Pinewood Derby Wheels Q&A

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Pinewood Derby Wheels Q&A

Are lighter wheels faster? Why?
Lighter pinewod derby wheels tend to be faster. This is because a certain amount of energy is required to start the pinewood derby wheels rolling when the starting pin drops. Lighter wheels require less energy to start rolling, so cars with light wheels get a jump at the starting line. Lighter wheels also allow the car builder to focus the car's weight at the desired location, instead of spreading it around the car.

Why and how do you cone the wheel hub?
Coned hubs provide less contact with the car body and the contact is focused close to the axle. Both minimize the braking that occurs when the wheel contacts the car body. Hubs can be coned with the Pro-Hub Tool.

What are Awana, PineCar, RA, and Royal Ranger wheels?
Although Cub Scouts is the largest group that sponsors pinewood derby races, there are many other organizations which have similar races. Awana is a church-based group that has an Awana Grand Prix. The Awana kit is similar to the Cub Scout kit, but the wheels are made of different plastic (softer and lighter), and the axles and blocks are slightly different. PineCar is the major distributor of pinewood derby-like kits in hobby and craft stores. The PineCar kit is very similar to the Cub Scout kit, but the wheels are different (heavier, with see through spokes). Similarly, RA's and Royal Rangers are church-based groups that have pinewood derby style races, but again the kits are slightly different.

Where can I find wheel specifications?
Wheel specifications can be found Here

Are some mold numbers of BSA (Cub Scout) wheels better?
Yes, there is some variation in the Cub Scout wheels. Some molds tend to produce better wheels, so if you are preparing your own wheels then you may want to select one of the better mold numbers. If you are purchasing machined wheels, then the mold number differences are largely eliminated.

How do I order wheels with a particular mold number?
Click Here for information on the different Cub Scout mold numbers. Then, on that page, scroll down a little for ordering information.

I used the sandpaper that came with the PineCar Wheel mandrel on the wheels, and it made the tread worse. What material should I use?
Unfortunately, PineCar supplies sandpaper that is much too coarse for wheels. So, use the PineCar sandpaper on the car body, and instead use 600 or 800 grit wet sandpaper for the tread surface.