Pinewood Derby Speed Secrets

Once racers have mastered the thrill of building a Derby car, they might be ready to go on to David Meade's book Pinewood Derby Speed Secrets: Design and Build the Ultimate Car. Meade features the same photographer as the previous book and offers the same clear instructions as well as excellent advice. All instructions are within regulation, and the book is officially licensed by the Boy Scouts of America. The author notes that the "Pinewood Derby strengthens relationships, while promoting craftsmanship and healthy competition." The book begins with a brief history of the Pinewood Derby and quickly moves on to the car plans. These are not mere templates; they are aerodynamic discussions! Readers are told how to maximize potential energy, reduce friction, and reduce wheel inertia. And this is barely the beginning. Great detail is given to weight placement, wheelbase length, lubrication, and so much more. There are so many details and ideas that I never would have dreamed possible. It never would have occurred to me to sand inside a wheel bore, late alone taper an axle head to reduce friction. The author has thought of everything. And then he tested and retested and made certain he had the best possible methods mastered. The step

This last weekend my neighbor and his son (age 7) invited my son, Decker (almost 5), to come and watch his Cub Scout Pinewood Derby race. If you're not familiar with this event, the Cub Scouts host a race every year where the participants take a standard block of wood and four plastic wheels and turn it into a pure racing machine or something else. It's been over 30 years for me, but I still remember my dad taking me out into the workshop and helping me use his bandsaw and sander to carve up my own car, #87. It wasn't much to look at, but it was mine. It still sits on a bookshelf in my office as a reminder of not only the race but also the time I spent with my dad at a very young age, learning to use some basic woodworking tools. Decker isn't quite old enough yet for the Cub Scouts, but he absolutely loved looking at the 100+ cars sitting on display for the judges to examine and weigh. All cars must weigh less than 5 ounces, but racers try to hit as close to 5 ounces as possible because the weight of the car affects its speed when it is released on the downward