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Lubricate! Lubricate!
Putting lubricant on the axles and wheels of the pinewood derby car is one of the best ways to reduce friction and increase the speed of the car. There are many graphite lubricant brands that only need to be applied to the area of the axle near the wheel. The problem with the graphite lubricants is that they usually wear off after a few races. There are several lubricant brands that contain refined film oil, which keeps the wheels lubricated much longer than the graphite brands. However, at many meets only the graphite lubricants are allowed. Verify which lubricants are allowed before the meet.
Pamper the Axles
The axles of the car may need some work to ensure they are capable of top speed. Make sure the axle has been sanded or polished down, especially near where the wheel is attached. This is one of the greatest areas of friction on the pinewood car. After doing so, test the car to see if it will race straight down the track. If the car veers off the straight course, you need to adjust the axles. You may need to re-position the axle holes or the axle itself. Doing this will help the car race faster to the finish line.
Perfect the Wheels
The pinewood car wheels need some extra attention to get them ready to speed to the finish line first. Sand down or polish the wheels so that they are as smooth and round as possible. There are many custom made tools available that are specifically made to smooth and round the wheels of pinewood derby cars. Smooth the wheels very carefully because if they are sanded away too much, they will become lopsided and slow down the car.