Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

General topics of interest to racers and race coordinators alike.
Post Reply
jpswensen
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:11 am
Location: Pullman, WA
Contact:

Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

Post by jpswensen »

We were discussing in lab the other day that it might be really fun to have a pinewood derby race for Engineering Week here at the university where the rules are changed drastically. In fact, the winning car would be the car that takes the longest to cross the finish line. However, if you don't cross the finish line then it does not count (e.g you get a time of 0 seconds).

What do you think?
User avatar
gpraceman
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 4926
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2003 12:46 am
Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
Contact:

Re: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

Post by gpraceman »

Many have run such a race, either calling it a "Turtle" or "Best Gas Mileage" race.
Randy Lisano
Romans 5:8

Awana Grand Prix and Pinewood Derby racing - Where a child, an adult and a small block of wood combine for a lot of fun and memories.
jpswensen
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:11 am
Location: Pullman, WA
Contact:

Re: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

Post by jpswensen »

Nice! Thanks for telling me the name of it.
User avatar
Stan Pope
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 6856
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2003 7:01 pm
Location: Morton, Illinois
Contact:

Re: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

Post by Stan Pope »

So, what are the rules? Are you allowed to include linkage to a high inertia rotating mass, for instance?
Stan
"If it's not for the boys, it's for the birds!"
jpswensen
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:11 am
Location: Pullman, WA
Contact:

Re: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

Post by jpswensen »

We were thinking of having the same weight, size, wheel base requirements as the stock (in-the-box) rules, but allow anything beyond that. I am going to research the various "turtle" rule sets.
User avatar
Darin McGrew
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 1825
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:23 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN
Contact:

Re: Crazy alternate pinewood derby rules: longest time wins

Post by Darin McGrew »

The turtle races I've seen have used the same rules as the regular races. The only difference is that the award is for crossing the finish line last rather than for crossing the finish line first. (And that implies that you do have to cross the finish line.)
Post Reply