Jul 13 2025

Pinewood Derby Car speed tips and products to help you win the race. It's as easy as ABC!

Pinewood Derby Tips

Check each page of our site for more tips to help you build a fast pinewood derby car.

Tip #4

Most Pinewood Derby cars will fishtail to some degree as they roll down the track. Fishtailing slows the car down by increasing friction when the wheels touch the center guide rail. You can reduce fishtailing by sanding the front of the car so that the wheels on the front are slightly closer together. Then as the car goes down the track, only the front wheels will touch the center guide rail.

Tip #9

Some cars roll faster backwards than they do forwards. If you can, test your car before the race to see which way is faster.

Tip #18

If you know that you are going to be up against some very fast pinewood cars, focus on one of the workmanship or design prizes. Building a good looking car with a creative design can be more fun than making a fast car.

Tip #32

Some Pinewood Derby wheels are faster than others. Buy several sets of wheels and spin each wheel on a polished axle. Use the wheels that spin the longest. Don't use any wheels that wobble.

Welcome to ABC Pinewood Derby

*** NEW ***
77 tips to help you build a fast pinewood derby car. Free with every order.

This Web Site has over 400 products to help you to:

Design and Build Your Pinewood Derby Car

Everything You Need To Help you build your car

"How To" Books

Easy to follow instructions covering building tips and all the latest speed tricks and secrets.

Easy to Build Car designs

Our car designs use only straight cuts so they are easy to make! Includes easy instructions with templates.

Blocks

Your car will go straighter and faster. Available with axle holes or slots.

Car Parts

Create a variety
of car shapes with our plastic parts.

Pre-Cut Cars

Get a head start in building your Pinewood Derby car. We
do the hard part for you.

Painted Cars Completed Cars

Short on time? Just add wheels to our painted cars. Our completed cars are ready to race.

LEGO Pinewood Derby Cars

Make your next Pinewood Derby Car with LEGOs using an official pinewood derby block or host your own Lego Car Race with our LEGO car frames. Great activity for birthday parties, summer camps and other events. Works with any standard pinewood derby track or use our track sections to build your own track.

Examples of LEGO cars that can be made with our kits or with your own parts.

Make Your Pinewood Car Look Great

Decals, Accessories and Paint - Your car will stand out from the crowd.

Paint

Water based paints with great results and easy cleanup.

Body Skins

Completely covers your Pinewood Derby car. Paint is not needed. Includes black skin for windows.

Car Lights

Grab everyone's attention with these bright lights. A headlight/taillight kit and an underglow kit are availagle

Car Decals

These exciting decals will make your car stand out from the crowd.

Wheel Decals

Give your car a unique look with our wheel decals. Easy to apply - just stick on the outside of the wheel

Car Accessories

Roll bars, spoilers, hood scoops, engines police light bars, eyes and much more.

Animal Cars

Stand out from the crowd - make an animal car. Legal in all races.

Make Your Pinewood Derby Car Fast

Speed Supplies - Products that can make your car dramatically faster!

Speed Wheels

Each of our wheels has our speed rating. Pick the fastest wheel that is allowed in your pinewood derby race.

"How To" Books

All the latest building tips and speed secrets.

Video

Watch this and give your pinewood derby car a BIG speed boost.

Speed Axles

We have a variety of speed axles. Try our new graphite coated axles!

Lubricants

The best dry and liquid lubricants available.

Graphite Pads

Reduces friction between the wheels and the car body.

Axle Polishing Kit

Our axle polishing kit will ensure that your axles are in perfect condition.

Weights

Variety of weights to bring your pinewood derby car up to the 5 oz. limit.

Axle Polish

Our two-step secret formula is easy to use and gives excellent results.

Speed Tools

Take advantage of these tools to fine tune your car and give it the winning edge!

Extras

Products for Before and After the Pinewood Derby Race!

Digital Scale

Accurately weigh your car.
Accurate to .01 oz

Mobile Garage Kit

Safely carry your pinewood derby car to the race in style.

Derby Dome

Protect your pinewood derby car in a clear plastic dome.

Entertainment

Pinewood Derby Movie and Game

Down and Derby

A hilarious movie about a Pinewood Derby competition that the dad's take too seriously.

Pinewood Racer Board Game

This board game requires skill to make it to the
finish line first. Fun for the whole family.

Back in Stock

Derby Dome

Crystal clear plastic dome keeps your Pinewood Derby car clean and dust free
Only $16.95

Details

Digital Scale

Accurately weigh your Pinewood Derby Car
Only $15.95

Details

Basic Tips To Get You Started

Detailed instructions on how to use many of our products.

Browse through our "How To" area to find useful tips

After you build your car, you may find that one of the front wheels is raised slightly. A raised wheel will actually make your car go faster but some rules don't allow raised wheels. Here's How to fix a raised wheel on a pinewood derby car. If your rules allow raised wheels, here is how to raise a front wheel to make your car faster.

Lubrication is often neglected. Our pinewood derby car graphite is a special formula using the highest quality graphite available.

For beginners, here is how to Use a Coping Saw and how to Use a Rasp. And here are some tips on how to paint your pinewood car.

Our instructions on how to build a fast Pinewood Derby Car will give you some ideas on how to make your car faster.

As a finishing touch, read How to Paint Chrome Spokes on pinewood derby wheels. It's easy to do and makes your car stand out from the crowd.

Advanced racers can read our pinewood derby rail riding speed tip. This new technique can give your car that winning edge.

We have a variety of pinewood derby wheels and pinewood derby axles that have been cleaned up and polished for maximum speed.

Your car should weigh right at the 5 oz limit for the fastest speed. Our weights for pinewood derby cars come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

July 12, 2025 - Our order arrived just in time. I got both cars painted and the wheels and we got them to the pinewood derby last night. My problem is that I forget things so we should have had them ordered by last week but we did not so we were praying they would get here in time. I did one thin layer of paint blew it dry. Sanded and another layer of paint and let it dry. My husband got home and got the wheels and lubrication on and we were off. The car with the extended wheelbase was awesome and won every race. It also did the crash loops without a problem. The other one got 1st or 2nd every race. It did not make it through the crash loops it crashed. Lol. These cars were a hit. My eight year old loved his first derby and winning every race. I think he will do similar cars every year with minor modifications. Just letting you know and thanking you for shipping so quickly. My husband works a lot and had no time to spend the time cutting out cars and getting the weight just right. Thanks.....Melissa S

Wheel vibration will slow your pinewood derby car down. Make sure that the tread of your wheel (the part that touches the track) and the rim (the inner edge of the wheel) are smooth and that your wheel is as round as possible.

Watch the video of our rocket powered Pinewood Derby Car.

Pinewood Derby is a registered trademark of Boy Scouts of America

Build a Car

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Extras

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How To

Hey guys I would like to say your product is great. We used your block and axles and won the pack131 nationals for 2005 and we used your oil. Your product's are great and we will be back. Thanks guys you made my son's day. pack 131 champion

We bought your products and he got 1st place and set a track record. again, thank you
chris and matthew

I just had to say thank you for the quick turnaround on my order. I ordered late Friday and imagine my surprise when I came in the office this morning after being out yesterday to discover the car was already delivered. Fantastic job! Thank you.... Kathy C

We had our 2nd cub scouts pinewood derby Yesterday. Last year we came in 3rd with me being CLUELESS. This year I stumbled upon your site and with your help, made a faster car that finished second, losing by 3 one-hundreths of a second. I already have my changes picked out for next year and look forward to perusing your site once again. Thanks a ton!...Chris