pinewood derby car

[69keith]

For the last two years, My son and I have not run that good at the derbys. I have done everything I knew to do.--polished axle-trued the wheels- center balance of the car 3/4inch in front of rear wheels-car weight 5oz-extended wheel base-$40 paint job. Does anybody have any speed secrets I'm missing???
Thanks
Keith

[CHRIS67]

I put a paper clip that extended 3" above the front of the car that would rest upon the starting pin. When the gate is dropped your car would start rolling before other cars that contact the pin lower on the vehicle. It's worth a few thousandths of a second. Also round the base of the car to allow less contact between the wheel hub and the body. Graphite the side of the car where the axle can touch the body. Sand the wheel hub to a cone shape and polish with graphite and put the wheels in a mandrel, sand the "tread" for less rolling weight, and polish the "tread" with graphite.

That help?

[69keith]

Our pack does not allow the quick start front ends. The hubs were coned and axles aligned and everything graphite coated.

[amx2334]

this years car. would this be considered illegal? the total length is 7".
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/211080171-1.jpg
some of the later races they actually ran it backwards by mistake. slowed it down by .04 sec. we weren't in the top heap so I just let it slide.Didn't want to be "that guy".
Dang graphite gets everywhere.

[69keith]

Yes it would be illegal only because of the wheelbase is extended.