First Car Build

(Disclaimer: this is my first post here!)

Back story: Our local gym is hosting a fun pinewood derby for all members. My daughter is only just about to turn 4, and too young to really take part, so she 'helped' me put this one together. We don't plan to take the award since I don't count it as being built 100% by her. Basically, she helped me sand it, sprayed some paint/lacquer, and helped place the gems.

The end result is a girly and fun derby car! Although it's our first attempt, I've tried to make a 3-wheel rail-rider, and to properly weight the vehicle with CoM 1" in front of the rear wheels. The body is a modified thin wedge. Axles lubed with basic graphite. I had to drill canted holes for the rear axles since the rules stipulated that I could not modify (bend) them in any way. Likewise, wheel are as provided, cannot be modified. I'm working on aligning the car, and I've noticed that one of the wheels spins for substantially less time when flicked by hand and it's pulling the car off center. Work continues!

 

Nice looking car. My daughter would love to make a car likes this. I am going to borrow your design idea.

Thanks for Sharing.

 

Love it, looks awesome. Great photos too

 

Beautiful car! Keep adding graphite and see if you can get that stubborn wheel to spin as long as the others.
I usually apply Graphite at least 3 times before a race with a few days and runs down the track in between. If you don't have a track you can use a treadmill (JK) No, you can do a lot of wheel spinning. If that stubborn wheel remains stubborn you may just have to bite the bullet and replace it.

 

Nice lighting and photography! Looks great

 

Nice looking entry! If you only have one crappy wheel, can you swap it to the raised position?