Kub Kars

What are Kub Kars?

Kub Kar (yes, they are called Kub Kars, not Cub Cars) are small racing cars made of a block of pine wood and four wheels that Cubs shape and design into a custom car using saws, sandpaper and many other tools. The cars are then painted and raced at a regional event called Kub Kar Fun Day (KKFD) on tracks, three at a time to compete for trophies for speed and various design trophies.

During the building process they learn–under adult supervision—to use a variety of tools such as:

• Hand and power sanders

• Belt saw and hand saw

• Hammer, chisel and drill

Kub Kar Fun Day

Kub Kar Fun Day, often referred to as KKFD, is an annual event where Cubs from the region race their Kub Kars to compete for various trophies.

Specifications

Car measurement specifications

Overall width max 2 3/4 inches

Min. distance between inside of wheels 1 3/4 inches

Overall length 7 inches max

Clearance between body of the car and the ground min 3/8 inch

Weight max 142 grams or 5 ounces. You can check this with a kitchen scale. (Unless your child added extra design elements to their car it is under this limit by default but you want the cars as heavy as possible if you're going for the speed trophy)

Assembly: basics

As the wheels are nailed on be sure they are all as straight as possible sideways and up/down - this affects the speed of the cars greatly. Try to roll the car on a flat surface to confirm it doesn’t pull left or right.

Assembly: pro tips

Friction and weight have the most significant impact on speed. Heavier cars are faster so you may want to add extra weight, which could be metal pieces attached to the bottom. Drill or carve out a small area at the bottom and add small metal pieces with hot glue. Small zinc or lead pieces work well. But be sure there is enough clearance as per the spec above.

For even more optimized car performance this page has many good tips. The pro adjustments are completely optional; remember that the ultimate goal is to have fun with the build!