Pinewood Derby

"Be Fast... or Look Good Trying"

The pinewood derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Pinewood derby cars are small wooden models that Cub Scouts make with help from their families. Then they race the cars in competition. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track. Every boy can design and build his own "grand prix" car to enter in the race.

Race Day Highlights

There will be three divisions...

1) The Scout Derby - with the six fastest cars qualifying for the District Pinewood Derby (if applicable)

2)The Parent Derby - where the leaders and parents who had nothing to do with building their son's cars get a chance to compete! (Wink, wink, nod.)

3) The Sibling Derby - Scout brothers and sisters can enter their own cars.

Prizes and Recognition

The Derby is about doing one's best and having fun, so all child participants will be recognized. But that doesn't mean our race winners won't take home some shiny hardware.

Derby Workshops

There will be several opportunities to mold and shape the block of pinewood into a mean lean well-decorated racing machine. We will announce dates and times for the workshops once we get the parents lined up who will be supervising the shop tools. The boys 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. There is no shame in entering a painted block of wood!

Equal Ground

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. The kits are sold at the local Scout Shop or online, but all scouts will be given a kit locally. Parents and siblings are on their own. Cars may not exceed 5 ounces in weight and must conform to certain size restrictions and specifications (detailed rules will be made available well before the event.) Decorating the cars is up to the imagination of the boys. The precut axle grooves must be used for the axles. Also, please try to avoid adding weights or other obstructions to the bottom of the car as they often won't clear the track and the cars may get stuck. Adding weights to the bottom is fine if put up into holes made in the car but it is best to treat the bottom of the block of wood as the actual bottom of the car with nothing attached below that surface.

Printable Rules

We will post the printable rules below when they become available.