Pack 98
Pinewood Derby
Car Check-in - Friday - Jan.24, 2009
7:45 - 9:00 pm
Race Day - Saturday - January 25, 2009, 8:45 am
For schedule by Rank - See Below
All at Crossroads North School Cafeteria
on Georges Rd.
Our Pinewood Derby is designed to give the Scouts a chance to use their skills to design and build a Pinewood car the way they want it . We encourage original design and craftmanship and award the Scout accordingly. We all know that boys between 7 and 11 years old are just learning how to use craftmanship skills - so there is no such thing as a 'bad looking' car.
Dad or Mom should help, but remember, this is our Scouts Pinewood Derby - so let them design, whittle and cut that block of wood into a great race car. This is a fun event that the boys will remember for years and years.
Below are the 'Official Pack 98 Pinewood Derby' rules and schedule. There are also some tips on how to build the car.Please note that in order for the scout to race - Scout Must Be Present to Race his car ,Pack yearly dues must be paid within one week of the event- so if you didn't get your yearly dues in yet - do it now.
Do what you can to make the block of pine look something like a car or whatever other design you prefer. Sand it as smooth as you can get it. Don't worry, the shape of the car doesn’t matter that much in the overall scheme of things. Although, a low profile is always good.
This is the most important part and the hardest part. It requires you to use an electric drill. You should really get Dad or Mom to help you with this one.You must remove the flashing from the wheels and burrs from inside the head of the axles. It has to be done very carefully so as not to ruin a wheel or axle. Or hurt yourself.
Polish the Axles. Polish the Axles. Polish the Axles. Use fine grit sandpaper then finish with jeweler's rouge.
Place the car body, wheels and axles on a scale add weight until it reads 5 oz. Drill out the car body and stuff in the weight. Place the weight low and toward the rear of the car. Cover the area with wood filler. Sand it smooth.
Spray on sandable primer. Let it dry overnight then lightly sand it with a fine grit sandpaper. Do that 3 or 4 times. Then spray on your favorite color. Use Krylon paint. Other brands of spray paint will run or orange peel and take forever to dry.
Place the wheels on the axles. Put some graphite on the axle and in the wheel bearing surface. Spin the wheel on the axle. Do that to each wheel and axle again, again, an again. When you get tired of doing that, do it one more time.
Now, push the wheel and axles into the slots. Don’t push ‘em to far, leave about a sixteenth of an inch (maybe a little more) between the wheel and car body. If the car rolls only on three wheels, so much the better.
Make sure the car rolls straight. If it doesn't - align the 'axles' accordingly. This is most important . If the car doesn't go straight it will rub against the track lane guide and slow it down.
If you need some help building your car, Howard- a Pack 98 Dad and owner of
Planet Pets on Rt.27, is willing to help you out.
Howard runs Pinewood Work Shops usually on Sundays but he has offered help for Den's by appointment.
Call (732) 951-8500 for more info or to book a particular date.
