How to build a fast Pinewood Derby car

This is by no means a comprehensive list of speed secrets.
There are several experts in this area that have published booklets, one written by an engineer, on the subject (See Getting Help). I would consider these tips the basics but they are enough to get your car off to a good start.

General principles of speed
Your car goes down the track from the pull of gravity. Your car is slowed down from friction. Friction is the enemy of speed. Reduce friction and your car will go faster. Here are some ways to reduce friction and increase speed…

Axles
You want to make your axles as smooth as possible. Be absolutely sure that the burr under the nail head is filed or sanded off. Once that is sanded off, polish the nail head to a mirror like finish.

Gravity / weight
This one is simple. Be sure your car weighs as close to 5 oz as possible. The heavier your car, the faster it will go. Find someone with a scale, purchase an inexpensive scale or weigh your car at the post office. Add weights until the car with the wheels and axles is up to 5 oz. Don’t wait until race night to get this right.

Making the car go straight
This can be tricky. Roll your car along the kitchen floor. If it veers to the right or left too much, the axles are crooked. Just like steering a car, you need to adjust the steering on your Pinewood Derby Car. To do this, you must adjust one or more of the axles so the car rolls straight. You can do this by re-drilling the axle holes and re-inserting the axles.

Lubrication
This is essential. Purchase a tube of graphite and sprinkle a little on the axles near the wheel. Spin the wheel so the graphite works in. You will notice a significant improvement in the speed of the wheel as it turns.

To win the race, you’ll need to learn the speed secrets from the experts. If you are serious about speed, spend a few dollars to download one of the products from the experts or start the process of trial and error like I did. Either way, have fun and happy racing.

Would you like to build a stand for your car? Here is how

We offer several books for more details on building your car and speed tips.