Northborough Cub Scouts from Pack 25 held their Pinewood Derby race at the Solomon Pond Mall on Saturday, March 2. The fourth graders in Webelos I Den 6 wrote the following article to describe their Pinewood Derby experience. Writing and submitting a newspaper article fulfills one of their requirements for the Communicator Activity Badge in Webelos.
To make the car we needed to use a kit that we got at the January Pack meeting. We also could use decorations, paint, and tools. There were rules about the length, width, and weight of the car. We needed these rules to make sure no one cheats and so everyone has an equal chance of winning.
After I decide on what shape I want my car to be, I draw the design and my dad cuts it on the saw. Some people cut more than others. Sanding is very useful for the car if you need curved sides. Sanding helps you curve an edge on your car. You don't always have to sand if you don't want curved parts.
The wheels are a very important part of the car. If the wheels don’t run properly, for example if they are stuck, the car will not run fast. So when you put the wheels on, you have to make sure the axles align straightly and the wheels run freely. I always add polished axles to the Pinewood Derby Car. Polished axles make cars run much smoother on the track, therefore you get a much better time. It reduces friction.
Painting is purely for aesthetics; it doesn’t do anything for the car. It just personally makes it look better. I always add at least three layers of the main color, one coat for a racing stripe, for example, and always one coat of gloss to make it shiny.
Gravity drives the car. Adding weight makes the car go faster. The weight limit is five ounces and you want to get as close as possible to it so your car can go faster. Before you start to add weight you should weigh your car so you know how much weight to add. When you put the weight on you should put it near the back so your car can accelerate faster than if you put it in the front.
Lastly, I always test my car. I attach a string to the front of the car and tie the other end to a treadmill to see which way the car leans. I adjust the tires to be just right.
We register our finished cars the day before the race. Our Pack held registration at the Northborough Fire Station this year. We register the cars so we can make sure they meet the requirements of the rules - the right size and the right weight, to make sure nobody cheats. Once we register the cars, they get put into categories so people can vote for the best car in each category. The categories are things like Best Paint Job, Most Colorful, Most Realistic, etc. Then the cars stay there until the races so they don't get lost or broken, so people don't forget them on the day of the race.
Racing is the best part. This is when you race against other people, and when you have an EPIC time seeing them race. The race works by four people racing at a time and you race four times. There are stylish cars, fast cars, slow cars, funny cars, etc. You are trying to go for first place all four times your own car goes. If you have the fastest car you can go to the finals [District-level race]. If you get there you will race against a ton of other Scouts. It’s hard getting to the finals. It’s EPIC to see your car racing against others.
Our Pinewood Derby was held at the Mall. The race track was set up outside of JC Penny’s and was ready for action when the Scouts and their families arrived for the start of the races at 1 p.m. This is fun because we can watch the races from above. Plus we got pizza afterward. Eating pizza is one of the most BOSS parts. Some scouts have their Pinewood Derbies in a school cafeteria.
The results were announced immediately after the race. Prizes were awarded for fastest cars and for craftsmanship. Scouts in each Den received first, second and third place trophies, and there were awards for Most Unusual, Most Realistic, Most Colorful, and Best Paint Job.
At the end of the car race, the race track is carefully disassembled, packed, and taken home, so it could be used again for the race next year. The people who got an award (or more) probably celebrated by going out and buying ice cream, going to dinner with their family, or spending a special time with their family.