Space Derby® Details and Useful Information

The Space Derby® is a great event to hold. It is very similar to the Pinewood Derby® but there are some very big differences. The Space Derby® vehicles travel very quickly along the wire and are just as difficult to judge as the Pinewood Derby®.  Our timer takes the pressure off the judges and provides the same race management capability.  The SmartLine Timer features link explains in detail all the options available for our timer. SpaceFinish3.GIF (47134 bytes)

 

The biggest difference is that the Space Derby® vehicles are actively powered. Each Space Derby® vehicle needs to be wound up before each race. This can consume a great deal of time and can significantly slow things down. The Space Ships are put under a fair amount of stress when wound up with 100 or more turns on their rubber band engines and sometimes fail under this stress.  We have included some tips in the Spaceship Construction page to ensure sturdy construction of your ship.  We feel it is important to have a pre-race registration/inspection night so that any problems with the vehicles are addressed before the race night.  

The same SmartLine Finish Line Timer that is used for the Pinewood Derby® can be used to time Space Derby® races too. As an additional option to the SmartLine Finish Line Timer, we provide the specially designed horizontal sensors for use with the Space Derby®. The track plans including plans to attach our finish line sensors are shown on the Space Derby® Track page with measurements included.  The Space Derby® Options contains a description of all the items we have for the Space Derby®.

A beneficial item to build is a "holding rack" for the Space Ships.  We have seen a wonderful design that integrates this rack right into the track or you may build it separately (like a sawhorse).  Here is an example:  
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Specially designed horizontal sensors -

The sensors we supply are a horizontal version of the sensors that we use for the Pinewood Derby®. There is one IR source/sensor pair unit for each Space Derby® lane. The sensors come pre-assembled and wired together with plugs to connect it to the SmartLine computer unit.

Build the track -

You will need to build the Space Derby® track as shown in the Space Derby® Track diagram.  Once you have the Space Derby® track built, you will need to add the finish line supports for the sensors. The supports are designed to be adjustable in height and each sensor can be adjusted to be centered on the fishing line used for the space ship track. The sensor wiring and the support design detailed on the Space Derby® Track diagram are made to fit the Space Derby® track described in the Cub Scout leader's manuals. If your Space Derby® track is based on a different design you will have to check that it is compatible. The specific areas to check are that the spacing between the lanes does not exceed ten inches. 

Add tab to carrier -

You will need to add a small vertical tab to the Space Derby® car carrier so that the sensors will be triggered. This tab passes through the sensor as the Space Car passes through the finish line. You may assemble the Cub Scout Space Derby® Track carriers and add the tabs yourself or you can order it pre-assembled with the tabs and an additional holder that is useful for winding and storing the fishing line.

Install start gate switch as in Pinewood Derby® -

If you desire the race times (as opposed to just places 1st, 2nd etc) to be reported to your race management software, you will need to install a starting gate switch. This is done in the same way as the Pinewood Derby® start gate.

 

Inspection and Registration Night

It is extremely important to have a required pre-race night inspection and registration. This gives you plenty of time to inspect the rockets and correct any problems that may occur.  Important points to check are as follows.

  • Check that the wire for the prop is bent so that it can't spin when wound up. We found that many of them were not bent properly.

  • It is helpful to warm up your rubber band by winding it in 50 turn increments and releasing after each winding until you have wound up to about 150 turns.  Our pack used about 120 turns for a race.  We think that more than 150 turns is too much and puts undue stress on the rubber band and rocket.  Test each entry by winding it up to the number of turns that you will be using on the race night. If the rocket "falls apart" or the rubber band breaks then there is still time to fix it if this is done on a registration night and not the race night.  

  • It is very beneficial to soak the rubber bands in two parts "GREEN SOAP", one part "GLYCERIN" and one part water.  Rub this mixture onto your rubber band at least an hour before racing.  You may also soak it overnight in castor oil.  You will probably find the green soap and glycerin at any hardware store.

  • Have extra rubber bands and extra prop assemblies.