How to Build a Pinewood Derby Race Car

Use your hand saw carefully as you make your derby car.

For Cub Scouts, the Pinewood Derby races are one of the scouting year's most exciting events. Smaller versions of the Soapbox Derby, Pinewood Derby cars are model race cars built by the Scouts themselves. Once the building phase is completed, the Scout troop organizes a number of elimination races to determine the winners in various age groups or categories. There is a standard method of building a Pinewood Derby car, and these helpful tips will guide you in building a winning car.

Things You'll Need

• 1 official Boy Scout Pinewood Derby race car kit
• Hand saw
• Hammer
• Pencil
• Sand paper
• Paint (optional)
• Stickers (optional)
• Weights

Instructions

1. Determine the design of the race car. Read magazines, books or the Internet to research various design ideas for the car. Using the samples that you found, draw a simple outline of your design idea and record any notes that you find during your research. If you know other Scouts who have built cars before, ask their opinion about your design.

2. Cut out the basic design of your car. Using a pencil, draw out your design idea on the pine block included in an official Boy Scout Pinewood Derby kit. This step will allow you to tweak your design idea and make adjustments prior to making any cuts. Make sure that you're happy with the design before you move to Step 3.

3. Cut out the basic shape of the race car. Using a hand saw, cut out the basic shape of the car by following the pencil outline that you designed in Step 2. Don't worry about getting a perfect shape during this step. Use the saw to trim off any large pieces of wood that remain.

4. Sand the car. Using medium-grit sandpaper, sand down the edges of the car to match your design idea. Sand small areas and check your progress frequently, as it's very easy to sand too much at one time. Once you have the desired shape, sand the rest of the car until smooth. Use a towel to wipe off the car and recheck for spots that need additional sanding.

5. Paint the car. You can use a brush to paint the car, but spray paint is much easier and quicker. Paint the entire car and allow it to dry before applying another coat of paint. You can use multiple colors or use tape to achieve any effect that you desire. Although this step is mostly decorative, the smooth, painted surface will help improve aerodynamic drag. Once the paint has dried thoroughly, you can apply stickers to further decorate the race car.

6. Install the wheels. Following the directions included in the kit, install wheels on your car. Make sure that they turn freely and are as straight as possible. Test the car by rolling it on a table to determine if the wheels are installed correctly and make any adjustments accordingly.

7. Adjust the weight of the car. Pinewood Derby race cars can weigh no more than 5.0 ounces. Use a kitchen food scale or other scale to weigh the car. Use lead weights to make your car weigh as close to 5.0 ounces as you can as this will help improve the speed of your car. Once you've determined the weight, the car is ready for racing.

Tips & Warnings

• Use graphite to lubricate your axles and improve the speed of the car.

• Adjustable weights will allow you to make corrections on race day.

• Always use safety glasses and gloves when cutting, sanding or painting a car.

• Use caution when handling lead weights and never use mercury on the car.

• Spray paint can be toxic and should never be applied indoors.

Resources

• Boy Scouts of America