Boy Scouts to release thousands of pages highlighting abuse

[JoltinJoe]

Hey Hen, I'm doing this right now, and I'm going to plagiarize your successful design. I'm not sure what you mean by "six of the weights were drilled through and place over the rear axle."

Do you mean you drilled over the rear axle -- on the sides of the car ... three on each side?

Two holes were drilled all the way through from side to side. These were drilled over the rear axle. They sort of look like two fuel doors on each side, if you want to equate it to a real car. Does that make sense?

Then we put three cylindrical weights (I think 1/2 oz each) in each of the holes, centered as best as possible, and glued in. Then put wood putty over the holes after the glue dries and sand to the best of your ability.

Here's a closeup. The other hole is obscured by the wheel:

Ah, got it.

Nothing beats a visual aid!

[93henfan]

Remember that graphite is your best friend. Make the conks angry and apply liberally.

Seriously, when you get done with the car, spin one of the wheels before applying graphite and count how many seconds in spins. Then put on the magic powder and try it again. It's cool. Every wheel on my kid's car will spin at least ten seconds before stopping.

And that reminds me, the trickiest part of the whole deal is installing the wheels; namely getting the axles as parallel to the ground as possible. It's pretty nerve-racking, IMHO. You'll get it eventually though. There are tools you can buy online that will align your wheels perfectly, but we just winged it.

[JoltinJoe]

Yes, I already tried installing the wheels and I can see there is some art to it.

Drilled the holes last night! Today I'm going to get an electronic scale to weigh the wood block before I start work. Looks like you can safely lop off about 3/8 inch with a saw before you need to start cutting more carefully. But I don't want to do that until I weigh the block I have.

Thanks for your help, Hen.

[93henfan]

A couple of notes on scales:

1. Staples allows returns!
2. I suggest a scale with two decimal place readout. With single, you'll know when you get to 4.9 oz, but you'll wonder how much more you could get away with. A tenth of an ounce will make a difference. You want to get to 4.99 if you can.

[Grizo406]

What does it cost to put a race competitive car together?

[93henfan]

What does it cost to put a race competitive car together?

Kits are $10. The most expensive thing for us was four cans of spray paint. If you return the scale, no reason you can't keep it well under $50.

[Grizo406]

What does it cost to put a race competitive car together?

Kits are $10. The most expensive thing for us was four cans of spray paint. If you return the scale, no reason you can't keep it well under $50.

Thanks for the info, 93!

Took my 6 year old grandson to a Kid's Fair yesterday, and one of the local Boy Scout Troops were doing these races. They were a lot of fun to watch, and my grandson seemed interested.

What was the most fun to watch were the parent's reactions...pre/post race!!

I'm suggesting to my daughter and SIL that they get my grandson into this for selfish reasons...so I can watch the various parents, and their reaction!

It's a freakin' hoot, and that kinda' entertainment is hard to find!

[93henfan]

I double-checked. Official BSA Pinewood Derby kits are $3.99.

The official site is pretty cool. Wish I'd seen this before we started.

http://www.pinewoodderby.org

[D1B]

Kits are $10. The most expensive thing for us was four cans of spray paint. If you return the scale, no reason you can't keep it well under $50.

Thanks for the info, 93!

Took my 6 year old grandson to a Kid's Fair yesterday, and one of the local Boy Scout Troops were doing these races. They were a lot of fun to watch, and my grandson seemed interested.

What was the most fun to watch were the parent's reactions...pre/post race!!

I'm suggesting to my daughter and SIL that they get my grandson into this for selfish reasons...so I can watch the various parents, and their reaction!

It's a freakin' hoot, and that kinda' entertainment is hard to find!

Drumroll.................................................




Grizo's 2013 Pinewood Derby Racer

Nice one!

[JoltinJoe]

Ok, Hen, I have finished the wood cutting.

The car weighs 1.75 ounces without wheels/axles. Sound right to you? Thanks.

[93henfan]

Ok, Hen, I have finished the wood cutting.

The car weighs 1.75 ounces without wheels/axles. Sound right to you? Thanks.

Sounds good so far. You can always add more weight.

[93henfan]

Raingutter Regatta

First time I've heard of it. I got an email from our den leader that it's going on in June. Apparently it's the nautical version of pinewood derby. Something about balsa wood sailboats.

Anyone done one of those?

[andy7171]

Den Leader? When did they stop being called Den Mothers?

[93henfan]

Den Leader? When did they stop being called Den Mothers?

Whatever the fuck she's called. It's a chick.

[andy7171]

Holy shit Mr. Cranky!

[93henfan]

Holy shit Mr. Cranky!

Be quiet, God damn it.

[JoltinJoe]

Raingutter Regatta

First time I've heard of it. I got an email from our den leader that it's going on in June. Apparently it's the nautical version of pinewood derby. Something about balsa wood sailboats.

Anyone done one of those?

We did this last year. We found instructions on the net to turn the sailboat into a catamaran, and they tend to be faster than the ordinary boats (Check and see if this is allowed, because some Packs don't allow you to modify the boat this way).

But there are really too many variables -- most notably your son's lung capacity. The contest involves the sailboats heading down a rain gutter filled with water, with your son blowing air onto the masts through a straw to cause the boat to move. Ultimately the bigger kids with the bigger lungs win.

[JoltinJoe]

Race day, Hen.

We finished second. Got nipped in the finals by a car that weighed in at .02 ounces more than us. He was right at 5.0; ours was 4.98. Beat us in four straight heats by inches (they ran the four finalists on each of the four lanes, so that no one would have an advantage if one lane was better than others.

Before that race, we had won every heat we were in.

That little weight made all the difference. Cars had similar designs, etc.

Still, there were about 60 cars, so we had a great showing.

Appreciate all your help in making a memorable day for my son.

[93henfan]

Race day, Hen.

We finished second. Got nipped in the finals by a car that weighed in at .02 ounces more than us. He was right at 5.0; ours was 4.98. Beat us in four straight heats by inches (they ran the four finalists on each of the four lanes, so that no one would have an advantage if one lane was better than others.

Before that race, we had won every heat we were in.

That little weight made all the difference. Cars had similar designs, etc.

Still, there were about 60 cars, so we had a great showing.

Appreciate all your help in making a memorable day for my son.

Nice! We need to become consultants.

2nd of 60 is very impressive. Our pack race was only 30-some competitors.