Build a Pinewood Derby Car

This is a fun activity for all ages, including adults. What is a Pinewood Derby Car? It is a very simple car. You start with a kit that contains a block of wood, 4 plastic wheels, and 4 nails. It is powered by gravity so you need to design your car to be aerodynamic and to reduce friction.

What You'll Need:
  • Pinewood Derby Car Kit (approximately $3.50) which includes:
    • One Block of Wood
    • Four Plastic Wheels
    • Four Nails
    • Decals
  • Handtools (to cut and shape your block of wood)
  • Lead Weight (from PineCar or you can use other weight kits, fishing sinkers, pennies, etc.)
  • Sandpaper
  • Paint
  • Your Brain, for DESIGN, CREATIVITY, and INNOVATION
What You Do:
  1. Decide what you want your Pinewood Derby to look like. It helps to make some sketches. You can go to many Pinewood Derby links to see other Pinewood Derby cars to get ideas.
  2. Transfer your car design from the sketch to the block of wood using a pencil.
  3. Review the rules to make sure your car's dimensions, weight, etc. will be O.K.
  4. Cut out the design in your block of wood. You may have to "rough" cut your design with a hand saw or scroll saw, then make your "finish" cuts with a coping saw or even a Dremel tool.
  5. You will want to weigh your car with the wheels, axles (nails), and lead weights. In Pinewood Derby rules, you're shooting for your completed car to weigh 5 ounces. If you don't have scales, you can take your car to your Post Office, any store that mails parcels, grocery store, or hardware store and (hopefully) have them to weigh it. You may want to now drill holes or cut the car where you want to add your lead weights. Since there is no guarantee that everyone will have scales that weigh identically, it is a good idea to design your car where you can add or remove weight during inspection prior to a race.
  6. Then you'll need to take sandpaper to smooth out your car and prepare it for paint! Your paint job depends on proper sanding and preparation to look good.
  7. You're then ready to spray or brush on your favorite color(s)!! You can also add decals, stickers, etc. to customize your car.
  8. While the paint is drying, you'll want to prepare your wheels and axles to reduce friction. When gravity powers your car, friction is your enemy! Make sure your wheels and axles are smooth and free of burrs, flashing, etc. Again, you'll want to read all of the tips contained on the Pinewood Derby links to prepare your car so it will be a winner!
  9. Once the paint is dry and your wheels and axles are prepped, you're ready to assemble your car and test it! Make sure it rolls smoothly and in a straight line.
  10. Now you're ready. All you have to do is find some other Scouts who also have built Pinewood Derby cars and want to race them down an inclined 32-foot plywood racetrack.
Finished Car

What Should Be Learned:

You will learn about potential and kinetic energy, effects of friction, wind resistance (drag coefficient), etc. Hopefully you will quickly learn that math, science, physics, and engineering can ACTUALLY be used to do things that are fun and interesting! Who knows....you might even find yourself WANTING to study!!


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