When you’re passionate about pinewood derby car racing, the quest for speed becomes an obsession. At Maximum Velocity, we understand this drive intimately. For years, we’ve been dedicated to helping enthusiasts like you craft the fastest cars possible. And it all started with a personal journey into the heart of pinewood derby, fueled by the desire to help kids succeed and a growing realization of the need for specialized tools.
People often ask, “How did Maximum Velocity begin?” or “What do you actually do selling pinewood derby cars?” The answer is intertwined with the evolution of pinewood derby car tools and our commitment to providing racers with the resources they need to achieve maximum velocity. Let’s take a look at our history and the tools that have become central to our mission, and even step inside our facility for a virtual tour.
The Genesis of Maximum Velocity: A Pinewood Derby Story
My first encounter with the pinewood derby was, to be honest, less than inspiring. My son was six, and the project felt like just another parental duty. We built a car – nothing special, light on weight at 4.9 ounces, and lubricated with a simple drop of silicone oil. Looking back, even that basic lubrication hinted at the importance of minimizing friction, a principle now deeply embedded in our tool development.
Image alt text: A snapshot of Maximum Velocity’s founder’s first pinewood derby car, illustrating humble beginnings and the start of a journey into pinewood derby optimization.
That first car wasn’t a speed demon, but the unusual race format offered a surprising outcome. After initial races to determine age group winners, remaining cars were re-raced for second and third place. As the event stretched on, many kids, including my son’s competitors, left for the night. Against a dwindling field, his car secured third place. He was ecstatic, and I was, admittedly, relieved and somewhat intrigued.
The following year, my enthusiasm grew, but a poor choice of lubricant led to disappointing results for both of my sons involved. Feeling responsible, I vowed the next year would be different. This commitment sparked a period of research and experimentation that would eventually lead to Maximum Velocity’s focus on performance and the tools necessary to achieve it.
In that pivotal third year, our cars performed much better thanks to improved techniques. I also volunteered at the car check-in, adding weight to cars using melted lead. The experience was stressful – dodging burns, worrying about car damage, and dealing with parents desperate for that extra fraction of an ounce. It became clear there had to be a better, more controlled way to optimize car weight, hinting at the future need for precision weight tools.
By 1997, I convinced our club leader to shift weight addition to the parent-child teams. To support this change, I created a pamphlet of speed tips. This early booklet, the precursor to “Speed to the Finish,” marked our first foray into sharing knowledge and techniques crucial for achieving maximum velocity. Over the next two years, this booklet evolved, taking shape into the comprehensive guide it is today, reflecting our growing expertise in pinewood derby car optimization.
After the 1999 race, a friend suggested offering the booklet online, as internet retail was emerging. In late 1999, www.maximum-velocity.com was launched, with the speed tip booklet as our sole product. Sales were modest that first year, but enough to signal the market potential for resources dedicated to pinewood derby speed and performance.
In 2000, we expanded our offerings to include “Car Plans” and “Advanced Car Plans” booklets. 2001 saw the introduction of automatic downloads and a range of weight products. The business began to solidify, driven by the increasing demand for information and materials to build faster pinewood derby cars.
Up to this point, Maximum Velocity was a part-time venture run from our home by my wife Elisa and me. I was telecommuting, but a potential company relocation forced a decision. After careful consideration, we chose entrepreneurship. Serendipitously, this coincided with Bill Launius (DerbyWorx) developing his groundbreaking Pro-Hub Tool, quickly followed by the Pro-Axle Press and Pro-Body Tool. These innovative tools, alongside car kits and other products, propelled our first full-time season (2002-03) to success, followed by an even stronger 2003-04 season. The advent of specialized pinewood derby tools was a turning point for us and the hobby itself, allowing for greater precision and performance.
Realizing the need for more space, we initially considered a larger house. However, a commercial space became available, perfectly suited to our growing needs. In the summer of 2004, we moved into our current facility, a testament to the growth of Maximum Velocity and the increasing demand for specialized pinewood derby car tools and resources.
A Virtual Tour of Maximum Velocity HQ: Where Pinewood Derby Dreams are Built
While Maximum Velocity is primarily an internet-based business, our facility in Peoria, Arizona, functions as a bustling shipping and operations center. Walk-in visitors are always welcome to experience the heart of our operation.
Image alt text: The front entrance of Maximum Velocity’s facility, showcasing inventory racks and the packing area, highlighting the scale of operations for fulfilling pinewood derby tool and supply orders.
Upon entering, you’re greeted by racks overflowing with inventory and our busy packing area, complete with a large packing peanut dispenser. During peak pinewood derby season, this area is a hive of activity, staffed by dedicated full and part-time employees ensuring that racers receive their tools and supplies promptly.
Image alt text: A view from the front door looking into Maximum Velocity’s bulk storage area, revealing shelves stacked with boxes and packing materials, essential for efficient order fulfillment of pinewood derby products.
Beyond the packing zone lies our bulk storage, housing boxes of inventory and packing materials. This organized space ensures we have ample stock to meet the demands of pinewood derby enthusiasts nationwide.
Image alt text: A close-up of a half-used pallet of pinewood derby car blocks at Maximum Velocity, emphasizing the large volume of raw materials used in producing their popular MV Basic Car Kits.
Here’s a glimpse of a half-used pallet of blocks for our MV Basic Car Kits. The sheer volume of blocks illustrates the popularity of our kits and the scale of our production. We go through a lot of wood in our quest to provide racers with quality materials!
Image alt text: Maximum Velocity’s testing area featuring a 35-foot BestTrack and a 32-foot Freedom track, alongside a wheel alignment board, demonstrating their commitment to product testing and performance validation.
Near the right wall, you’ll find our testing area, featuring both a 35-foot BestTrack and a 32-foot Freedom track. This setup allows us to rigorously test our products and car designs. You can also see a wheel alignment board, crucial for ensuring cars track straight and achieve maximum velocity.
Image alt text: Shelves displaying pinewood derby car models, kids’ cars, boats, and spaceships at Maximum Velocity, showcasing the creativity and diverse range of pinewood derby projects.
To the right of the entrance are shelves showcasing car models from our plan booklets, alongside our kids’ personal cars (minus a few at home!). Boats, spaceships, and even propeller-driven cars also find a place here, demonstrating the breadth of pinewood derby creativity.
Image alt text: A Taig lathe in Maximum Velocity’s workshop, highlighting its role in precision wheel work and axle polishing, essential for minimizing friction and maximizing car speed.
To the left of the entrance is our lathe area. My favored Taig lathe is perfect for precision wheel work and axle polishing. These processes are vital for reducing friction and maximizing car speed, and specialized tools like this lathe are essential for achieving top performance.
Image alt text: A MicroLux lathe in Maximum Velocity’s workshop, formerly used for speed wheel and axle production, now reserved for occasional specialized tasks due to its feed control feature.
The MicroLux lathe, previously used for Speed Wheel and Axle production, now sees occasional use for tasks benefiting from its feed control. While we now contract out some machining, having these lathes in-house reflects our deep roots in hands-on production and tool development.
Image alt text: Maximum Velocity’s fully equipped wood shop, featuring drill presses, saws, sanders, and a dust collection system, illustrating the capacity for in-house production of pinewood derby car kits and components.
Our wood shop is equipped with three drill presses, a band saw, a dual-bladed table saw, and various other woodworking tools, including a CNC router (not pictured). This is where all our car kits are produced, ensuring quality and precision in every component we offer. These tools are not just for production; they represent the core of crafting high-performance pinewood derby cars and the tools we provide to our customers.
Essential Pinewood Derby Car Tools for Maximum Velocity
While our history and facility offer context, the real focus for racers aiming for maximum velocity is the tools. Over the years, we’ve curated and developed a range of tools designed to optimize every aspect of pinewood derby car construction. These tools empower builders to achieve precision and performance that was once unattainable.
Axle Preparation Tools:
- Pro-Axle Press: Ensures axles are perfectly straight and consistently inserted, crucial for minimizing wheel wobble and friction.
- Axle Polishing Kits and Lathes: For achieving a mirror-like finish on axles, dramatically reducing friction and increasing speed.
- Pro-Axle Guide: Assists in precisely inserting axles straight into slots or holes, eliminating binding and ensuring smooth wheel rotation.
Wheel Optimization Tools:
- Wheel Mandrels and Lathes: For truing and латуниing wheels, ensuring roundness and concentricity for optimal rolling performance.
- Wheel Polishing Kits: To polish wheels to a high shine, further reducing friction against the track.
- Wheel Bore Polishers: For smoothing the inner bore of the wheel, minimizing friction against the axle.
Car Body and Weighting Tools:
- Pro-Body Tool: For creating pilot holes for axles, ensuring accurate axle placement and car alignment.
- Weight Drilling Tools: Specialized drill bits and tools for precisely adding and adjusting car weight, optimizing weight placement for speed.
- Alignment Tools: For checking and adjusting wheel alignment, ensuring the car tracks straight and maximizes velocity.
These tools, and many others available at Maximum Velocity, are not just accessories; they are essential for achieving the highest levels of performance in pinewood derby racing. They represent our commitment to providing racers with the means to unlock maximum velocity.
Pinewood Derby Car Showcase: Examples of Speed and Design
The creativity and ingenuity within the pinewood derby community are truly inspiring. Here are a few examples of cars that showcase both design flair and, we hope, the application of performance-enhancing techniques and tools.
Dick Dastardly’s Mean Machine: Frank Tonra
Image alt text: Frank Tonra’s “Dick Dastardly’s Mean Machine” pinewood derby car, a whimsical pace car inspired by the Wacky Races cartoon, demonstrating creative design and craftsmanship.
Frank Tonra’s “Dick Dastardly’s Mean Machine,” inspired by the classic cartoon, is a fantastic example of design creativity. Frank builds this pace car annually to test the track, ensuring smooth racing for scout cars. While design-focused, even cars like this benefit from precise construction and attention to detail, principles reinforced by using quality pinewood derby tools.
Mustang: Rylan Darr
Image alt text: Rylan Darr’s Mustang 2+2 pinewood derby car, a Gulf Ridge Council winner, showcasing meticulous detailing and craftsmanship in replicating a classic car design.
Rylan Darr’s Mustang 2+2, a Gulf Ridge Council winner, exemplifies dedication to detail. Built in 2005 to resemble his dad’s car, Rylan’s Mustang showcases impressive craftsmanship. While described as not being the fastest, the effort invested in design often mirrors the dedication required to optimize for speed – both benefiting from precision and careful construction, often aided by specialized tools.
A Pinewood Derby Memory: Lessons in Preparation and Perseverance
John Thomas’s story of the 2007 Pinewood Derby perfectly captures the frantic, yet rewarding, nature of the event. His narrative highlights the common last-minute rush and the crucial role of preparation.
The story of Benjamin’s broken wheel and the last-minute repair with superglue is a testament to perseverance. While luck and quick thinking played a part, imagine if they had used precision tools to ensure perfect axle alignment from the start! Proper preparation, including using quality tools and techniques, can minimize risks and maximize performance – and reduce last-minute stress.
Q&A: Your Pinewood Derby Tool and Velocity Questions Answered
Is there any way to keep axles straight when inserting them, other than using a hammer?
Yes! Avoid hammers entirely. For axle slots, use the Pro-Body Tool to create pilot holes and then the Pro-Axle Guide to press axles in straight. For axle holes, ream slightly with a #44 drill bit if needed, then press axles in using the Pro-Axle Guide. These tools ensure straight, consistent axle insertion, critical for maximum velocity.
Someone mentioned “dipping the body” in epoxy for strength and paint base. Is this recommended?
Epoxy coatings can harden the body, minimizing dings and creating a smooth paint base by sealing wood pores. Hobby shops offer suitable products, often used in R/C airplanes. However, use in well-ventilated areas with breathing protection due to toxic fumes. While not directly speed-enhancing, a smooth finish contributes to overall car quality.
Why does your wheel mold number chart change yearly?
Wheel molds do wear out and are replaced periodically. This results in slight variations in wheel characteristics from year to year, hence the chart updates. Understanding these nuances can be beneficial for serious racers seeking every edge in performance.
Want More Answers? Do you have pinewood derby questions, especially about tools and speed optimization? E-mail us your questions!
Final Thoughts: Tools for the Pursuit of Speed
Our journey at Maximum Velocity began with a simple desire to help kids succeed in pinewood derby. It evolved into a passion for providing enthusiasts with the knowledge, resources, and, most importantly, the tools to achieve maximum velocity.
From humble beginnings to our current facility, our focus has always been on helping you build the fastest pinewood derby cars possible. We believe that using the right tools, combined with knowledge and dedication, is the key to unlocking peak performance and experiencing the thrill of victory on race day.
If you’re ever in the Phoenix area, please visit us! Explore our range of pinewood derby car tools and let us help you on your quest for maximum velocity.
Randy and Elisa Davis, Owners of Maximum Velocity
