- 1). Let your child's imagination lead you. Race cars don't have to be cars at all. The more creative, the better. Bananas, hot dogs, wedges of cheese, boats, buses, vans, alligators, bobsleds, spaceships and more recently, Wii remotes, have all rolled down ramps at Pinewood Derbies.
- 2
Use a band or coping saw to create the shape if it's more complicated than a simple wedge.saw on metal image by terex from Fotolia.com
Have your child draw the design on the car. Use the saw to cut the form. (If it is a simple wedge shape, you can use a hand saw, otherwise you may need a coping saw.) Sand the edges until smooth and rounded. - 3
Use toy soldiers, LEGO people, decals or car parts to adorn your design.carica americana image by domyre from Fotolia.com
Let your child use water-based paint to enhance his car. Use painter's tape or masking tape if the car will be more than one color. Let it fully dry before adding any creative adornments like decals, toy soldiers, LEGO people or adding the axles and wheels. - 4). Glue on enough weights so that the car weighs as close to 5 oz. (141 grams) as possible. On race day, add a puff of graphite to the axles by the wheels. Spin the wheels to work it in. Though you are aiming more for creativity than speed, chances are your child doesn't want to come in last, either.
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