Final Impound: Tuesday, March 17th (Pack Meeting)
Race Day: Friday, March 27th
Doors Open: 5:30pm
Start Time: 6:00 PM Opening Ceremony
Location: St. Mary’s Church Hall, 115 Crescent Street, Quincy, MA 02169
Weight: Max 5.0 ounces
Length: Max 7 inches
Width: Max 2 ¾ inches
Clearance: Min 3/8 inch under the body
Requirement: Scout must make at least two cuts with a handsaw
6:00 PM: Opening Ceremony
6:15 PM: Racing Heats Start
7:15 PM: Awards Ceremony
7:30 PM: Family & Friends Race
8:00 PM: Closing Ceremony
SPEED: Top 3 Overall & Top 3 per Den
ARTISTIC: Funniest, Most Creative, & Most Colorful
Please read all the slides here for the 2026 Event
Download the PDF of the Slides Here: SLIDES
The scouts are not permitted to use power tools but they are encouraged to design the shape of their cars, sand them, and decorate them accordingly.
Parents are encouraged to assist the child but they should let the child do most of the work.
At the workshops we will have available:
Power saws for big cuts (Adults Operate)
Hand saws
Sandpaper
A painting station
Weights and a Scale
Extra car kit parts (in case of loss/breakage)
Sign Up for your preferred derby clinic HERE
Sign Up To Volunteer at the Derby!
There are many jobs to help with and we need your help to make this event a success!
Click HERE to register to help
All entries in the derby will start with the "Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit" which includes the body, 4 axles, and 4 wheels.
All Scouts will be given a PWD kit at the den meetings during teh first week of March. They will also be available for pick up at a later date if you miss the meeting. Contact your Den Leader for more information.
Additional kits may be purchased ($8.00) from the Pack at the Pack Build Days. Cars may not exceed 5 ounces in weight and must conform to certain size restrictions and specifications. Decorating the cars are up to the imagination of the children.
The complete set of rules will be available at the Derby Workshops.
Scouts must race the car they built in 2026. (You may bring previous cars to race on the practice track.)
A Friends & Family race will be held at the end of the competition.
Winners will be determined by the lights and sensor on the track with all results being final.
If a car is damaged during a race, repairs will be limited to immediate wheel and axle replacements. If a car can’t finish the current heat, it will be scored as coming in third place.
We are here to have some fun competition as a Pack and families. Your presence is requested for the entire competition.
Race Scoring Guidelines
Utilizes a CUMULATIVE SCORING SYSTEM
Each car will race 4 separate races (heats)
Each car will race once in each lane
Each heat will have a winner but the individual finish time is the only thing that counts
The lowest race time for each racer will be thrown out.
One bad heat will not eliminate a racer from winning an award.
Top 8 Lowest Times will go to Grand Finale
Grand Finale – 8 Car Playoff – Lowest Cumulative Score Wins
Cars MUST meet these standards:
The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches (this is the length of the block when you receive it).
The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches, including wheels (this allows you to add width to the original block).
The height of the car cannot exceed the height of the track gate - 5 inches
The width between wheels must be 1 ¾” (this is the width of the original block).
The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body so it does not rub on the center guide rail.
The car must not weigh more than 5 ounces. (Weights will be provided at clinics and on race day.)
Cars should be built by the Cub Scouts with some adult guidance. At least two cuts on the car must be made by the Scout with a handsaw.
Building instructions are included in your kit. Read them thoroughly!
**Pack 42 leaders will apply dry graphite lubricant to all cars after impound and prior to the start of the race. We will not be applying more during the race or between heats.
Check back soon for more updates.
Helpful Videos and Tips
A PDF of Templates compiled for help building
Tips from Youtube Engineer Mark Rober