pinewood cars

So my priests and I thought it would be really cool to have a pinewood derby race for combined mutual one night. I got to looking and the cheapest I could get a car kit for was $2.86 on line, for 50 cars that would be around $140. That is kind of pricey for a mutual activity. So I decided I could make them for cheaper, both in price and quality....hehehehehehe. He is what I came up with, Regulation size cars cut down from 2x3 lumber, 3/16th fender washers for wheels and 1" roofing nails for axles. These seem to roll pretty good on the floor, almost as well as my official pinewood derby cars. We will see when I get them on the track.

Here are my 50 kits ready to hand out. Each car was weighed and marked, the weights ranged between 3.3 ounces and 4.1 ounces. I grouped them in 4 categories, 3.3 ounces, 3.7 ounces, 3.9 ounces, and 4.0 + ounces. The heavier ones I will hand out to kids that want to do some carving. The wheels, spacers, and axles weigh 1.5 ounces. The kits cost about $0.82 per car, that makes it with in my price range for an activity.

Here is one of the cars assembled before body selection begins.

This is my demo car to show the young women and young men.

I will let you know how it turns out.