Top times on Best Track 49 Foot

[tjwatc]

A bunch of us were standing around our Pinewood Derby track and were talking...

We just had finished another Pack Pinewood Derby and the questions was asked...

What was the fastest time today? For our 49 foot Best Track with electronic timer.. standard BSA rules with the exception of extended wheelbase... was 3.6311 seconds. So we began to wonder.. what is a good time and a great time on this type and length of track?

Can we reach 3.5, 3.4??? Just wondering if anyone had any information on what were great times, or if we are even close.


Thanks, any information would be greatly appreciated...

[Speedster]

I think it would be difficult to reach 3.500 with stock wheels and axles. We know a car can travel 36'10" (42' Best track) in 2.961 seconds (not stock wheels and axles). A car travels 43' 10" on a 49' Best track which is another 84". Roughly, the car has .54 seconds to cover the 84". I've heard many different times, but let us assume the car will continue to travel 1.5 inches in .01 of a second which means it will travel about 81" instead of 84". I look forward to others opinions.
An easy way to get an accurate answer is to have Greg Dawes run his 2013 Mid America car down your 49' Best Track.

[FatSebastian]

An easy way to get an accurate answer is to have Greg Dawes run his 2013 Mid America car down your 49' Best Track.

Given the distance between them, I would not have characterized that way as "easy"!

[whodathunkit]

Can we reach 3.5, 3.4??? Just wondering if anyone had any information on what were great times, or if we are even close. :

After doing some internet surfing on various Cub Scout web sites:
some of the times I'v seen posted so far..
For a 49 foot best track is 3.4772
The web site did not say if the car was running with stock wheels & axles or not.

However I did find a web site saying:
That most stock cars.. will run with an 8 run average of about 3.800 sec.
occasionally some will run in 3.7000 sec range.

But also had on record:
A car that was useing only the official wheels and axles..
and was running 3.6402 with an 8 run average of 3.6690.

Bearing and razor wheels 3.4751 with an 8 run average of 3.4853.
Ducted fan car 2.200.

[Speedster]

Very interesting, Whoda. Thanks for finding that info.

[FatSebastian]

Very interesting, Whoda. Thanks for finding that info.

+1

what is a good time and a great time on this type and length of track?

As noted in this topic, "top times" for a given track vary depending on the type of triggering mechanism used, etc.