Pinewood Derby

Pinewood Derby

It's time for Pack 1461's annual Pinewood Derby!!!  Saturday, March 2nd

Join your fellow scouts in designing, building and racing your very own customized car! The Pinewood Derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. With assistance from their families, Scouts design and build small wooden cars according to official Pinewood Derby guidelines, then race them against the other members of their Den and Pack. The race is open to all Cub Scouts registered with Pack 1461. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track. Every Scout will design and build a "grand prix" car to enter in the race. Siblings are welcome to design, build, and race their own cars in a special non-competitive Sibling Race. Kits for siblings are available from the Pack.

Check-In and Judging

Check in is still being finalized but will likely be March 1st. Please bring your cars to check-in ready to race! We’ll have a small area setup for any quick, last minute adjustments you need to make, but in keeping with social distancing, we’re encouraging all families to bring your cars ready to roll. Be on the lookout for a signup genius link regarding check-in!

Race Day!

Race day will be Saturday, March 2nd. 

We’re excited to watch these cars roll! You’ll get more information on check in, race timing, and other details as we get closer to race day!

Please review all official race rules by clicking the link below. It includes height and weight restrictions!

https://sites.google.com/site/cspack1461/pinewood-derby/rules

Look out for more details regarding check-in, race time and streaming information, as well as potential outdoor “workshops” to help you get your car race ready!  If you have not picked up a car and would like to do so, please email Ashley absilver@comcast.net

"Be Fast... or Look Good Trying"

All participants will receive the 2024 Pinewood Derby patch and the top three racers in each den will receive medals. The fastest three cars overall in the pack will receive trophies and each den winner will be eligible to race their car in the district race. In addition to speed, the cars will still be judged prior to the race, and some scouts will receive appearance awards. The sibling race is a non-competitive exhibition race and will not have awards.

Sportsmanship & Guidelines

The Derby is about doing one's best and having fun. The most important values in Pinewood Derby competition are parent/child participation, good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules. Everyone is responsible for recognizing and encouraging these qualities in addition to traditional racing awards. Please feel free to give guidance and minimal assistance to your Scout throughout the process. This is a chance for your child to work with you as a team and to enjoy the spirit of friendly competition with other Scouts. Also your Cub Scout will enjoy the satisfaction of building a car from the kit provided.

Each scout may enter only one car in the competition and siblings may race one car in non-competitive sibling race. The car must have been built during the current school year (the school year in which the Derby is held). 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 nine pieces MUST be used before the car can race. Cars may not exceed 5 ounces in weight and must conform to guidelines included in the car kit. Decorating the cars is up to the Scouts' imagination. Click here for a full list of Pack 1461's Pinewood Derby Official Race Rules.