Pinewood derby 1st place

texaswig

First year competing. Got first place. 

kl8ton

Congrats from a fellow 1st placer!

northGAcock

texaswig said:

First year competing. Got first place. 

The smile.

Sea2Ski

Fantastic.  I remember building my car.  My father guided me, but I had to do it all except melt and pour the lead in the body. I remember scraping graphite on sandpaper and applying it to the axles (nails)
His scale was inaccurate. We had to literally dig the lead out at the race. I think I came in third..... to last.  

Great times!! 

Botch

Sea2Ski said:

Fantastic.  I remember building my car.  My father guided me, but I had to do it all except melt and pour the lead in the body. I remember scraping graphite on sandpaper and applying it to the axles (nails)
His scale was inaccurate. We had to literally dig the lead out at the race. I think I came in third..... to last.  

Great times!! 

Damn, you sparked a few synapses here.  
My car was rough-cut on a scroll-saw, into an "ear-of-corn" shape (with a similar taper along the top).  I was a pretty good whittler even in my single-digits, sanded it smooth, and gave it a Zebra paint job ("Daktari" was on the TV at that time).  I got first place in "Appearance".  
Dad showed me how to file off the rough edges of nails, right below the heads (the "axles") and I rubbed a pencil lead against that surface (no sandpaper).  I came in 2nd, right behind Derrick "Cheater" S, who came in second in Appearance.  
I don't remember anything about adding weight, nor a scale at the race, but now I have no doubt that Derrick had a butt-load of lead in his sled.      
He became the Athletic Director for a major university.  
I eventually got a cubicle.     

texaswig

@Sea2Ski @Botch we used tungsten cubes for weight and balance the car at 1" in front of the rear axle. We kept it short of the 5 ounces on purpose just in case our scale wasn't the same as theirs. I found some tungsten Putty for a fast add to the car once we use their scale the day of the event. We also deburred the axles polish them. trued up the wheels. Polished the inside of those. Added a camber to the rear axles so the wheels wouldn't rub against the car. All the little things add up. 

lousubcap

My only claim to pinewood derby fame was challenging my son's Denmaster to a pinewood derby match race.  He had his sweet lookin ride all ready to go.  I brought in the box kit, attached the wheels (gave each a shot of graphite powder (the secret ingredient) and we raced.
The loser (aka second place car owner) had to wear a dress to the next pack meeting.  I did not lose and he did not wear the dress.  Fun times.