Workshop idea: build the derby car, have props, motors, batteries, etc, in 3 hours. Lunch, where they can tweak the designs. Have the races.

Post : Winning a no holds barred pinewood derby
URL : http://hackaday.com/2012/09/05/winning-a-no-holds-barred-pinewood-derby/
Posted : September 5, 2012 at 8:01 am
Author : Brian Benchoff
Tags : pinewood derby
Categories : toy hacks

http://hackadaycom.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/derby.jpg

Every year, [ilektronx] and a few other guys get together and compete in a 'no holds barred' pinewood derby for kids of all ages. Of course this results in an immense amount of engineering to push a wooden block with wheels down a track, and [ilektronx]'s car is no exception. He won the competition with electronics from a remote control airplane (http://ilektron-x.blogspot.com/2012/09/winning-jet-powered-pinewood-derby-car.html) bolted on to a piece of wood.

The electronics for [ilektronix]'s build are pretty much what you'd find in any small electric RC plane: a cheap transmitter / receiver combo sends commands to an ESC which powers a small brushless motor with a small LiPo battery.

Like all good pinewood derby cars, the success of [ilektronix]'s entry relied on the overall design. The wooden chassis cleverly hugs the raised guide in the track, and the slight downward angle of the propeller keeps the car from popping a wheelie when it is released from the starting line.

You can check out a video summary of the pinewood derby competition after the break. Also shown are a few of the other derby cars, including an amazing futuristic tank entry built by [Ken Cook]. [Ken] spent the better part of a year on his build, and the amazing detail of making his own tank treads by hand made him a shoe-in for the winner of the 'style' competition.

Read more of this post (http://hackaday.com/2012/09/05/winning-a-no-holds-barred-pinewood-derby/#more-84301)

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