Pinewood Derby Car Design for Beginners
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We've helped thousands of beginners for over 15 years!
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We have everything you need, from a Beginner's book, free how to guides and
downloadable car design plans, along with easy build car kits to completely built cars.
Use this Quick Start Chart to match your needs to our solutions.
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Your Needs |
How We Can Help |
What It Will Do For You |
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Where do I start? |
Beginner's book: Pinewood Derby in Six Easy Steps. You can instantly download this book to your PC! |
Step-by-step instructions on how to design and build your car. Includes 3 simple car design templates. |
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What car design should I choose? |
Free Guide: Car Design Ideas Pick a car from our Car Designer |
Includes over 100 car design ideas See 30 car designs and even see your car rotating 360 degrees! |
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I have little skills and no tools! How can I build a car? |
Quick build Car Kits include weights and decals Pre-cut Pinewood Derby cars Pre-cut and pre-weighted cars |
Requires no, tools. Simple, clear instructions. Pick a pre-cut car, then select the wheels and axles you want to build your own car without tools. |
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I have no time, no skills and no tools... But I want to race!! |
Fully built, painted, and ready to race cars! And they're super fast, too! |
Completely built and painted cars get you in the race. |
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How do I make my car fast? Can a beginner win? |
Free Guide - How to Build a Fast Pinewood Derby Car Winning Pinewood Derby Secrets |
Speed basics to make a competitive car All the secrets you need to win. Yes, many beginners have won! |
Table of Contents
Buckle Up! We're Building a Car.
Having Fun is Number One
Safety in the Fast Lane
Play by the Rules
STEP 1: Dad, I've got an Idea!
STEP 2: One Slice or Two?
STEP 3: Smooth as a Baby's...
STEP 4: Be a Heavy Weight
STEP 5: Shine like a Star
STEP 6: Let's Roll 'Em
Speed Hints, Tricks and Traps
Axles
Graphite
Weight Placement
Wheel Spacing
The Aerodynamic Mix
Straight On
APPENDIX A: Includes 3 free simple Pinewood Derby template patterns
APPENDIX B: Handy list of tools
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Pinewood Derby Car Designer Point and click to pick a car design, then see your car's speed increase when changing axles, wheels, lubes, and weights. Select from 30 car designs. See how each product affects your car's performance as it slides toward the checkered flag. Quick, easy, and fun! Test drive your Pinewood Derby car! |
 Car Kits |
Pinewood Derby Car kits, like the Lotus pictured here, have everything you need to build a fast, competitive Pinewood Derby car. Pinewood Pro Car Kits include: One pre-cut Pinewood Derby car body: Either an unpainted pre-cut wood shape or a sleek pre-painted and weighted body Upgraded official BSA wheels that we lathe and balance for you Upgraded official BSA axles that we polish and de-burr for you At least one PRO Tool Some Pinewood Pro Car Kits include: Weights Cool Accessories Decal Sheets Wooden car bodies just need a light sanding and painting. Pre-cut painted and weighted bodies are ready to assemble and decorate! Assemble using the included weights, wheels, and axles, and you're off to the races! Speed tip: Put PRO Graphite on your axles to make your car fast. To make your car competitive, build your own kit by choosing your car body and try some of our other upgraded components: Axles with graphite coating, grooves, or custom bends Wheels with graphite coating, extended lathing, or deeper hubs Weights like tungsten, zinc, or flexible steel Car Kits Start at $8.95 |
 Pre-Weighted Grey Ghost Car Body  Fully-Built Cars |
Pre-weighted Car Body Includes: BSA car block cut to aerodynamic style Pre-weighted to equal 4.9 oz when wheels and axles added Center of gravity in perfect position for maximum speed Pre-drilled small weight holes under car for adding tungsten putty Car body is primed with 2 coats of grey primer. Race as-is or paint over the primer Fully-Built Cars Includes: BSA highly polished (or graphite-coated) axles BSA precision lathed (or graphite-coated) wheels Pre-weighted with perfect center of gravity for maximum speed Pre-drilled axle holes so the car rolls straight Track tested for speed Proven FAST with many District winners and State winners! Shop Pre-Weighted and Fully-Built Cars |
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If this is your first race, you need to know a few basic speed tips to have a competitive car. Prep Your Axles First, the axles that come in the BSA Cub Scout kit are not axles; they are nails, and crude ones at that! Run your fingers along the shaft of the nail to feel the crimp marks and burrs. These must be removed or they will grind up the plastic in your wheels, severely slowing your car. You can modify the axles yourself with our axle file and axle polishing kit, or get our polished axles, if you don't want to do it yourself. Lube Your Axles The single most important thing you can do to increase your car speed is to lubricate your axles with PRO Graphite. It comes in a tube and is simply squirted on each axle. You can never have too much graphite on your wheels and axles! Weight Your Car Your car moves down the track from the force of gravity. Be sure your car is fully to reach maximum velocity. Pinewood Derby weights come in all sizes. You can stick them on, screw them on, or embed them into the car so they are hidden. |