AY Honors/Pinewood Derby - Advanced/Answer Key
1. Have the Pinewood Derby Honor.
2. Know the Pinewood Derby race regulations for your district, area, or conference.
NOTE: Many conferences have special Pinewood Derby events and the rules may vary as to length, weight and wheels.
3. Be aware of the following:
a. Cars shall not ride on any kind or type of springs.
b. No loose materials of any kind are allowed in or on the car.
c. Official number must be clearly marked and visible.
4. Review tool safety.
Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Tool Safety
5. Know the various ways to prepare and finish your project:
a. Sanding wood
b. Filling holes
c. Sealing new wood
d. Coloring wood
e. Gloss finishes
f. Enamel finishes
g. Stain finishes
h. Wax finishes
i. Acrylic finishes
j. Water colors
k. Leather look on wood
A leather look on wood can be achieved by applying two colors of a water-based paint as well as a polyacrylic clear coat. These are the steps:
- Dampen the surface of the wood to raise the grain of the wood and let it dry for half an hour.
- Sand with 180 grit sandpaper.
- Paint with the first color of water-based paint. Apply two coats if desired.
- When the paint is dry, apply a layer of polyacrylic gloss clear coat. This is to keep the next color of paint from blending with the previous color.
- When the clear coat is dry, apply a coat of the second color using a water-based paint.
- After a few minutes, blot this coat with a plastic bag to reveal the color beneath in places.
- After the paint dries, lightly sand with 320 grit paper.
- Apply a second layer of the polyacrylic clear coat.
l. Decoupage
m. Forged foil
6. Know the principle meaning of friction and how it can effect the performance of your car.
7. Know the three best ways to reduce friction on your car.
a. Axle lubrication
b. Aerodynamic design
c. Smooth finish
d. Proper wheel/axle clearance
e. Reduce wheel shaking
8. Know the three theories of weight distribution and how it could affect the performance of your car.
9. Design and build to completion the following (not previously built):
a. Basic car kit with complete exterior finish
b. Deluxe/fancy car kit with complete exterior finish and decals
c. Be creative by building one of the following: tank, submarine, airplanes, piano, ice cream sandwich, fire engine, vege-link, school bus, baby carriage, and etc.
10. Use details on your project such as steering wheel, driver, decals, and etc. as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specification.
11. Participate in a club, district, or conference sponsored Pinewood Derby event with a current car.
12. Define and practice good sportsmanship as it relates to your Christian walk.
While building and racing a pinewood derby car your Christian walk may be tested. If someone needed help on their design, did you help? If you are having trouble cutting your own car, did you accept help? Did you clean up your work area so the next person had a clean place to work, or so the staff didn’t have to clean up after you? Did you have to wait a while to use some of the tools? Being patient isn’t always easy.
Jesus was a Carpenter…………Jesus may have spent many hours in a wood shop……I wonder if He helped Joseph,…..design, transfer the design, clamp the wood, cut the wood with a saw, file, sand smooth, paint, assemble. I wonder,…..how many tools did Jesus know how to use, that you just used yourself? I wonder………………..
Note: If you are planning to participate in a conference Pinewood Derby event be sure you use the correct specifications from your conference because some use different specifications than listed above.
