PINEWOOD DERBY

2011

The kit:

The Track:

First Pinewood Derby Car Race – Manhattan Beach Scout House, 1953

"I wanted to devise a wholesome, constructive activity that would foster a closer father-son relationship and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship through competition."

Don Murphy, Founder of the Pinewood Derby , 1953

First Pinewood Derby Car Kit Ad, 1955

SAMPLE CARS:

OFFICIAL PINEWOOD DERBY RULES

1. Width shall not exceed 2-3/4 inches.2. Length shall not exceed 7 inches.3. Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces.4. Axles, wheels, and body shall be from the materials provided in the

kit. Purchasing pre-made bodies is prohibited.5. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.6. Wheels may be painted and/or lightly sanded to smooth out molding

imperfections on the tread area. This light sanding is the only modification allowed. Beveling, tapering, or lathe turning of the wheels is prohibited.

7. No lubricating oil may be used. Dry lubricants only.8. The car shall not ride on any kind of spring.9. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting device or other type

of propulsion.10.No loose materials of any kind are allowed in/on the car; all

accessories must be glued!  

Race Rules

a) If a car jumps the track, the race will be run again. If the same car jumps the track a second time, that car will automatically lose that race.

b) If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the race will be run again. If the same car leaves its lane a second time and interferes with another car, the interfering car will automatically lose that race.

c) If a car becomes damaged and can be repaired in a reasonable amount of time (a few minutes), the race will be run again. If not, the damaged car will automatically lose that race.

INVESTIGATION:-videos:Birth of a sports car

Daily Planet,  "Automotive design: Past, present and future“

Pinewood Derby history and championships = numerous videos on Youtube

After learning about the history of Pinewood Derbies and automotive design,  you will go online and find at least 5 images of derby or real-life cars that inspire you.You will paste these images into your OneNote Design Journal (Investigate tab), and for each image state what you like/don't like about the design.

DESIGN:-3 drawings of car ideas, with different colour and decal choices (if any) for each.-FINAL design chosen and drawn from 5 different angles (top, side, bottom, front, back. Drawings may be done using Google Sketchup or your styus. Design Tips1. Draw a design on paper then cut it out and use it as a template. Graph paper works well. Draw a side and top view on the paper by tracing around the block of wood.2. Keep the car a full seven inches. It has to do with the physics of velocity and length of travel of the weights.3. Use the full 2 3/4 inches (outside wheel to outside wheel) that the rules give you. This will allow the wheels to travel farther before hitting the center strip.4. Leave a lot of wood in the back to put in the weights as needed.5. Use the groove closest to the end of the block of wood as the rear axle.6. Do not make the front of the car pointed. It is hard to set up against the starting dowels.7. Use your imagination. Be creative. Shape has the least to do with winning .

PLAN:While most of the creating will be done in class, you must plan your time accordingly.

Due to high demand for the saw, you must plan the # of cuts you have to make BEFORE booking it. Make sure to bring any accessories/parts you wish to add from home.

If special paint or decorating is required, you must account for that.

If building is not completed during allotted class time, you must finish it at home.

CREATE:Using the tools provided in class, shape your block of wood into a masterful display of automotive design and engineering!Once done shaping and sanding, you will paint your car and apply decals as needed.  DO NOT PUT WHEELS ON UNTIL YOU ARE DONE PAINTING.

*You must document your creation process with a series of at least 5 pics, showing the different stages of carving to painting.*

The Foreshadower

Wheel & Axle Hints1. Put the axle in at a downward (5-10 degrees) angle. This provides two benefits. The first is that only the inside edge of the wheel is in contact with the track. This seems to make the car go straighter with less wobble. The second benefit is that the wheel rides to the outside of the axle and doesn't come in contact with the body.

2. Axles must be in straight front to back. That is square to the body. True the axles, don't trust the slots!

3. After pressing in the axles, test the car for crooked wheels...roll it on the floor. If the wheels are on straight, the car should roll 8-10 feet in a fairly straight line. Should the car turn left or right, you need to tinker with the axle placement without removing them from the car body, until it rolls straight.

4. Do not put the axles in at the top of the groove. Put them in at the middle. This lifts the car off the track a bit more and reduces the chance of rubbing on the center strip.

5. Glue the axles in place. Nothing is worse than having the wheel fall off as you cross the finish line.

6. Once you match a wheel and axle together with graphite, keep them together. They wear into each other as a matched set.

EVALUATION:

-Google form:  self-evaluation on Design Cycle process

-race results

-OneNote Design Journal

-MYP task specific Rubric

7L Unit Timeline

Nov. 16 Intro21 Investigate24 Investigate/Design28 Design/Plan

Dec. 1 Create6 Create8 Create13 Create (paint) Cars done16 TEST track20 RACE MORNING