10 Tips and Tricks to a Fast and Cool-Looking Pinewood Derby Car

There are stacks of books and loads of articles on how to build the fastest Pinewood Derby car out there, so we wanted to compile a few of our favorite tips!

1. Bake your block
2. Max out your weight at the regulation 5 ounces
3. Use all of the graphite 
4. Sand and polish your wheels and axles
5. Check alignment
6. Spend time sanding
7. Use a high-quality paint
8. Add decals
9. Mount headlights, taillights, and running lights
10. Use floor wax and shine to a high-shine finish

Baking your Pinewood Derby wooden block helps to remove the moisture so that you have more wiggle room to add extra weight at the end. Remember, every little bit of weight in the right place makes a difference! Bake it in the oven at 250° for about 2 hours. 

Yes, it may take more time and effort, but those extra couple of ounces have proven time and time again that they make a difference. Place all of the weight you can about an inch in front of the rear axle. The closer the weight to the back, the faster your car will roll (but you don’t want it too far back, or your car will be popping a wheelie). For a more aerodynamic build, have a drill and a spade drill bit on-hand to put your weight up and into the bottom of your car. Various weight types are available, and I have also seen pennies used!

Dry lubricant is usually allowed but check with your local Pinewood Derby Race committee. Coat it everywhere – all over the axles, where the wheels touch the axles, on the car itself, where the wheel can touch the car—everywhere.

You can use a mini file to remove any major ridges on the axles because we all know that the less friction, the faster the car! For best results, mount your wheels onto an electric drill so that you can polish at a higher speed and reduce the likelihood of adding accidental imperfections.

If you want to get in-depth with this, and it is not against your pack’s rules, adjust your car to allow it to ride a rail – this is better than your car bumping back and forth between bumpers. Another way to pick up speed is to ensure that your car has a true straight alignment. Level one, just run your car down a level surface and ensure it doesn’t pull one way or another. Level two, use an Axle Press Tool to ensure straight axles. You can also glue your axles to ensure there is no wiggling out of place – just make sure not to get glue anywhere near your wheels!

Scout Shop is Your One-Stop Shop for Pinewood Derby Gear!

The smoother your car is, the more friction is reduced and the faster your car can slice through the air. Start with a coarse grit, move to a medium grit, and finish with a fine grit. It is helpful to wrap the sanding paper around another block of wood for better grip and to help prevent the addition of unwanted dips in your car. You can also up the ante by wet sanding the car after the first coat of paint (so primer, then paint, then wet sand). We have used 1000 grit ultrafine carbide sandpaper. After this, proceed on with painting the rest of your coats! 

I have found the most amazing paints. The Testors Enamel Paint Set has AMAZING coverage, plus a great shine. The Testors Glow-In-The-Dark Paint Set and the Testors Fluorescent Paint Set are also awesome options. The KEY to the best coverage and results: START WITH A GOOD PRIMER! Especially if you are using the Glow-in-the-Dark or Fluorescent paints. The next tip on painting is to use a wide sponge to paint. It creates a much smoother surface.

Use a credit card to press out all of the air bubbles, and then seal everything in with a clear gloss paint. Be sure to check to make sure it won’t curl your decals first! You can test it off to the side by sticking a decal to a piece of plastic and spraying it with the gloss paint.

With black lights and glow-in-the-dark races being the next big thing for Pinewood Derby races, adding headlights, taillights and under-mounted glow lights will look so cool!

You do need to make sure that your coats of paint are completely dry before you do this (think about a week). This final coat will make your car extra glossy and even more aerodynamic!

Most importantly, give yourself the gift of TIME! We all know Pinewood Derby season starts soon, and so there is no harm in getting a head start in building! Allow yourself and your Cub Scouts the space to make mistakes and start again if necessary – plus, it is a great lesson in time management for them (and let’s be honest, for adults too!)

Happy racing, you speed demons!