis


My daughter, Janel, built the Stealth, and did all the decorating. The stars came form a craft store, and the pinstriping is a hobby shop item. The car took 1st Place for speed, and 2nd Place for design.

Wing: Stephen Davis


My son, Stephen, built the Wing. The car took 2nd Place for speed. I'm afraid he will grow up with a 'complex', as he has never been able to best his sister in the derby! (just kidding)

Share Your Pinewood Derby Car Creation
Do you have a car you would like to 'show off' to our readers? If so, send us a photo of your car along with a brief description of any special features. Also, please include your full name. If selected, we will include the photo and description in this newsletter.Please e-mail photos to:
info@maximum-velocity.com.

Photos must be sent by e-mail in JPG format (minimum size of 640x480 - maximum size of 1280 x 960). Please shoot photos from the front left of the car, similar to the orientation of the cars shown above.

Send only one photo per car, unless an additional photo is needed to adequately show a feature. Also, only one car per subscriber please. Thanks!


Pinewood Derby Memory

Boy-Built Car

Fifth graders do not usually join Cub Scouts, but this kid did. He was a friend of a scout in my den; he joined in for a half year or so of fun before moving on to Boy Scouts. Having never seen a pinewood derby much less made a car, this was all new to him. He made a sleek sports car sort of design and painted it shiny silver. Nice job considering our cars are completely boy built in den meetings with nothing more fancy than a coping saw.

Weigh-in night showed the little car exceptionally light, so he used what change I had on hand in my purse: a handful of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters that he could add to the car until it reached the magic 5 ounces - or nearly so. Masking tape held them on (kind of ruined the 'look' of the car, but what do you do?).

Well this car came in 2nd Place in the den races, even though we had to keep adjusting the coins to hold them on. Time came for the main event where the top cars from each den raced against each other. Some cars were most definitely not boy-built, but engineer dad-built, and the boy's car did not look to be the favorite. Guess what? It took 2nd Place in the pack. He was happy, and had done it himself!

Keep it simple, make it fun. Isn't that what it is all about? The smile on the boy says YES!

Janis Tipton-King
Fremont, CA.

Share Your Pinewood Derby Memory!
I am sure there are many stories to share. Please jot down your humorous, unusual, sad, or heart-warming pinewood derby tale and send it to: info@maximum-velocity.com

If your memory is used, you will receive a $10 coupon in May of 2007.

Don't worry about literary polish. We will edit as needed. Also, please read our Submission Policy


Q&A

What is the actual difference between Hob-E-Lube and Tube-O-Lube ? Last year I used Hob-E-Lube, but thinking about switching to Tube-o-Lube.

There are two main differences:

  1. Tube-o-Lube is ground finer, so less break-in is needed.


  2. Hob-E-Lube has molybdenum particles. In our testing, the presence of molybdenum slowed down performance. Moly is apparently an excellent lube for high-temperature, high-pressure, non-conductive applications, none of which apply to pinewood derby racing.
We used to carry Hob-E-Lube, and switched to Tube-O-Lube after testing both products.

I was wondering if you had ever built a car using springs?

A while back I published an article ("Putting Suspense Back into Pinewood Racing", Volume 4, Issue 2) regarding a car that uses cantilevers as springs. This car, the Flex, uses the wood itself as a spring mechanism. See: Standard Flex and Extended Flex

This may not be the kind of springs you were thinking of, but using coil springs would be a serious technical challenge.

What diameter of wheel is best for speed?

In general you want larger diameter, but lighter weight wheels. This is because larger diameter wheels require fewer revolutions to complete the track, and can spin at a lower RPM.

There is an optimum diameter based on the geometry and weight of the wheel (provides the greatest mechanical advantage over friction). For 'outlaw style' wheels, the optimum diameter is about 1.2 inches. For stock width wheels, the optimum diameter is slightly less.

Do You Have Questions that Need Answers?
Do you have a pinewood derby-related question? If so, send your question to: info@maximum-velocity.com. We answer all questions by e-mail, but not every question will appear in the Q&A section of the newsletter.


Back Issues

Are you a new subscriber, or have you missed some of the previous newsletters? Don't miss out! All of the issues for Volumes 5 and 6 are posted on our web site:

Volume 6

  1. Volume 6, Issue 1


  2. Volume 6, Issue 2


  3. Volume 6, Issue 3


  4. Volume 6, Issue 4

  5. Volume 6, Issue 5

  6. Volume 6, Issue 6

  7. Volume 6, Issue 7
Volume 5

  1. Volume 5, Issue 1


  2. Volume 5, Issue 2


  3. Volume 5, Issue 3


  4. Volume 5, Issue 4


  5. Volume 5, Issue 5


  6. Volume 5, Issue 6


  7. Volume 5, Issue 7


  8. Volume 5, Issue 8


  9. Volume 5, Issue 9


  10. Volume 5, Issue 10


  11. Volume 5, Issue 11


  12. Volume 5, Issue 12


  13. Volume 5, Issue 13


  14. Volume 5, Issue 14


  15. Volume 5, Issue 15
Issues from the four previous seasons are available in four formatted volumes, ready for immediate download. To find out more, Click Here.



Newsletter Contributions

We welcome your contributions! If you would like to contribute an article, a web site review, or a speed tip, please send it to: info@maximum-velocity.com.

Please read our submission policy.


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The Pinewood Derby Times is a free e-newsletter focused on the Pinewood Derby. It is published bi-weekly from October through April.

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Randy Davis, Editor, Pinewood Derby Times
E-Mail: info@maximum-velocity.com


Copyright ©2006, Randy Davis. All rights reserved. Please do not reprint or place this newsletter on your web site without explicit permission. However, if you like this newsletter we grant permission, and encourage you to e-mail it to a friend.

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