Build a Winning Pinewood Derby Car: Step By Step

Our son and I have made Pinewood Derby cars that have won our Pack’s Scout and parent races each year. In this video, we put together all our tips and show you how to make an actual car that can win your Pack’s Pinewood Derby race.
See our original video ( • How To Make a Fast Pin... ) for further explanation of our tips.
Video Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Design Decisions
01:48 Marking and Drilling
03:57 Shaping
04:59 Weight Location
06:08 Painting
06:50 Preparing Axles and Wheels
07:25 Attaching Weights
08:12 Installing Wheels
10:03 Aligning Wheels
11:12 Final Assembly
11:51 Other Hints and Variations
13:53 Wrap-up
Music from: Bensound.com
All products shown in this video are items that we actually use and have found to work well. We have no relationship with any product supplier.

[@annasokolowski245]

Followed this tutorial 100% and we did paint the car. My scout won his pack! Thank you! 🚗

[@EngWorkshop]

Congratulations on the winning build!! I'm glad your Scout painted his car. Not only did the car win, but it looked good doing it!

[@iantaylor917]

Building one with my son currently and this video has been invaluable. Thanks a lot!

[@EngWorkshop]

You're welcome! Good luck in the race.

[@burnetthopkins9583]

Thank you! Very well explained. A lot of helpful information.

[@thomasracioppi619]

My son and I had our 1st pinewood derby yesterday and won 1st place in his pack and 2nd place overall! Great video… by using simple tools, my son was so involved, and so proud of himself! Thank you for this video!!

[@EngWorkshop]

You're welcome, and congratulations!

[@YERINMOM11]

너무 도움많이 되었어요 자세한 설명 감사합니다❤

[@sligacheese6470]

I just scored 50 kits and the weights. They are cool as heck 🎉

[@pbrstreetgang4571]

Built our car as close to your instructions, although we did go with a rail runner. My son won his age group, (6th grade) and overall fastest car. We had never built a car before. Thank you.

[@pbrstreetgang4571]

I meant 6 yo

[@EngWorkshop]

Well done! Congratulations!

[@stephaniebattipaglia209]

We just raced our car and won second place with your video! Thank you !

[@EngWorkshop]

Well done! Congratulations!

[@Oddzilla51]

Great video! And super simple design. By the end of my sons cub scout days, we had a very good design and he went all the way to regional finals with it in Webelos II. Thanks for sharing!

[@EngWorkshop]

You're welcome!

[@JourneyontheTrail]

Wanted to thank you…using many of your suggestions in this video helped my daughter win 1st in her class and 2nd overall today in an Awana Grand Prix.

[@EngWorkshop]

Congratulations! Well done!

[@pauldixonjr.224]

Great video. We’re on our 2nd Pinewood Derby and we screwed up our first run at a car this year. Couldn’t follow this exactly because we can’t move the wheels forward or back but I needed a solution for a quick car that would be fast. Using the main principles of this build we were able to put together a car 4 days before the race that finished 2nd in his group and was significantly faster than our first try last year. Looking to build on that for attempt #3 next year.

[@EngWorkshop]

Good job, and congratulations! As you probably discovered, weight position is still the most important factor even if you can't change the wheel positions. Wishing you continued improvement!

[@profkarafit]

Thanks for the tips. We put several of them into our build and my Tiger scout won 2nd overall in the pack and missed 1st place by 0.001 seconds!

[@EngWorkshop]

Great job! Congratulations!

[@robertstarner8083]

Really great video!!!! Thank You……I do have a question when placing the nail/axles…..How far in do you place the axles?? How concerned are you to keep the inside of the wheel from rubbing against the side of the body????? Thank you

[@EngWorkshop]

I think the proper gap between the wheel and body is important. As shown in section 8 (wheel installation), the gap should be 1/32 inch. The video shows how to make a spacer to help achieve the proper gap.

[@phaedruscj3330]

At the end you show the cars you? have built. Which was the fastest? Thanks for posting!

[@EngWorkshop]

Fastest car was #512, second row, fourth car from the left. It was my car for our Pack's parent race one year. Over the years, I have participated in the parent race using cars of similar design and construction, so I'm not certain why one car would run faster than the others. I wonder if slight differences in track setup might be the cause.

[@prashthy]

Great video! Thank for sharing. Is there a link to where you go those weights?

[@EngWorkshop]

I have purchased weights from www.maximum-velocity.com, but they are also available on Amazon.

[@subbystyle]

Great video, can't wait to follow your guidance later this week! What thickness do you recommend to make the car? I saw the print but it doesn't mention the recommended thickness. Pls advise.

[@EngWorkshop]

Our flat-shaped cars, like the one shown in the video, are 3/8 inch thick (tall).

[@emilyallen8436]

I swear to God. If I watch ONE MORE "easy tutorial with basic tools" video and they come out with friggin industrial tools and random drill guides I'm going to scream. I'm just a useless, single mother!!!

[@EngWorkshop]

While we are lucky to have a home workshop with a band saw and drill press, neither is a necessity. The car in the video was made with only the "basic" tools shown in the opening. But making the fastest car does require some tools, and the definition of "basic" may be relative, as you imply. Fortunately, the most important step requires no tools: planning the best weight distribution for a given car design. I'm sure you are far from "useless" in helping your child. Good luck and, above all, have fun!😀

[@seapanther53]

KZbin "Easy pinewood derby wins using science". Trust me.

[@bow_wow_wow]

I'm a father. I come from three generations of single mothers. I completely understand your anger and frustration. I also have never had anyone to show me how to do things like this. Then the pack leader shows up and says, "OK, everybody! Time to build a pinewood derby racecar!" like we're all supposed to just magically know how to it's done. It's incredibly frustrating and it makes you feel like such a loser.

[@ruzzcraze1862]

It's basic in the sense of woodworking tools. Props to you for helping your kid in their pinewood derby.

[@ldboy2004]

If I have to keep the wheelbase (distance between the center of the wheel axels) at 4.5inch, is it better to shorten the overall length or pull back the location of the front tire axel?

[@EngWorkshop]

Given the wheelbase restriction, it is definitely better to pull back the front axle location. This would allow the same weight placement as a car with an extended wheelbase. Shortening the car is equivalent to moving the weight forward, resulting in less starting energy.

[@NP-ge6um]

Great video and thank you for all the tips. I wish i could attach pictures of the car my daughter and I made for her pwd race event. Her car averaged 218.07 MPH across 6 heats. She won the first place in the pack and the rank Thank you for making this video.

[@EngWorkshop]

Well done and congratulations to your daughter! I wish I could have seen the car.

[@NP-ge6um]

The differences in design are 1. instead of the left wheel raised, we had the right wheel raised. 2. Also we could not find the rectangular weights so we went with the cylindrical weights and superglued them together to create a rod like structure and placed them at the end. @@EngWorkshop

[@EngWorkshop]

Thanks for sharing the photo. As you figured out, it doesn't matter which side has the raised wheel. I just had to pick a side for purposes of the video. And your cylindrical weights look better (less utilitarian) than the rectangular ones.

[@barakduke]

can you share the photo of your car?@@NP-ge6um

[@user-nv4ct2zz6b]

cool

[@scotthayka]

What is that jig at the end of your ruler?

[@EngWorkshop]

I think you mean the red slider on my 6" ruler, which is a Paolini Pocket Rule from Woodpeckers (www.woodpeck.com/ppr-2019.html).

[@vanessaedwards1026]

Where can you buy that drilling guide?

[@EngWorkshop]

We bought the drilling guide from www.pinewoodpro.com. Similar guides can be found at other Pinewood Derby supply sites, such as www.maximum-velocity.com and www.abc-pinewood-derby.com. If you use a drilling guide to lift one of the axle holes, you may find the hole is lifted by more than the 1/16" we recommend in the video. That is OK, but it might increase the risk of the car jumping off an uneven track. If you want to drill holes at exactly the positions shown in the video, you may have to experiment a little with index card shims placed between the drilling guide and wood block.

[@seanenright2497]

Wanted to use this process, but couldnt because my son's pack only allows existing Axle slots to be used. Great video though!

[@EngWorkshop]

If the axle slots must be used, it is a good idea to drill them out and glue in the nails, as shown near the end of our video. Otherwise, we have found it is easy for the slots to be damaged during axle installation, or the nails to fall out during the race. Much of the video's process could be adapted for your son's Pack. For example, the principles of weight distribution still hold. And if the axle slots are drilled out, you probably can use the same method of wheel alignment. Either way, thanks for watching and good luck!

[@mdroms]

Is the one front wheel not touching the track? Our pack requires all 4 wheels touch the ground. I thought that was a common rule.

[@EngWorkshop]

Yes, in our design, one front wheel does not touch the track. The rule sheet inside the official Pinewood Derby car kit does not require all 4 wheels to touch the track. However, each Cub Scout pack sets its own rules, so there will be packs that have this requirement. If our pack had this requirement, we might have tried bending both front axles upward very slightly, then adjust steering by turning the front axles very slightly in opposite directions.

[@mdroms]

@@EngWorkshop thanks for the suggestion!

[@raybeeson2006]

@@EngWorkshop why do you have one wheel different height than others?

[@EngWorkshop]

The raised wheel does not spin, or at least not as much, so less energy is lost to this wheel's friction and momentum.

[@liv3234]

is this too thin? 3/8 of an inch seems fine. we have to do this in high school in our science class.. my teacher was telling me that the car was too thin and it wouldn’t work. i see everyone saying this design has worked! anyone have an tips?

[@EngWorkshop]

Were you given a reason why a thin car wouldn't work?

[@liv3234]

@@EngWorkshop no we were not given one. It were strongly advised to make it thicker. we ended up making it a little thicker and we won 2nd place out of the entire grade so it ended up working really well! great video it was awesome for people with no wood experience!

[@JimBaric]

how do you secure the weights

[@EngWorkshop]

An easy way is to use a good adhesive, like two-part epoxy. This is what we used in the video. Beware of hot glue, Super Glue, and Gorilla Glue - we have seen things fall off of cars during the race that were attached with these glues.

[@loud2ns]

I like to use double sided carpet tape under the weights to hold them in with a layer of hvac tape over them. Works great.

[@jeansonnea]

What size drill bit do you use on the press? I rather use my press

[@EngWorkshop]

Whether using a drill press or hand drill, you need to use a #44 drill bit, which is slightly larger than 5/64" and slightly smaller than 3/32". You can buy #44 drill bits from online Pinewood Derby supply stores or Amazon.

[@margiedenavarre7919]

What is the height of the car? 1/2 inch?

[@EngWorkshop]

The design shown in the video is 3/8 inch in height.

[@dandennis8465]

Most rules require the axles to be visible so drilling holes are not allowed

[@EngWorkshop]

The rule sheet inside the official Pinewood Derby car kit does not prohibit drilling new axle holes. However, each Cub Scout pack sets its own rules, so there will be packs that do not allow repositioning axles and/or drilling axle holes. Each Scout should check their pack's rules. If the axle slots are used, it is still a good idea to drill them out and glue in the axles, as shown near the end of our video. Otherwise, we have found it is very easy for the slots to be damaged during axle installation.

[@travisfrey5694]

“Using only basic tools.” Pulls out a drill press and band saw.

[@EngWorkshop]

When I inserted footage showing the band saw and drill press, I probably should have made it clearer that this video's car was actually made using only the hand tools I showed at the beginning. Although helpful, a band saw and drill press are not required to make a winning car.

[@bow_wow_wow]

@@EngWorkshop You made that clear. I heard it clearly the first time I watched the video.

[@johnging4693]

I've watched numerous videos with my boys. My little guy has done well in the past. He wanted to shape the bottom of his car a bit. We had to put weight at the front to balance around the 3/4 mark.

[@EngWorkshop]

As you point out, optimum weight location can vary significantly, depending on the car's shape.

[@user-wj9lv9sj2w]

Hmmm the connection tho

[@roxannemarez2924]

Need to know where and what size for weights

[@jerome4995]

This is all explained very well in the video. Also, these two questions are dependent on the car itself. There are too many variables to give a one size fits all reply.

[@roxannemarez2924]

Where can I get these specific weights?

[@roxannemarez2924]

1/4 x 1 1/4 3.3 ounces? More less

[@jerome4995]

​@@roxannemarez2924this will completely depend on how much your car weighs before adding the weight(s). THIS IS ALL GONE OVER IN THE VIDEO.

[@EngWorkshop]

The tungsten weights shown in the video are 0.25 inch cubes and 0.25x0.25x1.25 inch bars. They are available in other shapes that allow other ways to incorporate them.

[@fearless3geclipse]

Great vid. But you did all this and didnt race it? Bummer

[@EngWorkshop]

Thanks for the sympathies, but they're not necessary, actually. Making the sample car itself took less than a couple hours, which was insignificant compared to video production. Past cars of similar design and construction all won their races, so we're pretty sure the sample car would have done the same.

[@brado9232]

👊 p̲r̲o̲m̲o̲s̲m̲

[@glennwatson3313]

I think raising the nose would allow the car to take off a fraction of a second faster.

[@EngWorkshop]

This is true, in theory. We have seen some car designs that implement this principle. How much difference this makes is unclear. The spring-loaded starting pin found on most PWD tracks releases the cars much more quickly than they accelerate.

[@bt-xv1fy]

You are cutting yourself short, or to say making your car slower then it can be. Everything is correct till you made your car go straight. With a bent axel (on the right and the lifted front left) you want the car to steer 3-5 in to the left over a 4 or 5 foot distance. This will make your car a rail runner. It WILL be faster and your times will be consistent.

[@EngWorkshop]

Thanks for the comment. Rail riding prevents a car from drifting side-to-side and losing energy as a result. Using our alignment method, we have not observed side-to-side drift in our cars when they run down our Pack's track, so we have not felt the need to try rail riding. It would be easy to compare rail riding with straight alignment using the same car on a test track. My son has aged out of the Pack, so I hope another KZbinr will try the experiment and report the results.

[@loud2ns]

As you move more weight closer to the rear the car will wiggle. Rail riding allows you to move more weight back and not wiggle which is faster.

[@machineenvyllc437]

@@EngWorkshop going to disagree with you on this one as well. A few other things that came to mind about axle prep, but not going to pick your video apart.

[@CurtPrice]

It depends on the quality & kind of track. My kid's pack uses a wooden track. So it has slight imperfections on the rail. A rail runner on this kind of track can hit those imperfections all the way down and likely slow it down. I think I'd gamble on the straight runner on a rough wooden track with a lot of imperfections over a rail runner. But on a metal track or a quality wood track you're going to have smooth rails, which then yes, a rail runner would be better.

[@machineenvyllc437]

​@@CurtPrice GL with that straight shooter. you are assuming that each section of the track is perfectly level from side to side and has no warps, twists, or raised surface wood from being in storage for 12 months. A bit of 80 grit sandpaper and 3 mins of work fixes that rail..... Just saying. fix your packs track for the greater good of all racers. You do you though. Just have fun.

[@user-bq9ow1wj4j]

Having extended axle hole where the axles are 5/8 from the end adds stability but reduces speed. 4 3/4 is a bit less stable but faster. Your comment about having add extra weight because the car is thicker than 3/8"! Because one can route out wood near the front. Fast cars are basically hollow! Ladder type cars are very fast they are 1/4" thick with either a 1/16 veneer or a vinyl top. As tungsten weights come in 1/4" thickness the wood is plenty thick. one could even use paper then add CA glue over it to make it strong. Then placing weights in a way that each side is 1/2 the weight. Because the front right touches the track the left rear should have as much weight as the right side of the car. Most say that the right front should be 15 grams. Right rear 56 grams. Left rear 71 grams. I know the drill guides have a spot so the left axle hole is higher. It could be lower. Some just shave the wheel a bit smaller and bend the axle a bit. Like the front left but 90 degrees off so moving raised the wheel. Those drill guides might not give you a perfect 90 degree angle so each side is exact. If they are 1/2 degree off. Angled rear wheels allow the car to ride on the edge and not on the entire surface. These BSA wheels are not round. They have low spots. So just sanding makes them much slower. Plus the hole in the wheel is too large for the axle. 4 thousandths is great but they are closer to 8 thousandths so wobble quite a bit. Since you have to use the ones in the kit you're stuck. Unless you think on how to fix that problem. The 60's axles were thicker as are the Awana axles. But Awana axles are against your rules. #3 wheels are lighter than the other 15.