Build a car. Race the pack.
A pinewood derby car simulator you can play right here. Pick a body, wheels and weight on a budget of bench points, get through the weigh-in, and race. Win and you earn points to build a faster car. It's a fun way for a Scout (or a parent) to see why the fast cars are fast before the real build starts.
Sound is on by default; the speaker button in the corner mutes it. Open it full screen.
How to play
- Build. You start with 70 bench points. A sleeker body, lighter wheels, a rail rider, polished axles and tungsten weight all cost points, so you can't have everything. Choose what matters.
- Pass the weigh-in. Like a real inspection table, the car has to come in at 5 ounces or less.
- Race. Your car runs against the pack. A win earns 3 bench points and a loss still earns 1, up to 100, so next time you can afford the faster parts.
- Climb the ranks. From Rookie to Den Champ, Pack Champ and District Ace as the wins add up.
What it teaches about a real car
Weight is speed, up to the limit. A heavier car carries more energy down the hill, which is why nearly every fast car is right at 5 ounces.
Where the weight sits matters. Weight toward the back keeps the car on the slope a little longer and pays off on the flat. Too far back and the car gets twitchy and slows itself down. The sweet spot is in between.
Friction is the enemy. Polished axles and light, true wheels lose less speed than anything else you can change. Wheels that are slow to spin up cost time at the start.
Shape helps, but less than you'd think. A wedge or bullet cuts air drag on the flat, but a sleek body with rough axles still loses to a plain block that rolls clean.
Pushing alignment is a gamble. Steering into the rail trims drag, but the harder you push it, the likelier the car wobbles off the line.
Check your own race's rules before you build. Some packs don't allow certain wheels, weights or rail riders. The Cub Scout pinewood derby page covers the usual kit rules.
Running the real race?
Derby Dashboard runs the actual derby from one laptop: the roster, check-in, fair heats in every lane, results on the big screen and the awards. The setup guide walks through a first race with screenshots.
Questions
Is it free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with nothing to install and no account.
Does it save my progress?
Your rank, best time and car stay on the device you play on. Clearing the browser’s site data starts you over.
Is the physics real?
It’s a simplified model of the real thing: gravity down the slope, axle friction, wheel spin-up, air drag and where the weight sits. It’s tuned to be a fair game, so treat the lessons as directions, not exact numbers for your track.
Can I put it on our pack website?
Yes. Press the embed button (the code icon) in the simulator’s top corner to copy a snippet you can paste into your site.
Does this run our real race?
No, it’s just for fun. Derby Dashboard, the app, is what runs a real derby: the roster, check-in, heats, results on the big screen and awards.
Sign-ups are coming soon
We're getting Derby Dashboard ready for more packs and clubs. Join the waiting list and we'll email you when it's your turn.
Ready to run your race?
Create an account and set up your derby. Free covers up to 20 racers, and you can move up to a paid plan from the app.