Pinewood Derby Car Winners

We are so proud to have helped so many boys, girls, parents, and grandparents become Pinewood Derby Car winners and help them make their derby project easier and more fun. 

Some of these stories are so touching, like Ed Card's story below, they still bring tears to my eyes.  As I've told my son before every race, "Win or lose, we did our best." We are here to help you do your best and wish everyone who reads this success and happiness too...

Didn't lose a race all day!
Key was...PRO Speed Axles and Wheels

Hey Joe,
I forgot to tell you how we did! This was our first year in the "derby" and not only did my son win his den, he took overall first place in the pack!

It was a double elimination tournament and he didn't loose a race all day! I knew we had a fast car, most of his races wasn't even close!

The key I believe was the weight placement and the
speed wheels and polished speed axles I bought from you!

Thanks again for your help, we wouldn't have won without it!
Randy

Looked Around - Pinewood Pro is Best!

My son ended up winning not only the Wolf Division but also beat out the entire pack. He easily outdistanced the other Wolves. A number of dads asked me what my secret was. We showed the video of the race to both my family and my wife's family and they could not believe that he won. I read the testimonials about "the look on my son's face" and comments like that. Well, it is true. He was so incredibly happy. Feel free to use my comments on your web site.

I reviewed several pinewood derby web sites before I chose yours...my hunch was right. Thank you again.

Undefeated!
PRO Speed Axles and Friction-Free Wheels

This was our very first derby race and we spent many hours making our car and enjoying the time together.

At our practice races, his car lost every heat and the wheels that came with the kit even came loose during the race. I felt bad for him even though he was actually doing ok with how poorly our car was doing.

The car looked very cool but simply didn't run fast at all. I searched on Google and found your site then ordered your Pro Speed Wheels and Super Speed Axles along with a tube of your graphite with the hope that we would at least cross the finish line with some dignity. Well let me tell you, we crossed the finish line 12 times with a slightly different result.

We went undefeated in every race and took first place in the Tiger division!
This car simply could not be defeated. This was some of the best money I have ever spent with my son.

Seeing his eyes pop out of his head when his car kept winning was priceless!
Thank you for making this a fantastic experience for us.

We will be loyal customers as the years tick on...
Kyle and Wayne Sutton, DDS
Sonoma Smiles

Three First Place Wins

We appreciate the speed tips you offered and although we had decided on the designs weeks earlier I was able to incorporate some of your tips. This year I had 3 sons participating in the derby. This was the first year for my youngest son Joshua (6.5 Years) in the derby. He won 1st place in the Tigers.  He was so excited.

My middle son Johnny (a bear) won 1st place in his for the bears and Second place in the pack.  He will compete in the county wide derby next month.My oldest son Jimmy a Weblos 2 was racing his last derby this year.  He came in second in the Weblos 2  and 4th in the pack.  His is the tank design was surprisingly fast.

Additionally, I was askd the night before the race to help a friend of Jimmy build his car because his dad has been away for some time.  We were able to start and create a design that incorporated more of your tips and his car ended up taking 1st in the Weblos 2 and 1st in the pack. He was so happy, he has had a few rough months and I think this will be a positive memory for him to look back on.

I attribute their successes to the tips I was able use from your book.

Thank you.
Jim Teeter

It's all about...
How You Play the Game

Pinewood Pro Best on the Web!

Priceless!

Your pinewood derby car book was a great help. The look on my 6 year old's face was priceless when he picked up his first place trophy.  We (I mean he) smoked them by 4 lengths in the finals!!!
Thanks again,

Chuck & Billy

A Heart Warmer

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thanks.  My sister is raising a young 7 year old boy whose parents abandoned him.  As you can understand, his self-esteem isn't the greatest. He called and asked if I would help with his Pinewood Derby car project, because he is without a father.  I agreed and downloaded your book. 

I was only hoping to give him a chance of winning one or two races, just enough so he felt some accomplishment.  I was happily surprised when he came in 1st place. 

At the finals, all the boys in his pack were shouting his name and in the last race he was competing against boys in the 8th grade.  (He was in 1st.)  When his car won, all the people in the hall began to cheer for him.  He had beaten everyone, including the older boys. I can only tell you he had his 15 minutes, and stood in the spotlight as proud as could be.  I never saw him walk with his head held quite as high as that night leaving the hall, receiving congratulations from all the pack leaders and parents. 

I wanted to tell you that for a young boy who has endured more pain and disappointment then probably both of us combined, it has truly made a difference.  
Thank You !!!, from both of us.

Ed Card

2nd 1st Place

Edward Card

Grand Pa helps Grandson Speed to 1st Place

Royal Ranger Racer takes 1st place

Todd

Couldn't believe it!  Daughter First, Son Second!

My son, Shane, won second place and 
my daughter, Stacie, won FIRST.  


We couldn't believe it!

Thanks again for your tips. 
Here are some pictures. enjoy..........

Shane and Stacie

16 year old sister helps little brother win

 My little Tiger Cub brother was so excited when he found out what a pinewood derby was. I was going to help him, but I had no idea how to go about building a pinewood derby car. I researched on the internet, that's when I found this website. It looked good so I ordered the book. It amazed me with all the speed tips it gave! We built a very good car and was ready for race day. It was amazing his little car was zooming! He wound up winning 2nd place, and his little face was grinning ear to ear. Nobody could believe a 17 year old girl and 6 year old boy could build such a fast car. We look forward to the next pinewood derby (he already has the design ready!). Thanks so much!        

Sarah

Thanks for the tips in the books. This was my 7 year old son's first Pinewood Derby race and I would have paid 100 times the price just to see the expression on his face when he took first place. For a first timer the information you provided was invaluable. 

Thanks Again 
Fred & Vincent

No Tools, No Clue - Still Wins for Tiger Cub

 My son Frankie was so excited when he told me about the Pinewood Derby. He had thoughts, ideas, drawings and colors already picked out.  I opened the box and can not describe how over whelmed I was.  I had no idea how to help him transform this into something that would resemble a car- I didn't even own a saw.   For a mom with no woodworking experience, no tools and not a clue on what to do, Pinewood Derby in Six Easy Steps helped my son and I with everything from getting organized to putting on the finishing touches. My son was proud of his dream car and we cherish the time that we shared building it together.  He got first place in the first run, finished second in his den and ended up fourth in the entire pack!  

Not bad for a first time Tiger Cub.
Kim and Frankie

Best Tips Anywhere!!!

I just wanted to thank you for the best information I've ever paid for.  It was worth every penny!  My son Ian and I raced today and he would have taken first (caught on the starting gate in one heat... caused him a trophy, but he took first by a large margin in all other heats) and I took first in the adult open class.  Great speed tips that I NEVER would have come up with on my own! 

More importantly though, we had a great time doing this together, and thanks to you, we were competitive too!

Chris and Ian Plasch

Beat the past District Champions

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! The look on my sons face was worth a million bucks. He came in second overall and won a birth in the county finals.  Again your tips are the BEST. Any suggestions for a "TUNE UP" for the finals?
         
One ecstatic Father
Dr. Dan

I just wanted you to know that last Saturday, my daughter and I participated in the Awana Grand Prix Pinewood Derby and out of 21 girls she placed 2nd. I was amazed at how she kept winning each race! I had followed your Winning Derby Building Secrets and it sure paid off. It was worth the $6.00 to have some extra knowledge on how to build the car and deal with the wheels and weight placement. Some people actually thought we had some kind off rocket boosters that made it go so fast!!!

Thanks again from Nikki and her Dad Judd

Recieved your book on Saturday, January 20, 2001 and had to have the car ready before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday. Had the main car completed, but read your tips for alignment and wheels. Well the attachment should speak for itself. Thanks,

Steve 1st Place

Just wanted you to know that my son's car came in 1st in the Bear Cub Division and 2nd overall in the entire pack in this year's derby.  We had never even come close in past races.  We used your techniques and they obviously played a significant role in our success.  My son was elated!

We now go on to the next level of competition.  Thanks for the great tips!!! 

GEJ

We won! The competition wasn't even close. Everyone thought we padded the car with more weight, but we weighed it at the end of the race to prove the nay Sayers wrong. It was an awesome experience and my son still talks about it today. I've sworn him to secrecy and he hasn't told anyone our edge. You've developed a great book and I would have paid double for it. Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Kevin

Last year at his first Pinewood Derby, my son (and his dad and civil engineer grampa) tied for last place. This year with the help of your booklet, Alex won all of his heats, 19-0. Needless to say he was thrilled and so were we. 

We also worked with another boy who had never raced and doesn't have a dad around at all. His car came in 5th out of about 20 cars, many built by more experienced "father/son" teams. He was equally pleased. Thanks for having enough interest and care for this kind of program to post your terrific web site. We have already recommended it to the competition.

Dona

AWANA Grand Prix 1st Place Trophy

We downloaded you book from the internet. We used your tips (especially those for friction reduction) and our son won first place in the AWANA Grand Prix this weekend. He was so excited!! Our first time to make a pinewood derby car and it came in first in all five heats!!! Thanks for the tips. We will recommend your book to others. 
We will email you a picture of the first place trophy!!!!

LaNeicia Stone
Texas

First Car Ever - District Winner!

My son won his first Tiger Cub pinewood derby! Although we didn't utilize every tip that was offered, because we downloaded the book about 24 hours before the race and because a few of the tips were expressly prohibited by local district rules, we were extremely happy with the results. 

His first place win also guarantees him a spot at the District finals.
Thanks for the insightful tips!

Kelly
TeamV, Pennsylvania

1st Out of 125 Cars

We won!  In the Den championships we beat 24 other Bears and won every heat.  In the pack championships, it was mighty close; the final race had the four fastest cars out of over 125 in the pack.  All finishers were within a two-inch space, but we were there first!

Thanks for the tips.

Kevin Koellner 

Glowing Excitement

Thanks for the tips.  It is a lot of fun to see your son glowing with excitement as he enters the championship race.  I feel giving him a realization that a little extra, maybe even tedious work, does lead to success is a nice lesson for life!  He had invited two friends along to watch (non-scouts who had never seen a pinewood derby) and it was a lot of fun to be in the championship with them cheering him on!  It was certainly worth the $5.95!

Bruce

WE WON !!!

AFTER 4 YEARS OF NOT WINNING, WE FINALLY DID IT!!  WE CAME IN 2ND PLACE !!  OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 30 CARS, ONLY ONE OTHER WAS FASTER THAN OURS !!  MY SON WAS SPEECHLESS!!  YOUR BOOK TRULY WORKED !! 
GOOD JOB, FLAMEO AND SON

Wayne F. Bertholdt

Two Winners on Dad's Birthday

Never Lost a Single Race 

Your tips were great!  This was the first time for my son and I at our church's Lutheran Pioneer Pinewood Car Derby.  We raced against nearly 40 other participants and NEVER lost a single race.  Everyone was stunned by a first-time entrant dominating the races.  Now it's off to the 4-State District races and then to Nationals if we continue to win. 

Thanks again!  We couldn't have done it without your tips.

Travis (Son) and Stan (Dad) Hunt
Texas

Pinewood Derby Winner - Alaska Wolf

Brain
Tiger Cub with Wolf Car Design
1st Place

I just wanted to say thanks a ton for the advice.  My dad was having a heart attack about this car, and he really appreciates it.
Kyle Carrington 

Overtakes Returning Champion

Just wanted to thank you for the great tips.  My son's pack had their race last Saturday and he took 1st place!  He won every one of his heats as well as beating the returning champion in the finals and we didn't even use all of the tips.  His car will race against other pack winners at the Scout-O-Rama in May. 

Once again, thank you!  Jacob was so excited that he got the1st place trophy!!!!

Kevin, CA

God Blessed This Tiger

I have three boys and two of them are really into soccer.  They have won numerous trophies.  However, I have a son with a serious medical condition and the doctors will not allow him to play sports.  To make a long story short, his brothers have many trophies sitting in the trophy case and he had none.  That has all changed!  Thanks to your tips,  my son "Luke" won three trophies this year at the Pinewood Derby.  He won 2nd place for our den, 3rd place overall in our pack, and 3rd place at the district for Tiger Cubs.

Thanks for your help!  Oh!  Luke's 3rd place pack trophy is taller than all of his brother's trophies.  God Bless!

A proud dad "Win or Lose"

First Car -> Wolf Design -> Pack Champions!

Thanks Joe,

Just a short note to say with the WOLF Car Design Plan we downloaded from your web site,
we made our first ever Pinewood Derby car and amazingly we were Pack Champions!

Thanks, can't wait till next year!

Luke Randle, Den 6, Pack 561
Fiona Randle, Mom & Consultant engineer!

My son and I are very greatful for your speed tips.  After a dismal finish last year, last place in every race,  we placed 1st in his den and 3rd overall in his troop.  I can't even begin to discribe the joy I felt watching my sons face as his car crossed the finish line 1st six straight heats before heading to the finals.  This was our 2nd derby and what a turnaround compared to last year.  Your tips made the difference, " NO DOUBT ABOUT IT  ".

Thanks, 
Troy Noltkamper and son Keith Noltkamper

Velocazipper takes 1st

My son, Sam Miller won the 1st Place trophy for the Pack with his car The Velocazipper 286!  He was thrilled.  Now its on to "districts" in two weeks!  Thanks for the great tips!
Michael Miller 

DIDN'T Win, but Had a Blast

Hello my name is Kim Jones and I am a den leader in Lewisville, TX.  This was my son's first derby. We downloaded your secrets and he did good. In the first four runs, his car was first and the last two he was second.  I thank you for this book for us who have never done anything like this before.  We had a blast and even if we don 't  win a trophy or ribbon your book helped us out a lot because we didn't have a clue of what to do.  

Thanks, 
Kim, den leader den 8  

Tips Gave us the Edge

Hi, two weeks ago I purchased your tips guide and did get some good tips on building our car that we had not thought of.

Last night our pack had their race and my son won not only his den but the pack championship with his lowest winning time at 2.887. He narrowly won a couple of races (one race the margin was .005) but dominated in most. I have no doubt your tips helped give us that edge to take the trophy home, and now we get to race in the state championship's next month. This was the best money I've spent in a while, thanks. 
Fred  

Too Cool Cars, Two Hot Trophies

Pack Champion from LA

I just wanted to thank you for the speed tips.  My son Jesse, was the winner of the wolves with five-first place finishes and went on to become pack champion in the overall against 58 other cars! He undoubtedly had the fastest car on the track. This was a day he will never forget and neither will we.

Gary and Jesse
Louisiana

Joey is 1st in Show, Fastest in Pack

I just want to say thank you for the book! My son & I just raced our pinewood derby car today and won best of show/first in the Den and first in the pack. The car was the fastest by far. there was only one other car that gave us a fight. I think that he must have seen your book also. We are now on our way to the finals. Thanks again!!
Jim & Joey
WI

Won Every Race

I would to start by saying thank you. My son Cody is seven years old and is in troop 283.  After we received your books,  we done what we could to follow your plan. On Saturday , the 15, of MARCH, we raced.  We did not lose a race. Most of the races he won by at least 2 ft.The car was looked at again by the judges in the middle of the race, because some there thought it was illegal, but to their dismay, nothing was found.   The car just got faster and faster.The 2nd place car lost a total or 4 races,  making the competition not even close.

After the race I had several of the kids come up to me and wanted to know if next year I would help them build their cars.  My son is on top of the world.  We go to district April 5 so stay tuned. I would highly recommend your books to anyone that wants to build a fast pinewood derby car.  Again, thank you very much.

Rudy

Holly Pinewood Derbies, Batman...it's the BATMOBILE!!

Beat the Entire Pack

Thank you for your book!

I bought it on january 16, my son (Austin) raced on january 25 & won not only his wolf den but the entire pack! We were building his pinewood derby car in hopes of placing well enough in his den (10 cars) for a top 3 trophy, but ended up winning the entire pack race (40+ cars)!

Thanks again for all of your helpful info!

Brad

Bought our Speed Wheels

Fun Project...Sooooo Excited to Win!

Thanks again!
Rae

Axles Won the Race

The axles and book were great. We won the derby. The only run-off was for second and third place. My car, I mean my son's car, won consistently without a loss. I am going to order more materials from you for next year.

Thank You.
Neil Hughes

California Dreamin'