Tips for Building a Fast Pinewood Derby Car. Pinewood Derby cars are an expression of a child’s creativity and blend science, technology, engineering, and math in a fun, hands on activity.

His derby car, piloted by a boy from Meyer’s neighborhood in Bel Air, sped down Main Street in late October bearing the sandwich shop’s logo and orange flames, and propelled only by gravity.

Joe Gill/The Express-TimesA soapbox derby car in Pennsylvania in this 2006 file photo. An annual race in Washington Borough saw one contestant crash into a bale of hay, injuring one spectator.

Demo derby used to be a low-budget hobby for guys who bought jalopies for one last romp before the scrap heap. But the event has changed — and some fear it may be running out of gas.

Allyson Jacobson of Winnetka took a photo to remember the final derby car made by son Daniel Albrecht, 10, a fifth-grader. “This is my favorite event in Cub Scouts,” Daniel said.

Strongly reminiscent of Disney-produced live-action features from the 1970s, "Down and Derby" is a modestly amusing family-friendly comedy about a miniature car race that brings out the worst in ...