Winning at Pinewood Derby

I was not a Boy Scout but like most small boys (and big ones alike), I had an interest in the Boy Scout tradition of Pinewood Derbys. Now, this guy has developed what looks to be a fool proof method of winning a Pinewood Derby using physics (unless of course your competition also follows his method). One key:

Most of the hotshot fathers shaped their cars to look like formula one racers, low slung, aerodynamic. When the fork tangs were pivoted forward and down by the Starter, the low slung cars stood still until the tangs were nearly rotated 90 degrees.

My car was shaped like a landing barge, a funny sight to see:  A landing barge beating the formula one racers.

 

The landing barge shape meant that when the tang of the starting fork had moved 10 degrees my car was already moving and ahead of the low slung car, next to it. At 45 degrees my car was already .75 inches ahead of the opponent. Some of the heats were only won by .75 inches. The other guy must have done a good job with his wheels and angular momentum. Still, he lost because the beast will beat the beauty … if the physics is right.