How to Make a Pinewood Derby Car

From the earliest days of cub scouts, derby car races have been a highlight for many boys. And, in the case of the adults who can't forget the glory days, it continues to be the source of excitement for dad's either racing their own cars or helping their boys make their first car.

Things You'll Need

• derby car kit
• drill and bits
• jig saw
• Dremel and bits

Instructions

Go Derby Car, Go!

1. Draw your basic design on a piece of paper. You can get several ideas by doing an image search for "derby cars", or by looking at real cars, toy cars, or images from your own imagination. The key is to make it sleek , light, and fast.

2. Draw with a pencil the chosen design across the wooden body of your car. Make sure both sides or even and equally formed.

3. With a jig saw, cut out the basic shape.

4. Use a Dremel, a lightweight drill with special attachments, with the sander, router, or rotary attachments to fine tune and smooth out the cuts, make the curves sleek, and add minute details.

5. Attach the lead or weights. Depending what types of weights your kit includes, you may have to melt the led into a pre-drilled hole or nail in a weighted sheet to the top or bottom of your car.

6. Nail the wheels into the pre-made slots, adding plenty of graphite powder to make them turn fast. Make sure they are straight, though, and that they do not rub up against the body of the car as this will only slow the car down.

7. Use a flat board or piece of plywood as a test ramp and experiment with where the weight is placed on the car, testing speed and stability.

8. Use your dremel to burn or cut a design into the hood of the car or on the doors.

9. Give it a name and paint it to look like a professional race car. If you don't win, at least you will look good as you tumble down the track toward the finish line.

10. Have fun, especially if you are helping your sun make one.

Tips & Warnings

• The laws of aerodynamics apply to derby cars, too, so experiment with how thin and smooth you make the car and curves. Every second gained counts. You can always make it smaller, so start bigger.