Pinewood Derby Tips?

PizzaFace asks: "My son and I have to start building his first Pinewood Derby racer, and I'm looking for tips. I've found conflicting advice online about even the basic science (e.g. high vs. low centers of gravity) so I'm hoping to tap into some of Slashdot's expertise." Might someone have some pictures of cool designs that might useful as a starting point?"

Comments

Gravity

[isorox]

(e.g. high vs. low centers of gravity)

Remember gravity isnt instantaneous, it travels at between 0.7 and 1.2 times the speed of light. This may affect your plans.

Wacky source of advice, all things considered.

[billn]

Slashdot readers will look at a pine derby car and wonder if they can cut a window in the side and add neon lighting.

Conflicting advice?

[larien]

I've found conflicting advice online about even the basic science

So you decided to come to Slashdot for even more...

Re:Woodworking with kids

[WoodenBoy]

The biggest challenge to all three of these is to make sure the boys, not the fathers, do the bulk of the work.

One year, my dad was too busy to help me with any aspects of the car. He had decided that using stop watches to time the races was archaic(early 80's). He got ahold of the track, rigged up the starting gate with a switch, photosensors at the finish line, and built out a breadboard to report each lane's time.

I finished last.

But my time was accurate to 1/100 second.

body kit

[jpsst34]

Just add to your racer a huge freakin' spoiler, lowered front and rear bumpers, low profile tires, and open the exhaust. Then give it a multi-color paint job, preferably using at least one neon color. Finally, write something in chinese or using a kung-fu font across the top of the windshield. It may not win, and it may scrape it's bottom on the ground, but it will surely impress everyone who sees it. I know I'm impressed when I see those fast 'n furious four-bangers that sound like big go-karts zooming from McDonalds to Dairy Queen and Back.