Pinewood Derby Secrets Part 7 - adjusting wheels for straight run or rail riding

[@Deliriation]

Love the body shape and color. Wish there was a video showing how you painted it haha.

[@MadAustinite]

Thanks for all the info bro! Ive got my oldest's first pinewood derby scout race at the beginning of next month. I will definitely be using these tips.

[@MadAustinite]

My son ended up placing first in his Tiger den, and 4th in the entire pack! I have two younger sons as well, so it will be a long road of pinewood derby car building! Thanks again.

[@technicolorchristmas]

That's awesome! Glad we could help, it's always more fun when you can come home with a trophy!

[@markhalliar5440]

Great videos and very informative... just curious if you had any videos of the races and/or overall ET?

[@OxaudioPhilly]

Does it matter which way you drift it? Also, is it good to ride the back tires on the edges as if they were negative cambered to create less friction?

[@judsonkr]

My son's car set the track record in his pack with a rail-rider. I am sold on the idea. Unfortunately District was cancelled due to COVID so we did not get to see how it did against stiffer competition.

[@loud2ns]

You can send it in to NPWDRL. They have a scout class that would be a great way to see how his car stacks up. We race monthly. npwdrl.boards.net/

[@judsonkr]

@@loud2ns Sweet! Let me take a look. Thanks!

[@toddholiman26]

What steps do you suggest for those who aren't running tricycle races? One of the rules in the local race forbids three-wheel cars - all four wheels must be in contact with the track.

[@justinshorb2374]

Hi,Can you tell me if the rear axles on this car are bent or straight? Also is the rail wheel a bent axle or straight and if the wheel off the ground is a bent axle. I am trying to decide what to do with our car this weekend. Thank you!

[@technicolorchristmas]

For this car both rear axles are bent slightly, about a degree and a half, to encourage the wheels to ride against the nail head. You don't have to do this, our car this year ran straight axles on the rear and was one of the fastest cars we've ever built.

[@jasonkendziera]

How do you bend a front axle to adjust for toe? We're running a 3 wheel with 2.5" cantered reel wheels on an older wood edge track (no center rail). I want the car to run as straight as possible! Do I bend the axle on my DFW 1.5" as if I was making a rail rider?

[@technicolorchristmas]

The front axle bent essentially allows you to "steer" the car. You can use this to railride or just to fine-tune a car to run perfectly straight too. I use the axle bending tool linked in the description.

[@ckkendrick7861]

I dont understand, can someone please help, i got a derby coming up soon, i bent my 2 back wells 2.5 degrees and then put them on but how is the wheel suppose to rub on nail head when nail is bent, its always going towards the car, the wheel has to go uphill on the nail to rub on nail head, mine seems to stay down by the car body amd rubing there

[@masterscout44]

Hi, Is the front wheel fender shorted (made 1/8" thinner than the other side) to allow for the toed wheel to rub on the center rail and track bottom, thus allowing the rear wheels not to touch the rail nor needing canted? thx

[@technicolorchristmas]

We don't change the inside of the car, with the canted/towed wheel the wheel itself is going to ride on the end of the axle anyway. It shouldn't rub or touch the car ever.

[@TheBoyersWV]

Great videos! Will be using them to help us improve for next year's races. My son is wanting to build his car for next year similar to your red one. Do you use a template or just come up with your own designs? Thanks!

[@jeremym1172]

I know its an old post but, would it be more beneficial to use the raised right wheel to do the steering for rail riding? Just wondering if there would be less friction using the dead wheel as opposed to using a wheel already has friction from touching the track ?

[@thunder21x]

Uh no...the wheel has to touch the track for it to be able to steer the car.🤦🏼‍♂

[@eddiebesana]

Are the rear wheels on the straight runner canted?

[@technicolorchristmas]

Yes, it helps hold the wheel out away from the body.

[@pstkschmdt6455]

So all four wheels are bent to 1.5 degrees on the straight runner, or is the 4th wheel that doesnt touch bent to a different degree?

[@eddiebesana]

@@pstkschmdt6455 the wheel that's not touching doesn't need bending

[@pstkschmdt6455]

Our pack requires use of the stock slots for the axles, so can you get away without bending the non touching axle then?

[@eddiebesana]

@@pstkschmdt6455 Are you allowed to modify the stock slot to make it deeper? If so, then yes you can get away without bending the axle of the wheel that's not touching. I used an oscillating tool to deepen the slot then inserted the axle and wheel. I put a dab of liquid nails to make sure it stayed in place.

[@beef8302]

what did you place? did you go to regionals?

[@technicolorchristmas]

We took first in the pack, moving on to a regional race in March.

[@ebatt4707]

You will be lucky if your below a 3 in drift. If you're car wiggles down the track you don't have enough drift.

[@technicolorchristmas]

We ran this weekend, car ran a 2.48 second run on a 35' BestTrack and absolutely no wiggles. People often adjust these too much and end up with unnecessary friction on the rail.

[@wesleywasabileung]

PUPPIES

[@antsbelgium5086]

Wait what?

[@edospina97]

As of 2024, all 4 wheels need to touch the track. You can't have one elevated wheel.

[@LyleH-13]

says who?

[@edospina97]

@@LyleH-13 South Florida Council - Phoenix District scheduled for 2/25/2024

[@LyleH-13]

@@edospina97 that might be your individual unit or council having that rule. it's not a national rule.

[@Oxibase]

It varies unit by unit. My unit has had that rule for a long time.