SPEED ……. SPEED ……. SPEED …….

1.      Understand and follow the rules. The fastest car can't win if it never gets a chance to race.

2.      Fast cars usually have a low profile that offers the least resistance to the air-stream. Characters (like Snoopy and Spiderman) and other excessive trim can slow down a car, even if just a little.

3.      Axles. File to remove burrs, moulding marks and production debris. Axles should be polished to provide a surface for the wheel to roll without restriction.

4.      Weigh the car to the maximum for it's class. The higher mass per volume helps overcome drag and friction. If your scale isn't extremely accurate provide an easy way to add or remove weight on race day. Try using wood screws with washers under them you so can add or remove the washers as necessary.

5.      Try putting the weight towards the rear of the car. It won't make a huge difference but then every little bit helps. The theory is that the higher weight pushes the car for a longer period of time.

6.      Ensure that your car is tracking straight. A car that bumps the lane guide more often gets slowed down more often. A "front-end alignment" may be necessary.

7.      Use a good dry lubricant. Dry graphite seems to still work better than the white Teflon compounds now available. Try them both and compare.

8.      Ensure your wheels roll smoothly and are not binding. A good test is to spin each of your wheels with your finger and let them run to a stop. It should take 20-30 seconds for well tuned and lubricated wheels to stop completely.

9.      Never, never, never roll your competition pinewood car on the ground, concrete or carpet. These rough and dirty surfaces can ruin the car's wheels, axles and alignment.

10. Be careful of axle modifications. Reducing the diameter of the axles can reduce the friction at the contact points and may increase speed but it will increase the chance of damage, loss of alignment and bending. This often happens when a car is dropped or even put down too quickly.