The Best Pinewood Derby Resources for a Winning Car

Does your Cub Scout want to have the fastest Pinewood Derby?  Or maybe the coolest car?  Find out how to make both with these Pinewood Derby resources.

If you search for “Pinewood Derby cars” on the internet, you will find a plethora of information.  Whether this is your first derby and you just want to know what to do with that block of wood or you're searching for all the latest and greatest speed tips, you'll find all the Pinewood Derby resources you need!

If you haven't already, become a member of the Cub Scout Ideas community by signing up for our email updates.  When you do, you'll be taken to a page where you can get our FREE guide, “How to Build the Best Pinewood Derby Car Ever.”  Just click here to sign up!

To save you a little search time, I've compiled a list of links to some great websites that can help you build the fastest and the coolest car.

You can get all the tools and supplies your Cub Scout needs to build their Pinewood Derby car in my Amazon store!

If a kid can imagine it, they can build a Pinewood Derby car of it.  Boys' Life magazine has compiled photos of Derby cars for years.  To get the creative process started, have your child check out some of the awesome cars from recent years.

Best Derby Cars from Boys' Life

2020 Pinewood Derby Cars	2019 Pinewood Derby Cars	2018 Pinewood Derby Cars
2017 Pinewood Derby Cars	2016 Pinewood Derby Cars	2014 Pinewood Derby Cars
2013 Pinewood Derby Cars	2012 Pinewood Derby Cars	2011 Pinewood Derby Cars
	2010 Pinewood Derby Cars

Free Car Plans

There are free plans available at several sites.  Take advantage of these.  Even if they aren't quite what your Cub Scout wants, these will give you a start.

SMD Scouts

Derby Monkey Garage

Boys Dad

Pinewood Derby Car Grid Template

If your Scout wants to design his or her own car, using a grid template can make it easier. Download your free copy by clicking this link: Pinewood Derby Car Grid Template.

How to Build a Derby Car

Now that your Cub Scout has decided on the car they want, how exactly do you build it?  If you're an experienced woodworker, this isn't a problem at all!  But if you've never held a saw before, you'll need some assistance!  🙂

In addition to the Pinewood Derby books like these that are available, here are a few websites you might want to visit.

Basic Building Instructions from ABC Pinewood Derby	How to Build a 1st Place Pinewood Derby Car from the Art of Manliness
Speed Secrets from Boys’ Life	How to Build Pinewood Derby Cars from eHow

Pinewood Derby Car App

And “there's an app for that!”  It wouldn't be the 21st century otherwise.

The Pinecar Calculator is a free app for both iOS and Android devices.  It helps you find your car's center of gravity, or it can calculate the amount of weight you need on your front axle to place your center of gravity where you want it.

Click here for the iPhone and iPad app.
Click here for the Android app.

I hope these Pinewood Derby resources are valuable to you.  Good luck in your Pinewood Derby!

Yours in Scouting,
Sherry

P.S. Check out all these cool Pinewood Derby photo booth ideas!