Pinewood derby

I am a professional writer from China Quality Lighting, which contains a great deal of information about electric shaver ratings , rc car simulator, welcome to visit!

(ArticlesBase SC #2994642)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Pinewood derby

Origins

Petty Superbird

Cubmaster Don Murphy organized the first pinewood derby, held on May 15, 1953 in Manhattan Beach, California by Pack 280c. Murphy’s son was too young to participate in the popular Soap Box Derby races, so he came up with the idea of racing miniature wood cars. The cars had the same gravity-powered concept as the full-size Soap Box Derby cars, but were much smaller and easier to build. After Don Murphy’s first race in 1953 the Los Angeles County Department of Recreation copied the pinewood derby with Murphy’s permission.

In the 1980s, the design of the block was changed from a cutout block, consistent with a 1940’s style front-engined Indy 500 car, to a solid block. The tires were also changed from narrow, hard plastic, to wider “slicks”.

Construction

A Cub Scout holds a winning pine car

The Scout is given a block of wood made of pine with two notches for wheels, four plastic wheels and four nails. The finished car must use all nine pieces, must not exceed a certain weight (usually five ounces), must not exceed a certain length and must fit on the track used by that particular scout pack.

Blocks can be whittled with a hand knife or a band saw or Dremel carving tool for major shaping. Decals can be bought at scout shops or hobby shops. It is also possible to use standard model decals to replicate actual racing cars such as Richard Petty’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird, shown at right. The original style is based on open wheel cars, however, fender or body kits are available, or wheels can simply be placed outboard of the body.

Other than the previous basic design rules, the Cub Scout is able to carve and decorate the car as he chooses. Many Cub Scouts also add weights to the final design to bring the car to the maximum allowable weight; coins, glue-in lead pieces, and melted lead are common ways to add weight. Cars typically vary from unfinished blocks to whimsical objects, to accurate replicas of actual cars. The fastest cars tend to resemble low doorstops, with weight at the rear. Graphite is usually the only lubricant allowed, and it often helps to polish the provided nails.

The idea behind the pinewood derby is for the parent, usually the father, but occasionally the mother or grandparent, to spend time helping the child design, carve, paint, add weights, and tune the final car. However, it is often the case that the parent takes over the construction of the car, an aspect of the event that was lampooned in the 2005 film Down and Derby, and also in a 2009 episode of South Park. The quest for a fast car supports a cottage industry that supplies modified wheels, axles, and blocks as well as videos and instruction books. While a pinewood derby car kit costs around , a set of modified wheels and axles can sell for more than ten times that amount. These aftermarket items are legal under some Pack rules since the parts originally came from an official BSA kit. Complete cars can be purchased on eBay and elsewhere for around 0 to 0. Although these cars violate the spirit of the event, if not the rules, enforcement can be difficult.

Pinewood Derby Donahue 1972 AMC Matador

Model manufacturer Revell was licensed by the BSA to produce pinewood derby kits with a release in December 2009.

Competition

The track usually has two to six lanes and slopes down to the ground, since the cars are powered by gravity. Tracks may be owned by the pack or rented. The race is run in heats, giving every car the chance to run on each lane. The racers can be grouped with others from the same rank (Tiger Cubs, Wolf Cubs, Bear Cubs, etc.), or can compete against the pack as a whole.

The first, second, and third place winners usually receive ribbons, medals or trophies. Some packs also award on the basis of car design. The first place race winners get to advance to the district level, then each of the district-wide race winners get to race each other from across the entire council.

Other races

Pinewood derby cars ready to race

As the popularity of the pinewood derby grew, other organizations adopted the concept. Pinewood derby is a registered registered trademark of the BSA, so most use different names. Each derby has slightly different rules for making and racing their cars.

Awana has the Awana Grand Prix.

Christian Service Brigade uses the name Shape N Race Derby.

Royal Ambassadors have RA Racers.

Royal Rangers use a different kit with screw axles and dowel rod axle supports.

Scouts Canada has the kub kar rally for Cub Scouts and beaver buggies for Beaver Scouts.

YMCA chule cars use the same kit as the Royal Rangers.

Valve cover racing is an event at some car shows using vehicles made from valve covers.

Car modifications

Stock wheels (left) and modified (one gram) wheels (right)

Car track

The forces propelling a pinewood derby car are gravity and inertia, the opposing forces are friction and air drag. Therefore, car modifications are aimed at maximizing the potential energy in the car design and minimizing the air drag and the friction that occurs when the wheel spins on the axle, contacts the axle head or car body, or contacts the track guide rail. Friction due to air drag is a minor, although not insignificant, factor. The wheel tread can be sanded or lathed and the inner surface of the hub can be coned to minimize the contact area between the hub and body. Polishing the wheel, especially the inner hub, with a plastic polish can also reduce friction. Often one front wheel is raised slightly so that it does not contact the track and add to the rolling resistance. Axles are filed or lathed to remove the burr and crimp marks and polished smooth. More extensive modifications involve tapering the axle head and cutting a notch to minimize the wheel-to-axle contact area. Note that packs can establish additional rules for what, if any, modifications are allowed. In some areas, no changes can be made to the axles or wheels.

A second consideration is the rotational energy stored in the wheels. The pinewood derby car converts gravitational potential energy into translational kinetic energy (speed) plus rotational energy. Heavier wheels have a greater moment of inertia and their spinning takes away energy that would otherwise contribute to the speed of the car. A standard wheel has a mass of 3.6 g, but this can be reduced to as little as 1 g by removing material from the inside of the wheel. A raised wheel can reduce the rotational energy up to one-quarter, but this advantage is less with a bumpy track.

A proper lubricant, typically graphite powder, is essential. Wheel alignment is important both to minimize wheel contact with the axle head and body as well as to limit the contact between the wheels and guide rail as the car travels down the track. The center of mass of a typical car is low and slightly ahead of the rear axle, which helps the car track straight as well as providing a slight advantage due to the additional gravitational potential energy.

See also

Woodcar Independent Racing League

Down and Derby – a 2005 film centering on a pinewood derby competition

References

^ “Best Mother-Son Finish”. Reader’s Digest. 2006. http://www.rd.com/cub-scouts-pinewood-derby-race/article.html. Retrieved 2008-02-29.

^ “The Pinewood Derby”. National Scouting Museum. http://www.bsamuseum.org/exhibits/derby/index.html. Retrieved 2008-02-29.

^ “The History of Pinewood Derby Car Racing”. Pinewood Pro. http://www.pinewoodpro.com/pinewood-derby-history.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-29.

^ Bogert, John (July 9, 2008). “Scouts Honor Memorial Set for Creator of the Pinewood Derby”. Daily Breeze (Los Angeles Newspaper group). http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_9834624. Retrieved 2008-07-11.

^ Pinewood Derby Car Construction
^ “The Dark Side: eBay Cars”. Pinewood Derby Times. http://www.maximum-velocity.com/pinewood_derby_times_v5_i3.htm#feature. Retrieved March 18, 2007.

^ “Revell Pinewood Derby”. http://www.revell.com/pinewood-derby/index.html. Retrieved 2009-12-16.

^ “Search of Trademark Application and Registration Retrieval system”. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=76447146. Retrieved 2007-03-02.

^ “Pinewood Derby Race Rules”. ShapeNRace. http://shapenrace.net/racerules.html. Retrieved 2008-11-23.

^ Cowley, E. Roger (November 1989). “Pinewood Derby Physics”. The Physics Teacher (American Association of Physics Teachers) 27 (8): 610612. doi:10.1119/1.2342889.

^ “Five Keys to Pine Derby Performance”. Maximum Velocity. http://www.maximum-velocity.com/fivekeys.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-26.

External links

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of

How To Build a Pinewood Derby Car

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pinewood derby

Pinewood Derby at the Open Directory Project

v d e

Boy Scouts of America

Organization

Boy Scouts of America Cub Scouting Boy Scouting Varsity Scouting Venturing Sea Scouting Order of the Arrow National Eagle Scout Association

Learning for Life

Exploring Explorer Search and Rescue Fire Service Exploring Law Enforcement Exploring

Advancement and recognition

50-Miler Award Advancement and recognition Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Eagle Scout Honors and awards of the Order of the Arrow International Activity Patch Merit badge Ranger Award Ranks in the Boy Scouts of America Religious emblems programs Silver Antelope Award Silver Award Silver Beaver Award Silver Buffalo Award Silver World Award Spirit of the Eagle Award Square knot insignia William T. Hornaday Awards World Conservation Award Young American Award

Leadership training

Kodiak National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience National Youth Leadership Training Powder Horn Seabadge Troop Leadership Training Venturing Leadership Skills Course Wood Badge Youth Protection program Youth Staff Development Course

People

Chief Scout Executive National president

Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award Eagle Scouts Recipients of the Silver Buffalo Award

Daniel Carter Beard William D. Boyce Carroll A. Edson E. Urner Goodman William Hillcourt Ernest Thompson Seton Unknown Scout James E. West

Events

Camporee Klondike derby Operation On-Target Order of the Arrow national events Project COPE

Pinewood derby Raingutter regatta Space derby

National Scout jamboree

Other

Uniform and insignia Trail’s End popcorn

Boy Scout Handbook Boys’ Life Scouting Epsilon Tau Pi Tribe of Mic-O-Say History History of merit badges

Scouting in popular culture

Issues

Membership controversies Coalition for Inclusive Scouting Scouting for All

Barnes-Wallace v. Boy Scouts of America Boy Scouts of America v. Dale Cradle of Liberty Council v. City of Philadelphia Curran v. Mount Diablo Council of the Boy Scouts of America Evans v. Berkeley Randall v. Orange County Council Welsh v. Boy Scouts of America Winkler v. Rumsfeld Wrenn v. Boy Scouts of America Yeaw v. Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act Support Our Scouts Act

Councils and regions

Central Region Southern Region Western Region Northeast Region

Abraham Lincoln Council Alabama-Florida Council Alameda Council Alamo Area Council Alapaha Area Council Allegheny Highlands Council Allohak Council Aloha Council Andrew Jackson Council Annawon Council Anthony Wayne Area Council Arbuckle Area Council Atlanta Area Council Baden-Powell Council Baltimore Area Council Bay Area Council Bay-Lakes Council Black Hills Area Council Black Swamp Area Council Black Warrior Council Blackhawk Area Council Blue Grass Council Blue Mountain Council Blue Ridge Council Blue Ridge Mountains Council Blue Water Council Boston Minuteman Council Buckeye Council Bucks County Council Buckskin Council Bucktail Council Buffalo Trace Council Buffalo Trail Council Burlington County Council Caddo Area Council Calcasieu Area Council California Inland Empire Council Calumet Council Cape Cod and the Islands Council Cape Fear Council Capitol Area Council Cascade Pacific Council Catalina Council Cayuga County Council Central Florida Council Central Georgia Council Central Minnesota Council Central New Jersey Council Central North Carolina Council Central Wyoming Council Chattahoochee Council Chehaw Council Cherokee Area Council (Oklahoma) Cherokee Area Council (Tennessee) Chester County Council Chicago Area Council Chickasaw Council Chief Cornplanter Council Chief Okemos Council Chief Seattle Council Chippewa Valley Council Choctaw Area Council Cimarron Council Circle Ten Council Coastal Carolina Council Coastal Empire Council Colonial Virginia Council Columbia-Montour Council Concho Valley Council Connecticut Rivers Council Connecticut Yankee Council Conquistador Council Cornhusker Council Coronado Area Council Cradle of Liberty Council Crater Lake Council Crossroads of America Council Dan Beard Council Daniel Boone Council Daniel Webster Council De Soto Area Council Del-Mar-Va Council Denver Area Council Des Plaines Valley Council Direct Service East Carolina Council East Texas Area Council Erie Shores Council Evangeline Area Council Far East Council Five Rivers Council Flint River Council French Creek Council Gamehaven Council Gateway Area Council Georgia-Carolina Council Gerald R. Ford Council Glacier’s Edge Council Golden Empire Council Golden Spread Council Grand Canyon Council Grand Columbia Council Grand Teton Council Great Alaska Council Great Lakes Council Great Rivers Council Great Salt Lake Council Great Sauk Trail Council Great Smoky Mountain Council Great Southwest Council Great Trail Council Greater Alabama Council Greater Cleveland Council Greater New York Councils Greater Niagara Frontier Council Greater Pittsburgh Council Greater Saint Louis Area Council Greater Western Reserve Council Greater Yosemite Council Green Mountain Council Greenwich Council Gulf Coast Council Gulf Ridge Council Gulf Stream Council Hawk Mountain Council Hawkeye Area Council Heart of America Council Heart of Ohio Council Heart of Virginia Council Hiawatha Seaway Council Hiawathaland Council Hoosier Trails Council Housatonic Council Hudson Valley Council Illowa Council Indian Nations Council Indian Waters Council Inland Northwest Council Iroquois Trail Council Istrouma Area Council Jayhawk Area Council Jersey Shore Council Juniata Valley Council Katahdin Area Council Keystone Area Council Knox Trail Council La Salle Council Lake Huron Area Council Las Vegas Area Council Last Frontier Council Lewis and Clark Council Lincoln Heritage Council Lincoln Trails Council Long Beach Area Council Longhorn Council Longs Peak Council Los Angeles Area Council Los Padres Council Louisiana Purchase Council Marin Council Mason-Dixon Council Maui County Council Mecklenburg County Council Miami Valley Council Mid-America Council Mid-Iowa Council Middle Tennessee Council Midnight Sun Council Milwaukee County Council Minsi Trails Council Mississippi Valley Council Mobile Area Council Mohegan Council Monmouth Council Montana Council Monterey Bay Area Council Moraine Trails Council Mount Baker Council Mount Diablo Silverado Council Mountaineer Area Council Muskingum Valley Council Narragansett Council Nashua Valley Council National Capital Area Council NeTseO Trails Council Nevada Area Council North Florida Council Northeast Georgia Council Northeast Illinois Council Northeast Iowa Council Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Northern Lights Council Northern New Jersey Council Northern Star Council Northwest Georgia Council Northwest Suburban Council Northwest Texas Council Norwela Council Occoneechee Council Ohio River Valley Council Okefenokee Area Council Old Colony Council Old Hickory Council Old North State Council Orange County Council Ore-Ida Council Oregon Trail Council Otschodela Council Ouachita Area Council Overland Trails Council Ozark Trails Council Pacific Harbors Council Pacific Skyline Council Palmetto Area Council Patriots’ Path Council Pee Dee Area Council Penn’s Woods Council Pennsylvania Dutch Council Piedmont Council (California) Piedmont Council (North Carolina) Pikes Peak Council Pine Burr Area Council Pine Tree Council Pony Express Council Potawatomi Area Council Potomac Council Prairielands Council Puerto Rico Council Pushmataha Area Council Quapaw Area Council Quivira Council Rainbow Council Redwood Empire Council Revolutionary Trails Council Rio Grande Council Rip Van Winkle Council Rocky Mountain Council Sagamore Council Sam Houston Area Council Samoset Council San Diego-Imperial Council San Francisco Bay Area Council San Gabriel Valley Council Santa Clara County Council Santa Fe Trail Council Scenic Trails Council Seneca Waterways Council Sequoia Council Sequoyah Council Shawnee Trails Council Shenandoah Area Council Simon Kenton Council Sioux Council Snake River Council South Florida Council South Plains Council South Texas Council Southeast Louisiana Council Southeast Wisconsin Council Southern New Jersey Council Southern Sierra Council Southwest Florida Council Southwest Michigan Council Stonewall Jackson Area Council Suffolk County Council Susquehanna Council Suwannee River Area Council Tall Pine Council Tecumseh Council Texas Trails Council Theodore Roosevelt Council Three Fires Council Three Rivers Council Tidewater Council Transatlantic Council Trapper Trails Council Tri-State Area Council Tukabatchee Area Council Tuscarora Council Twin Rivers Council Twin Valley Council Utah National Parks Council Ventura County Council Verdugo Hills Council Virgin Islands Council Voyageurs Area Council W. D. Boyce Council West Central Florida Council West Tennessee Area Council Westark Area Council Westchester-Putnam Council Western Colorado Council Western Los Angeles County Council Western Massachusetts Council Westmoreland-Fayette Council Winnebago Council Yankee Clipper Council Yocona Area Council York-Adams Area Council Yucca Council

Categories: Racing sports | Boy Scouts of America | Scouting events | Toy cars and trucksHidden categories: Pages containing cite templates with deprecated parameters

Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/fundraising-articles/pinewood-derby-2994642.html”

(ArticlesBase SC #2994642)

xxyxy –
About the Author:

I am a professional writer from China Quality Lighting, which contains a great deal of information about electric shaver ratings , rc car simulator, welcome to visit!

]]>

Rate this Article

1
2
3
4
5

vote(s)
0 vote(s)

Feedback
RSS
Print
Email
Re-Publish

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fundraising-articles/pinewood-derby-2994642.html

Article Tags:
electric shaver ratings, rc car simulator