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Enamel paint will give your Pinewood Derby car the glossiest finish, but any paint works great for your Pinewood Derby car. You can even use markers or stickers. The point is to be creative and have fun. Be careful that your paint and decorations don’t rub or stick to your car’s wheels. Many people find it best to finish decorating their car before they install the axles and wheels. If you need design inspiration, check out these Pinewood Derby car photo galleries.

In the official Pinewood Derby kit, the axle grooves closest to the edge are usually put at the rear of the car. However, you are allowed to orient your car in whichever direction works best for your design. Most Cub Scouts find it easiest to sketch their Pinewood Derby car designs before they start cutting. You can download a printable Pinewood Derby car template PDF here.

It doesn’t matter how short you make your car, however you cannot change the wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles, center to center) from the kit body distance of 4–3/8″.

Since a Pinewood Derby car is accelerated by gravity, the best way to speed up a car is by maximizing its weight. A heavier car will go faster, so you should always make your car as heavy as our pack’s rules allow. It’s also important to reduce friction and air drag. Make sure your car’s wheels spin smoothly and don’t rub against the side of the car. You may also want to polish the axles to remove any burrs or imperfections. Use plenty of dry graphite to provide lubrication. Get more tips for building a fast Pinewood Derby car and

The first Pinewood Derby race was organized by Cubmaster Don Murphy on May 15, 1953, at Pack 280C’s Scout House in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Other packs in the Los Angeles area held races that year, too. By 1954, officials at the Boy Scouts of America heard about the event and began to spread the word, and _Boys’ Life_ magazine published Pinewood Derby plans in its October 1954 issue. That was the first reference to the Pinewood Derby in any BSA publication. It wasn’t long before packs across the country made the Pinewood Derby a part of their annual calendar. Read