Pinewood Derby Design

Do you need some ideas on Pinewood Derby design?  Do you want to make you car look good, be fast and simple to build?  I think we can help.

Often times the best looking cars don’t win.  Many racers build a great looking car that resembles a real car, rocket, or something.  They may even put a driver in the cockpit.  I agree that this stuff looks cool.  However, it makes for a poor design as far as speed is concerned.

Your young scout may have already drawn or envisioned this super cool looking car that he wants you to build.  Before it’s too late, you should discuss this idea with him.  The best looking cars are seldom the fastest cars.

Instead of carving a super cool looking body, use some super cool looking decals. This type of Pinewood Derby design will usually satisfy any young lad.

There is a controversy regarding the importance of aerodynamics and Pinewood Derby racing.  The majority of the experts are convinced that having an aerodynamic car creates a huge speed advantage.

The Derby Monkey Garage builds all of its “Xtreme Speed Series” cars with a very low profile body.  This Pinewood Derby design creates an extremely aerodynamic car that cuts through the wind with ease as it races down the track.  A low profile car also reduces the wood weight of the car allowing a builder to place the weights exactly where its needed in order to place the center of gravity in the optimum location.

A Pinewood Derby car should be designed to move as little air as possible as it speeds down the track. Two cars with identical characteristics except that one car has better aerodynamics, the car with good aerodynamics will have a competitive advantage.  Pinewood Derby races are often won, and lost, by only a thousandth of a second so every little bit of speed increase is worth the effort.

Follow these important factors for your Pinewood Derby design, planning and building in order to make it as aerodynamic as possible:

1.    Design a car body that is as low-profile as possible, replacing the wood weight with weight… preferably tungsten.

2.    Round and smooth all edges of the car.

3.    Do not ad accessories such as drivers, flags, engines, spoilers, etc.  These only act like parachutes slowing the car down.

4.    Fill holes and pockets with wood filler, bondo, glue or foam sealer.

Here are some photos of some great Pinewood Derby designs.  These cars are all low profile.  There is not much wood on the body and they are all very flat.  However, they come alive when the decals are applied.  These cool looking cars will make any cubby excited and proud.

You can make your own custom decals with inkjet or laser printer decal paper, a cheep photo editor and a computer with a printer.  Or you can purchase decals form the many cool decals here.

Just remember, if this is your son’s car, please let him participate.  Make this a father and son effort.

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