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How to Make a Fast Pinewood Derby Car

SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult to help with tools you haven't used before.

Packs nationwide are gearing up for their annual Pinewood Derby. There are a variety of ways to make your Pinewood Derby car go faster. Explore the following tips to optimize your car’s performance and gain a competitive edge in an upcoming race.

BASIC GUIDELINES FOR PINEWOOD DERBY CAR DESIGN

The possibilities are endless when it comes to picking a shape for your Pinewood Derby car. Before you begin, consider the following general guidelines:

Avoid Pointed Noses: A pointed nose will make it difficult for your Pinewood Derby car to rest on the pin at the starting gate. It may also cause your Pinewood Derby car to get bumped around when the pin drops, and it can create problems for electronic timing systems at the finish line.

Weight Distribution: Leave ample wood in the rear of the Pinewood Derby car so you can place additional weight there. Concentrate the majority of the weight in the rear for optimal performance.

Maximum Weight: Aim for the maximum allowable weight, typically limited to 5 ounces in most races. If your car falls short of this weight, strategically add coins or other weights to meet the requirement.

Clarity in Orientation: Clearly distinguish the front and back of your Pinewood Derby car. In many races, the race officials — not you — will actually place each Pinewood Derby car on the track. Sometimes the officials put the Pinewood Derby car on the track backward because they can’t tell which end is which.

Aerodynamic Design: Select a design that facilitates smooth airflow over and around the Pinewood Derby car body. Pinewood Derby cars with aerodynamic profiles go faster.

See photo galleries of hundreds of Pinewood Derby car designs.


10 STEPS FOR DESIGNING AND BUILDING YOUR PINEWOOD DERBY CAR

You don’t have to strive for the fastest Pinewood Derby car to have fun competing in your Pinewood Derby. But if you and a helpful adult are willing to put in the extra time and effort, these tips are for you.

1. Bake the Block: Start your Pinewood Derby car project by baking the wood block at 250 degrees for two hours. This removes moisture and lightens the block, allowing you to place more weight at the rear of the car where you actually want it.

pinewood-aero

2. Crafting the Design: Outline your Pinewood Derby car on paper, cut it out, and affix it to the wood block.

Remember, a rectangular car is not an aerodynamic design. The most basic aerodynamic design is a simple wedge. If you don’t have time to design a complex car, a wedge will work just fine.

Download a Pinewood Derby car template PDF to help you create your design.

3. Rough Cut the Design: Use a coping saw or enlist the help of a responsible adult with a power tool to cut out the rough shape of your Pinewood Derby car.

4. Shape Your Car: Smooth edges and shape your car using sandpaper. An adult can assist with a rotary tool or other shaping tools.

5. Sand and Paint Creatively: Reduce friction by smoothing the car’s surface and paint an awesome design to make it look great.

How to paint your Pinewood Derby car to give it a shiny finish.

6. Axles and Wheels Alignment: Make sure they are aligned perfectly straight. You can test the alignment of your axles by pushing your car across a smooth floor or table. It should roll smoothly in a straight line.

— Consider a Three-Wheeler: Raise one wheel about 1/16 inch higher so it never actually touches the track. Less friction = more speed. Rules vary from pack to pack, so make sure to check your pack’s Pinewood Derby rules to make sure three wheelers are allowed in your race.

— Extend the Wheelbase: Maximize the distance between front and rear wheels. Again, make sure this is allowed in your race.

Learn about polishing Pinewood Derby axles and wheels to reduce friction.

7. Secure Axles with Glue: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don’t get glue on your wheels.

8. Strategic Weight Addition: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow. In general, it’s best to place weight to the rear of your car because a heavier rear increases speed.

Learn scientific Pinewood Derby speed tips from a former NASA engineer.

9. Use Graphite: Add graphite or another dry lubricant to reduce friction. The less friction between the body and wheel, the better.

10. Have fun! And finally, remember the most important rule of a Pinewood Derby is that it’s supposed to be fun. While you should always strive to do your best, don’t get caught up in winning or having the fastest car. Just enjoy the ride.

Adapted from the book “Pinewood Derby Speed Secrets,” DK Publishing, $12.95 softcover.


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74 Comments on How to Make a Fast Pinewood Derby Car

  1. 534543545454

  2. i think it might work,it sounds alright

  3. BLEH I NEVER LIKE LOSING

  4. aerodynamics have absolutely nothing to do with it.

    • that actually is not true. I lost miserably when I was a WEBLOS 1 and then I changed my design for WEBLOS 2 so there was very little air resistance an won by a long shot.

    • Aerodynamics are everything in a PWD race. If it’s just a block vs. an almost perfecly flat car, who do you think wins?

  5. My son ran a tank with a turit and gun barrel…the least aerodynamic car in the race….not only did he win, he blew everyone away…i think it was due to axle alignment and graphite lube

  6. i like it

  7. so cool

  8. good idea

  9. I LIKE TO PLAY

  10. put a hole through the middle tward the back! i set the track record 2 years in a row and got first over all 4 years in a row!

    (and never even seen the book)

  11. Aerodynamics have nothing to do with it. Last year we ran a block that was shaped like a Wii controller. It not only took the pack, it set the track record at District. It was not a 3-wheeler either. Build it how you want it, just make sure the axles are aligned.

    • I got 2nd place in council by puting lead on the would. One year my dad entered the parents race with a 3 wheeler.

    • While that may seem to make sense, its not really mechanically logical to say that- “my car wasnt areodynamic and won, therefore aerodynamics dont matter”….many things go into making a fast car, aerodynamics being a very small part, but a part none the less. Since you apparently had very well polished axels and a otherwise fast car, it was enough to overcome any slight advantage of aerodynamics. Thats not to say however, that your car wouldnt have been faster had it been more aerodynamic. Part of the fun of racing a car is in the build, and a basic wedge, though aerodynamic, isnt really that fun to build unless you are going strictly for speed. Its all about having fun!

  12. One year there was a car that looked like a fat pencil on wheels.

  13. Boilermaker // July 23, 2010 at 10:20 pm // Reply

    Remember to look at your Pack rules. Most do not allow any axel modifications like grooving, lathe turning,or extending the axels. You can use graphite to lubricate the wheels and polish the axels to remove any burrs but that is the extent of it. Anything else is cheating.

  14. this stinks

  15. And “that”, means your axels.

  16. To have the most speed, use grafite to do that.

  17. arodinamics

  18. Skinny Willy // July 2, 2010 at 12:03 pm // Reply

    you want the front thin and the rear fat.

  19. I won the derby 2 years in a row for the whole pack and didn’t use a book, but I used a “speed kit”. You can find one at most craft stores.

  20. Bear Scout // June 23, 2010 at 8:37 am // Reply

    its easy: me and my dad put graphite on the wheels(classic)and grooved the axils

  21. Bear Scout // June 23, 2010 at 8:35 am // Reply

    hey, ive won the pinewood derby 2 years in a row(for my den).This year was the first one that we an overall race for everyone(before it was just bear and webelos).I placed in last in the overall,and one guy went 10 miles faster than mine because of that book.I have in the past two years built a wedge.in the first year I broke the record for fastest time down.i probaly did around 50-100 percent of building the car. in my next comment ill tell you my trick to getting first in your den

  22. raptorkid1 // June 21, 2010 at 6:02 pm // Reply

    Make your car look cool and airodinamic. It has been proven that cool cars go faster!!!!!

  23. Hadn’t tired it

  24. Scout Mom // June 6, 2010 at 7:49 am // Reply

    To try and keep our dads from building the cars completely, our Den allows parents/siblings to build and race their own cars in the Derby as well. They are computed in a separate category and aren’t included in any finals but it gives dads a chance to race against each other and do what they want to do and hopefully allows them to let their scout run with their own ideas. Polishing the axels also works for speed.

  25. I can already see that shining 1st place trophy

  26. i race next week. i cant wait.my number is # 18.
    is that a good number?

  27. #18

  28. If you can find out how you shuld make 2 or more cars, I would like that

  29. making holes in your car can let air flow out the end and make your car go faster

  30. jjmanhipe // May 12, 2010 at 7:46 pm // Reply

    this stinks they only tell you how to BUILD IT!!!!!!!!

  31. cool kid2750 // April 19, 2010 at 7:52 pm // Reply

    3 wheels touching the ground only makes it faster slightly

  32. My pinewood derby design was modeled after the German Bobsleds, and has won four years in a row.

  33. I LIKE THIS.

  34. star lover // April 9, 2010 at 2:54 pm // Reply

    Next year I`m going to make a star wars car.The thing is that I always rub a pencil on the inside of my cars to make them go very fast

  35. I like the secrets of pinewood derbys

  36. there is a car in my pack that cheats. it is made of putty and has no pinewood

  37. last year[2009]i got to the finals

  38. 3 best in pack

  39. nice your breaking the rules

  40. I Love Fast THINGS.

    • Hannahrules14 // April 12, 2010 at 3:42 pm // Reply

      me too i,m in awana and we have the awana grand prix and i have won something every year except for 1st and i want to win 1st with the fastest car so that’s why i got on here i cant wait thank you

  41. Gopher Rich // March 29, 2010 at 3:03 pm // Reply

    We purchased the speed book and used most, if not all, of the tips in the book. After 2 years of placing 2nd (in one year by .006 seconds) – my son’s car came in first by .003 seconds. So, without the speed tips – we would have been in 2nd again. The great thing is that he is able to do the work all himself with my guidance.

  42. cool scout // March 26, 2010 at 8:24 pm // Reply

    I just had the pinewood derby. I would have done great with that

  43. it is great

  44. pokechimp88 // March 21, 2010 at 6:48 pm // Reply

    How many designs are there created so far in the U.S.?

  45. Your suggestions violate the rules in our area which state you must use the contents given to you in the box. You can add weights but cannot change the axle positions or widen the position of the wheels or use a wooden dowel or solid axles. Please check with your local Den. I think out Den is in error but they refuse to change.

    • Assistant Den Leader // April 10, 2010 at 12:05 pm // Reply

      I know it is frustrating but the pack can set it’s rules for the race. Our pack in Ohio has the same rules. You have to use the grooves for the axels and axels provided in the kit. Basically all the speed secrets are out.

  46. cool website

  47. silvermine // March 13, 2010 at 6:37 pm // Reply

    well im in webelos 1 and i got to see who wins

  48. silvermine // March 13, 2010 at 6:26 pm // Reply

    well doing a pine wood derby car is fun

  49. most boys cheated!

    • Yeah allmost every parent has this ego thing with the pinewood derby. One parent said “So I can build it and he can sand it? Why can’t I do the Whole thing?

  50. ricomanguy // March 6, 2010 at 4:48 pm // Reply

    We bought your book after we cut out the cars and didn’t have an areodynamic car at all. After reading through the book we did all of the wheel modifications and all of the axel modifications for the ultimate car, including grooving the axils.The car was heavy because we didn’t hardly cut out any wood, it was a coupe type car.Very little weight needed to be added to the back to be 5 oz. The car came in first place over 40 other cars, alot of them wedge type that looked very fast. So thank you for the book and I would pay close attention to the axel, wheel, lubrication sections.

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