How to Apply Weights to a Pinewood Derby Car

The Pinewood Derby is an annual event that Cub Scouts across the United States take part in. They design their own small derby cars from blocks of wood, attach the wheels, decorate them, and then race them against other Cub Scouts. There are set specifications for derby cars, one of them being a maximum weight of 5 oz. There are several steps you can take to add weights to your derby car to make it faster.

Things You'll Need

• Pinewood Derby car
• Pre-made weights from a Boy Scout store
• Bullet-shaped fishing weights
• Drill
• Drill bit
• Spare change
• Super glue or woodcraft glue

Instructions

1. Purchase pre-made weights from your local Boy Scout store, or order them online. (Follow the link in Resources.) These weights are a set 2.3 oz., have premade holes and include screws for easy installation. Simply drill the weights into the underside of your finished car.

2. Choose some bullet-shaped fishing weights, in a weight that is right for your car. You will need two weights; remember that you want to get your car as close to 5 oz. as possible without going over. So if your car is already 3 oz., you will want to choose bullet-shaped weights that are 1 oz. each. These can be found in the sporting-goods section of almost any store.

3. Drill two holes in the back of your Pinewood Derby car. Do not drill the holes on the underside of the car, but on the back, so the weights you will place there will resemble mufflers. Do not make the holes too large; you want the bullet-shaped weights to fit nicely within the holes, but have about half of the weight sticking out once glued into place.

4. Place some super glue or woodcraft glue into the two holes you have just drilled into the back of your car. Insert the bullet weights securely into place. Put the car on a flat surface and allow it to sit still until the weights have dried.

5. Gather some loose change. You can use various different coins to add a different amount of weight. You can add quarters, dimes, pennies or nickels to come as close to the 5 oz. you are allowed.

6. Glue the coins in one flat layer along the underside of your derby car, using super glue or woodcraft glue. Do not make a double layer of coins on the underside of the car, as the car has to clear the track when it competes in the derby race. Follow the links in Resources for more information on Pinewood Derby cars.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not let your car go over the 5-oz. weight allowance, or it will be disqualified.

• Use caution when operating a drill to avoid injury.

Resources

• Building a Pinewood Derby Car
• Pinewood Derby Car Design
• Buy Weights