02
03
Pinewood Derby Stories and Photos from Maximum Velocity
04
05
15
16
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
31
32
33
34
I can use all the help I can get in my life. Sometimes the complications of work, family, friends, etc. can just be overwhelming. Books on time management, self-help, etc. may provide partial, short-term answers to some of life's questions. But I firmly believe that there is only one way to truly get the help you need.
In pinewood derby car racing, the car needs all the help it can get to streak across the finish line at top speed. And that help comes in the form of weight. As you probably know, setting the weight of the car to the maximum allowable amount provides a speed advantage.
This seems counterproductive, as physics tells us that friction increases with mass. It would seem that the more the car weighs, the greater the friction, thus the slower the car.
But this line of reasoning does not take into account the need for momentum. On tracks with a beginning slope followed by a long flat section, it is momentum which helps the car maintain speed on the straight section. So the reason that maximum weight is an advantage is that as the weight increases, the positive effect of momentum increases faster than the negative effect of friction.
To get the most advantage from weight, before the weigh-in set the weight of the car to just over the maximum amount. Then reduce the weight at the weigh-in. This can be beneficial in several ways:
Some races do not allow the addition of weight to an underweight car, but do allow overweight cars to be reduced to the maximum allowable weight.
The official scale may register a slightly different amount than the scale used to preset the weight of the car. Thus, a car set to the maximum amount prior to the weigh-in, may register underweight at the weigh-in.
Most digital scales are accurate to 0.1 ounce. Thus, a car weighing 5.04 ounces will likely register on the scale as 5.0. The extra 0.04 ounce may provide an advantage.
How do you weigh the car to preset the weight? Many post offices provide a scale for weighing packages. Also, private mailing centers (Mailboxes etc., Postnet, and others) may allow you to weigh a car on their scale. Your work location may also allow you to use a postal scale. Or you might just purchase a digital postal scale (Maximum Velocity offers a nice scale for pinewood derby use for a reasonable price).
Now lets tie these physics principles back to human life. We need momentum to win the race of life, and that momentum only comes from God's Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ as our savior, then God gives us his Holy Spirit.1 The Holy Spirit then guides us in our lives, and provides the power (momentum) for us to live victoriously.2
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV)
Do you want to live a victorious life? Then believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will have victory!
___
1Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV)
2But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13 (NIV)