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User Panel
User Panel
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Posted: 1/21/2006 2:33:03 PM EDT
[#1]
depends on how far they are rolling and how steep the hill is. if it is a pretty long run the heavy kid is going to get some more speed
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Posted: 1/21/2006 2:36:27 PM EDT
[#2]
skinny wheels
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Posted: 1/21/2006 2:42:37 PM EDT
[#3]
My vote says the heavier driver/car setup will travel farther, faster.
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Posted: 1/21/2006 2:43:18 PM EDT
[#4]
Go to Max allowable weight--preferably with lead (if legal) low under the chasis of the car.
Remove as much wood as possible to give the smallest cross section (aerodyamics). Lube (Dry Graphite) the wheels as well as possible--if allowable use bearings. Take the wheels and shave the edges down to limit the amount of contact on the track. (Assuming all the above are legal & safe for track conditions). AFARR |
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Posted: 1/21/2006 3:01:03 PM EDT
[#5]
Go with spikey wheels, and just take out the competition, a-la-nelson
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Posted: 1/21/2006 7:03:16 PM EDT
[#6]
Go to Max allowable weight--preferably with lead (if legal) low under the chasis of the car.
Remove as much wood as possible to give the smallest cross section (aerodyamics). Lube (Dry Graphite) the wheels as well as possible--if allowable use bearings. Take the wheels and shave the edges down to limit the amount of contact on the track. (Assuming all the above are legal & safe for track conditions). AFARR Uh, AFARR, that is good advice about PINEWOOD Derby cars... but this is SOAPBOX Derby. You know, big boxy cars the kids sit in and coast downhill. It's OK, we understand. You probably missed your nap today. We forgive you. 
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Posted: 1/21/2006 7:10:49 PM EDT
[#7]
Largest, skinniest wheels possible. To reduce rolling resistance.
Max possible weight, because the lighter the car, the more easily air resistance can slow it down. (Breezes) Smallest frontal cross section possible. Longest body and wheel base possible. I never was in a soapbox derby. But in a PINEWOOD derby, well, that episode probably scarred me for life. My involvement in my car was that I brought the kit home. My brothers and my parents did EVERYTHING ELSE. I was maybe eight years old and I was pissed. I got my revenge when the car..which was absolutely the best looking of the bunch, to be sure.... rolled in dead last and dragging anchor. It must have been two full seconds behind the next slowest car. How odd that I was glad that my car had LOST...but it wasn't really my car now, was it? CJ |
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Posted: 1/21/2006 7:14:09 PM EDT
[#8]
Heavier driver. More weight translates to more force acting against (all things being equal) the same amount of wind resistance. This should be more significant than any added rolling friction. A fast runner might mike up the difference though.
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