Making a competitive car is very simple and you don’t need to be a physics teacher or engineer. All you need to do is get on the internet and search “pinewood derby”. It’s all there.

This does take time and you do find that most sites are ones where you have to pay for a book to get anything useful, but if you sift through the web, you’ll slowly find what you need.

Better yet, read the attached. I may not have collected all the secrets, but I think I got most. Combined with what we learned on our own from experimentation and success (something like 6-7 first place pack awards between two kids), everything you likely need to know is right here. If you read the attached and apply the basics of weigh location & axle prep, you can probably win something in your pack. I’ve includes lot’s of design ideas as well.

pwd2007v2.pdf  (email me if you want the ppt, this is a large file)

Update note 1 (Feb08): Webelo1 son wins pack championship. I’m telling you, it’s all in here!! Polish those axles and get the weight right!