One Last Look Before Pinewood Derby Race Day

In 1953, Don Murphy set out to create a competitive activity that younger Scouts could safely enjoy, fostering both craftsmanship and sportsmanship. Murphy envisioned the Pinewood Derby as accessible and inclusive, allowing participation regardless of a child's economic background or physical abilities. The very first Pinewood Derby race was held on May 15, 1953, in the Scout House of Murphy’s Cub Scout Pack in Manhattan Beach, California, and was a resounding success for the Scouts and the community alike.

After catching on both domestically and internationally, the Pinewood Derby attributes its mass appeal to teaching valuable life skills like planning, craftsmanship, and competition; how to win and how to lose; and how to commit and follow through until completion. Perhaps most importantly, it brings families and communities together. It’s the kind of fostering and supportive environment where children can thrive and move towards becoming their best selves.

Though parts, techniques, and resources have evolved with the times, the core of the Pinewood Derby remains steadfast in its ideals and values.

When building your Pinewood Derby car, it’s best to keep it simple. Here are the main phases you’ll move through to build a winning car:

Plan
Build
Test
Tune

When building your Pinewood Derby car, it’s best to keep it simple. Here are the main phases you’ll move through to build a winning car:

When planning, you’ll research high-performing cars to get inspiration for sketching. The key is to try various shapes and find the ones that minimize air resistance while still looking great. You’ll also want to consider weight distribution (aiming to position 60-70% of the car’s total weight towards the rear), and gather the essential tools and materials needed.

As you build, start by transferring your sketch to the pine block. Carefully cut along your outlines while avoiding over cutting. Smooth irregularities with sandpaper. Prepping wheels and axles with precision by filing and polishing them is key to excellent performance.

While testing, explore different weight distribution techniques and explore the intricacies of your derby car’s performance so you know where to make minor tweaks versus major adjustments.

Finally, when it comes time to tune, run time trials, test your car on a derby track if available, and repeat your testing after every adjustment.

While Pinewood Derby racing sometimes feels like it’s all about winning, safety is actually just as important—if not more so!

Creating a safe workspace includes choosing a well-ventilated area, clearing the area of unnecessary clutter, ensuring good lighting, and being stocked with all of the essential safety gear. Parents and children should also understand proper tool usage and how to handle materials with the highest degree of caution.

It’s up to the parent to have a keen understanding of these practices. Plus, they should be versed in basic first aid, have emergency contacts on standby, and be prepared to dispose of certain materials according to local guidelines.

Children are to listen carefully and act accordingly. They should only be assigned age-appropriate tasks, and should be included in safety debriefings before the building and clean-up processes begin.

It may seem like a lot, but preparedness now prevents chaos later!

When it comes to designing a one-of-a-kind Pinewood Derby car, racers are only limited by their imagination! Just don’t forget the importance of aerodynamic design. Paint finishes and weight placements can act as both functional and aesthetic design components, and with a few strategic choices, they can also unlock the secrets to speed. With the final touches applied, you’re ready to start testing your creation on the track.

Feeling stumped on how to get started? We recommend using Pinewood Pro’s car templates to configure aerodynamic shapes with creative flair.

Choosing the right paint and details for your Pinewood Derby car is more than just what looks cool—it’s also about understanding the types of paints that work best on the wooden surface of your derby car and knowing what effects different colors will have on the appearance and performance of your car.

Types of paint suitable for Pinewood Derby Cars include:

• Acrylic Paints: dry quickly, non-toxic, easy clean-up

• Enamel Paints: hardened finish, glossy look, may require ventilation for fumes

• Spray Paints: fast, convenient, requires ventilation

• Latex Paint: great for specific textures, long dry time

When selecting paint colors, it’s helpful to consider visibility, thematic consistency, the desired finish and effects, plus the psychological impression you’d like the car to give.

Decals are also an excellent way to give personality to your Pinewood Derby car. By prioritizing balance, symmetry, and the focal points of the car, you can create a vehicle with lots of visual impact.

Lastly, we recommend using a clear coat to prevent racing wear-and-tear from damaging the hard work you’ve put into the aesthetics of your derby car. That way, it’ll stay looking sharp, race after race.

Safety and creativity are paramount when designing your Pinewood Derby car, but we can’t forget about the importance of speed. It is a race, after all!

- Fine grit sandpaper for smoothing the wood.

- A coping saw or similar tool for cutting the wood block.

- Wood glue or similar tool for cutting the wood block.

- A drill for precise axle insertion.

- Weights for balancing the car.

- Paints and decals for the finishing aesthetic touches.

Additionally, investing in a good quality scale to accurately measure your car's weight is crucial as it should not exceed the limit set by your local Derby rules.

You’ll want to inspect your kit for any defects, every minor imperfection could cost you speed.

In addition to an aerodynamic design and strategic weight placement, your wheels and axles should be prepped, polished, and lubricated to reduce friction. Track-testing your derby car is of utmost importance so you can fine-tune your vehicle for the best performance possible.

When race day rolls around, remember to adjust the alignment, reapply lubricant, and tweak your car’s weights to comply with regulations and to adjust the balance based on the track’s characteristics.

Feeling confident about applying basic speed techniques? Then it’s time to explore the advanced techniques!

Proper wheel alignment and axle fitting are fundamental for a fast Pinewood Derby car which you can achieve with the proper tools. Polishing the axles reduces friction for greater speed, and the art of weight distribution (preferably, tungsten) positioned towards the rear of the car can make all the difference. We also recommend using lubricant, though sparingly, to reduce further friction against the axles and wheel bores. Lastly, weighted wheels add mass, which increases the angular momentum of the wheels, meaning they retain speed better.

And, of course, for every adjustment you make, you’ll want to track test it again and again to ensure your derby car design is moving in the desired direction.

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of trust and connection while embarking on a Pinewood Derby journey. Through this process, you can expect to strengthen communication through collaboration, develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, and create lasting memories together.

Of course, frustrations from trial and error will arise. Here are some quick tips for navigating the inevitable:

• Set clear goals and expectations

• Balance competition with fun and learning

• Emphasize the journey over the outcome

• Shift between assistance and encouraging independence

The pressure of competition is all part of the process, but it doesn’t have to make for a negative experience. Set realistic expectations, prepare for any outcome, and above all else, find enjoyment in the process.

Mistakes happen—that’s part of the journey! But how they arise and how you handle them make all of the difference.

In the design process, many racers overestimate complexity and ignore aerodynamics in the name of creativity. It’s also common to skip scale drawings and proper construction techniques, which might seem okay at the time, but could lead to frustration and heartache later. Misaligning the axles, improper weight distribution, and excessive glue use happen time and again, but with a little foresight and planning, you can avoid those errors slowing you down.

Avoid rushing through the painting process; hastiness at this juncture can lead to sloppy finishes and unnecessary weight.

Be sure to test your wheels, and don’t overlook the surface of the track to account for any last-minute adjustments!

You’ve worked hard on your Pinewood Derby car, so it’s only natural to want to show it off. By implementing a solid design strategy, you guarantee the attention of the judges, other competitors, and the audience alike!

It’s worthwhile to emphasize the unique features of your car with a creative paint job, implementing design elements, and even giving it a name.

Beyond the creative components, by committing to consistent maintenance and fine-tuning practices, your car will not only look impeccable but also perform to the best of its capabilities.

You may also consider interacting with the judges and audience creatively by developing a narrative around your hard work with visual aids and interactive elements. Sharing your story on social media is another excellent way to resonate with both curious and veteran racers.

Conclusion

Even after 70 years, the Pinewood Derby continues to bond families and communities through the values of creativity, problem solving, perseverance, trust, and connection. The derby, like all things, will continue to evolve with time, but those core values remain steadfast. We wish you all the best in your racing journey, and we appreciate your part in maintaining the spirit and integrity of Pinewood Derby racing for the current and future generations.