Pinewood Derby Season, anyone else helping their kids? Options

[iwanta914-6]

I know it's not a 914 but one of my girls (I have twin 7 year old girls in girl scouts) wanted a "Sally" from Cars.

So obviously I was excited to get started on that as Sally is based off of a 996, so to CAD I went. This is only the second year I've "helped" my girls with their cars so this is my first attempt at adding flares to a pinewood car. Should be fun. Next year they will do most of the work and I'll just help make it fast but this year I'll handle most of the construction while they do the paint. The other car is going to be a puppy.

I had to modify it a little to fit the size limits and the minimum wheelbase being 4" pushed the rear wheels back a little.

[Mueller]

Looks good....I hope you leave off the tramp stamp Sally has (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Going to hand carve or throw that on a CNC mill/router?

[iwanta914-6]

Looks good....I hope you leave off the tramp stamp Sally has (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Going to hand carve or throw that on a CNC mill/router?

Ha, the tramp stamp, that would be hilarious! I will be hand carving and lots of dremel work. It probably won't turn out nearly as nice as the drawing, but at least I have a plan...

[jasons]

We are building a car too. Last year we won the Beauty contest for his den, which I wasn't trying to do. And we should have won the whole shebang, which I was trying to do. Somehow one of my canted rear axles got turned and veered the car hard so we lost one race before I identified the problem.

[iwanta914-6]

Last year the two cars I made with my girls (I had never made one before) did quite well. In the girl scout division one car finished 2nd, losing to the overall champion. The other car finished just off the podium for the girl scouts.

If I have time, I may make one for myself and enter the adult division, lol. If I did, I think I would have to do a 914-6 GT style car!

[dflesburg]

Both my boys were in for years (we even did guides before cub scouts) my youngest son who is turning 18 next week is an eagle scout....

I was a den leader for many years and cubmaster for some, then a scout leader for a few more.

After a while, here is what I learned.

1. tape off the axle area then let the boys make any car they want. It doesn't matter

2. help them cut it and carve it and let them paint it. It doesn't matter

3. balance it and make it weigh 5.000 or 4.9999

4. make it roll across the floor straight and fast.

5. let them race it. let them play with it after the racing is over, let them have fun.

We won a lot but hopefully what is more important is they had fun.

[iwanta914-6]

1. tape off the axle area then let the boys make any car they want. It doesn't matter

2. help them cut it and carve it and let them paint it. It doesn't matter

3. balance it and make it weigh 5.000 or 4.9999

4. make it roll across the floor straight and fast.

5. let them race it. let them play with it after the racing is over, let them have fun.

We won a lot but hopefully what is more important is they had fun.

Yeah, I agree with all of this. I'm allowing myself to do most of the work one more time. The ideas and inspiration are theirs, I'm just the labor. I just don't yet trust my girls with the tools. Next year if they do it again, I'll let them do most of it, even if it just ends up to be a painted block of wood.

[jor]

This should be a build post -- I'd love to see the car as it develops. Fun!

[PlantMan]

Both my boys were in for years (we even did guides before cub scouts) my youngest son who is turning 18 next week is an eagle scout....

I was a den leader for many years and cubmaster for some, then a scout leader for a few more.

After a while, here is what I learned.

1. tape off the axle area then let the boys make any car they want. It doesn't matter

2. help them cut it and carve it and let them paint it. It doesn't matter

3. balance it and make it weigh 5.000 or 4.9999

4. make it roll across the floor straight and fast.

5. let them race it. let them play with it after the racing is over, let them have fun.

We won a lot but hopefully what is more important is they had fun.

Good advise here.
I have built many cars in the last ten plus years.
My oldest in a Life Scout and finishing up his Eagle requirements. My middle son is heading to Boy Scouts next month and my youngest is a Bear. Also have a daughter who is the twin to my older son and she is in American Heritage Girls.

If you can get your car to run on three wheels in a straight line that is the key. Don't forget to make room for your weights prior to cutting your body. You will need a significant amount of weight so plan accordingly. Make sure you read-up on tract clearance under the wheels and overhead. The car usually has to stay within it's wheel base. Polish your axles on a drill or drill press. use dry graphite on the axles after you get your car built, it will make a BIG difference. You can get extra supplies at Michaels/Hobby Lobby, etc.

I ran the Pine Wood Derby for several years....it was often more exciting for the Dads than the lads/girls but was always fun either way!

Have a great time!

[Garland]

When you think it's at max weight, add staples with a office paper stapler. You will be amazed how many you can add before tipping the scale.

[TheCabinetmaker]

Here's one I helped my grandson with last year. Fastest car of the day, and second place appearance.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i290.photobucket.com-666-1449792718.1.jpg)

[74ravenna]

Here's one I helped my grandson with last year. Fastest car of the day, and second place appearance.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i290.photobucket.com-666-1449792718.1.jpg)

Needs jack stands!

[PlantMan]

Here's one I helped my grandson with last year. Fastest car of the day, and second place appearance.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i290.photobucket.com-666-1449792718.1.jpg)

Looks like it has three wheels???

[brant]

My brother in law made this for my niece and then I received it after:

[TheCabinetmaker]

Here's one I helped my grandson with last year. Fastest car of the day, and second place appearance.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i290.photobucket.com-666-1449792718.1.jpg)

Looks like it has three wheels???

It does in that pic. One of the nails (axles) was missing, but I found it.

[jasons]

If you can get your car to run on three wheels in a straight line that is the key.

We tuned our car to rail ride, not straight. It works.

Don't forget to make room for your weights prior to cutting your body.

Get the tungsten weights, they are more dense than anything else and make placement much easier and tune-able. Buy them at Hobby Lobby with the 40% coupon from their website.

[wes]

Our boys first year, he won two 1st place trophys! We worked on the car together, bought one of the books and followed it as to weight plasmeant, grooved and polished the Axels w/graphite, running on three wheels and had a bit of a trick front as to the way the start worked, a spoiler placed high as to release the car quickly.

[wes]

 trim.91BC3A33_6CCB_4D29_B9A0_9C1EF858029C.MOV ( 2.97mb ) Number of downloads: 59
video of one of the races.

[wes]

not bad for his first year!

[Spoke]

Built a few cars for a friend's son before. I told my buddy he should build it with his son and he said the car would be a square block of wood with wheels. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Here's one not intended to be raced...