New to the forum. We won but wobble is big issue.

[flockshot]

My grandson is a Tiger Cub (kindergarten) in the Cub Scouts and had his first pinewood derby yesterday. We did manage to win first place and he got a nice trophy but his car's back end was wobbling all over the place. Also he had two contenders that he beat by less than half a car length so we need to do better. That is why I am here.
I tried to make a rail rider car, and the axle holes were off and the bent axles were off soma too. Had a heck of a time learning the process and ran out of time. He had good wheels and weighting, along with good aerodynamics, and that is what must have saved the day.
I am starting now for next year and will not run out of time again. Prototypes are in the works and I will drill holes in such a was as to use straight axles. My intent is to get this down to a science, so that next year I can hold things in place so he can drill the car, sand it and put it all together using good parts. He is not patient enough to do more than some sanding on the axle polishing and wheel balancing, but that will come as he gets older.
I have invested more than I originally intended to in tools and such, and I have no regrets. I have spent days working on components, and enjoyed it, but I am not serious enough for $200 drilling jigs and the like.
So I will be asking for help to make the best components for him to use in his next build, that I can. At the same time I want him to learn the technical aspects of making the components as he goes through his Cub Scout carrier. By the time he leaves scouting he should be an expert.
Nothing creates enthusiasm quite like winning.

P.S. He has a younger brother too.

 

[TRE]

Send cars into the leagues here at pinewooderbryracing.com..get some practice building cars and see how they run..i promise you will smoke them next year

 

[flockshot]

Send cars into the leagues here at pinewooderbryracing.com..get some practice building cars and see how they run..i promise you will smoke them next year

So how does that work? Do I build and send it somewhere for racing, and then they send it back? Is there any critique or suggestions for me to learn from, or is it just the result of how I did? Would I be able to watch on live feed or anything like that?
Where is the best place for me to learn the process?
Is there an novice division?

 

[Pinewood Outlaw]

Kindergarten.....should be a Lion

Anyways....if you don't want to drop $200 on drill jig you can always look into others in the $100 range......if not at least consider buying a pre drilled block that way you know you'll have a good foundation to start with.

 

[flockshot]

Kindergarten.....should be a Lion

Anyways....if you don't want to drop $200 on drill jig you can always look into others in the $100 range......if not at least consider buying a pre drilled block that way you know you'll have a good foundation to start with.

You are exactly correct, he is a Lion Cub. When you live near Detroit, you are always thinking Tigers.

Anyways, I agree that I will probably need a good jig.

 

[TRE]

So how does that work? Do I build and send it somewhere for racing, and then they send it back? Is there any critique or suggestions for me to learn from, or is it just the result of how I did? Would I be able to watch on live feed or anything like that?
Where is the best place for me to learn the process?
Is there an novice division?

yes you can watch yours cars race live

 

[flockshot]

yes you can watch yours cars race live

I believe I will have to try that. Thank you for letting me know.

 

[TRE]

I believe I will have to try that. Thank you for letting me know.

There are videos around the net that shows you how to ship them

 

[Chief]

If I had to do it all over again, I would spend the $50 bucks or whatever it is to have unlimited access to the videos in the Premium Content section. Yes it is a bit of money up front but it will save you TONS of time and testing, not to mention it will save you a lot on products that DO NOT work!!! I am not just putting a plug in, I am being sincerly honest. You cannot even imagine what kind of money some of have wasted trying stuff only to put it on the NEVER buy that again shelf or box!!! I have raced here and my kids have been in scouts racing since 2007 and my youngest is 8 so we will be racing for a very long time yet...My point is I still watch these video and will continue. Worth every cent!!!

 

[flockshot]

If I had to do it all over again, I would spend the $50 bucks or whatever it is to have unlimited access to the videos in the Premium Content section. Yes it is a bit of money up front but it will save you TONS of time and testing, not to mention it will save you a lot on products that DO NOT work!!! I am not just putting a plug in, I am being sincerly honest. You cannot even imagine what kind of money some of have wasted trying stuff only to put it on the NEVER buy that again shelf or box!!! I have raced here and my kids have been in scouts racing since 2007 and my youngest is 8 so we will be racing for a very long time yet...My point is I still watch these video and will continue. Worth every cent!!!

It's actually $25 now, and I may well to that just to clear up some of the conflicting information I have been getting. It just seems that new information always comes with a requirement to buy the next miracle tool, or jig. It seems that some folks want to buy their way out of learning the craftmanship of making good cars, and I am not one of those guys. It's not a lot of money and I will spend more than that on blocks and wheels, just practicing, so perhaps yes, but I still want to do as much as I can the old fashioned way. I just find it satisfying.

 

[flockshot]

If I had to do it all over again, I would spend the $50 bucks or whatever it is to have unlimited access to the videos in the Premium Content section. Yes it is a bit of money up front but it will save you TONS of time and testing, not to mention it will save you a lot on products that DO NOT work!!! I am not just putting a plug in, I am being sincerly honest. You cannot even imagine what kind of money some of have wasted trying stuff only to put it on the NEVER buy that again shelf or box!!! I have raced here and my kids have been in scouts racing since 2007 and my youngest is 8 so we will be racing for a very long time yet...My point is I still watch these video and will continue. Worth every cent!!!

Yea, I am signing up for the videos now. The more I read, the more I realize I need the best advice I can get. Thanks for the reference.

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

First off, winning by 1/2 a car length is a real butt whooping in the world of PWD racing!
The video section will help you get rid of the sway you have.

 

[Cubscout Dad]

For cub scout racing there are some $20ish drill jigs on Amazon that we use in our pack and they work fine for scout racing. Read all the forums on here and watch lots of videos, 5 kids and sky walker both have good starter videos.

 

[flockshot]

For cub scout racing there are some $20ish drill jigs on Amazon that we use in our pack and they work fine for scout racing. Read all the forums on here and watch lots of videos, 5 kids and sky walker both have good starter videos.

I have a fair sized collection of maximum velocity tools, which if you have no knowledge, are helpful. He won the pack with those tools (plus days of hard work). However, now that I am gaining knowledge, they are of no use to me, so life goes on, and someone will get a great package deal on Ebay.
I also have a couple of home made tools that were never intended to be used on pinewood derby, that are perfect for things like duplicating bodies and carving consistently accurate weight cavity's, body thickness, and open sections of the car. Perhaps I can share those with the community at some time, after I demonstrate their effectiveness.

 

[flockshot]

It appears that I may have been mistaken.

When I made my first post last Sunday I stated that I was not serious enough to be out buying $200 jigs. Yup, I was wrong. Looking forward to those pre-orders coming in.

 

[Chief]

 

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

It appears that I may have been mistaken.

When I made my first post last Sunday I stated that I was not serious enough to be out buying $200 jigs. Yup, I was wrong. Looking forward to those pre-orders coming in.

I read this and all I could do is smile! I was in your shoes not to long ago. You obviously have learned from what you have been reading! Keep reading and learning, you won't regret it. Use that knowledge to build a faster car and to teach your kids and grandkids about the physics involved in Pinewood Derby. They are like sponges, it is amazing what they will pick up. The good news is that the lessons they learn (which are many) can be used for the rest of their life!

 

[Pinewood Outlaw]

It appears that I may have been mistaken.

When I made my first post last Sunday I stated that I was not serious enough to be out buying $200 jigs. Yup, I was wrong. Looking forward to those pre-orders coming in.

Let me know how you like the jig. I think you should get it shipped right away as the website says pre orders to be shipped by Feb 28 and we're past that lol

 

[Notch8]

I did the exact same thing I told my wife I was not that serious and then there was a car that just barely edged us out of 1st place overall at districts and I ordered that afternoon hahaha

 

[Pinewood Outlaw]

It appears that I may have been mistaken.

When I made my first post last Sunday I stated that I was not serious enough to be out buying $200 jigs. Yup, I was wrong. Looking forward to those pre-orders coming in.

You get your drill jig yet??