Grampa Net

Along with other skills of Handwriting Analysis, Machining Techniques, and Genealogy, I have developed the skills to make Pinewood Derby cars faster.
     I am a grandfather now. My daughter and son-in-law have three beautiful
 children that are my pride and joy.  Of course, they call me Grampa.
       So, in my retirement, I am offering my knowledge, expertise and skills of Pinewood Derby improvements to anyone who has a need for them.  This may not only keep me active but supplement my meager retirement account by way of voluntary, unsolicited donations and contributions.  There are no fees, no price schedules, no sales, no discounts, etc.  But I would ask  that the shipping and handling costs and any materials costs be included with your requests,  with any additional funds you send to be considered as an unsolicited gift.

About 20 years ago a close friend asked for help with his son's Pinewood Derby car.  His son designed, painted and built the body of the car but needed to have the axles and wheels installed with the best equipment and procedures available for speed.  Also, he needed the weight of the car as close as possible to 5 ounces without exceeding that weight, even by only a tenth of a gram.  These two operations are THE most important and most difficult aspects of creating speed.  These operations are also extremely dangerous for a young person to accomplish because power tools are generally used.  The experience gained from that and many more helpful efforts over the years has given me knowledge of the tweaks that helps Pinewood Derby cars win.
      On the day of the race, all the fathers and kids were extremely excited and many were doing last minute adjustments.  Some fathers had not prepared in advance and were adding weights by taping pennies onto the bodies (some came off during the race sticking the car to the track!) A few were drilling holes and pounding in weights.  Others were just then putting the wheels and axles on the cars.  One father was on the floor using a hot-glue gun to add large weights to the underside into a pre-drilled cavity on a wheel-less body - only minutes before his race.
           My grandson was competing against 31 other Kindergartners.  The final four would have a four-heat race-off.  He never lost!  He won with very few close challengers (about 6 out of the 32 were real contenders).  Later in the day, the officials stated that if he had competed against the other grade levels, first through fourth graders, he would have beat them all.  (Electronic timers operated by a computer were used. His best time was 2.253 seconds.)
          Grampas efforts wouldn't have guaranteed my grandson a first-place finish but it would give him a better chance at winning.  We even prepared him for what to do if he lost or won - good sportsmanship, etc.  He was really proud standing on the winners platform in-between the second- and third-place winners.  He will never forget this adventure (nor will Grampa!).

Here are the steps to take:

1-  You Build the Body.   Design is what you do (an enjoyable, creative and fun experience!). You shape, sand, and paint the body of the car the way you would like it to look while sticking to any limitations in your rules. Leave the bottom (underside) as flat as possible and the width (1 ¾�) at the axle areas the same as when supplied in your kit.  Shape it as streamlined as possible  aerodynamics affects about 10% of the speed results. 
      Hint — 10% of maximum speed is in its shape and design,  30% in weight and 50% wheels/axles. ( Okay, I know that doesn't equal 100% because, 10% of winning is LUCK and everyone has an equal chance at luck ;-) 
     Although design affects speed, a very small improvement in aerodynamics might mean thousandths of a second in time.  The difference between first and second place may be as little as one or two thousandths of a second!   (0.001)

2-  Weight - is something you could do, or Grampa� could do. Although time-consuming, tedious and somewhat difficult to do correctly, you can add the weights if you wish, preferably nearer the rear.  The usual weight limit is 5 ounces (141.747 grams). 
Or - Grampa can add the weight, but only if you request it.  If so, it would be very helpful to me if you could supply the weights (limited retirement funds!) that can be purchased from hobby stores, or, send additional cash to cover my costs of buying weights.  In your car design, allow enough room or wood thickness for the addition of weights.

3-  Send the body, along with the other hardware (axles, wheels, etc) and rules, in a secure, durable container. The shipping container needs to be durable enough to survive being shipped back to you with a fragile vehicle inside. (Grampa will only tweak to your organization's rules and your "Special Instructions"� requests.  If you don't send the rules, I will need to make to the most restrictive rules, which may drastically limit its speed. Send to:


4 - Also send inside the box  funds (in cash) to cover return shipping costs with any additional amounts you include considered as an unsolicited gift to Grampa's retirement. (please, no checks, charge card numbers or stamps). Cars cannot be returned if sufficient Shipping Funds are not included.  Be sure to include any "Special Iinstructions"  (see next page). 
   
5  - Allow plenty of time for shipping - both ways - plus 3-4 days of tweak time.