Pinewood Derby

January 24, 2026

Reminder: Parents, grandparents, family members, and guardians, the pinewood derby car is a project for your Scout to create and build with your help as needed. Allow them to do as much as you feel is safe, but please use your judgment for your individual scout.

Derby Details

January 23 @ 5:00 - 7:00 pm: Set-Up & Registration / Check-In

January 24 @ 12:30 pm: Registration / Check-In

January 24 @ 1:00 pm: Race

The Pack 53 Pinewood Derby uses an integrated racing schedule so that scouts are racing against others across all dens, as well as the "Open" class. Each scout's car will race four times against randomly-assigned opponents. Each scout's car will race one time on each of the four racing lanes to cancel out any lane-performance issues.

The final rankings only take into account the scout's own den, and therefore each den will have an individual champion. Additional places will be at the discretion of the Pinewood Derby coordinator based on the total number of racers in all of the dens. One Overall Champion will be determined based on the best overall time. Scouts also vote on best-looking car, which is also awarded per den or scout group.

The Pack 53 Pinewood Derby uses a sensor-based track and derby software to determine the winner and subsequent finishers of each race, race times, and cars' relative speeds. A racer's average race time is what is used to rank them against the other members of their den and ultimately assign rank.

The top 3 overall finishers will also have the opportunity to attend the District Pinewood Derby race.

Open Class

The Open Class gives any non-Cub Scouts - friends, family, classmates, community members, former scouts, and even scouts from another Pack or Troop - the opportunity to participate in our Pinewood Derby event.

If you are interested in participating in the Open Class, please register below to sign-up and receive a car.

Open Class racers will be mixed in with the pack participants within the racing schedule, but will not affect scout racing awards. There will be an Open Class champion, as well as a best-looking car award. Additional awards are at the discretion of the Pinewood Derby coordinator.

Entry into the Open Class is $10 payable by cash or check to "Cub Scout Pack 53" when you receive your car. (If you provide your own official Pinewood Derby car, registration is $5 payable at the event during registration.)

Derby Racer Specifications:

Cars must only be built using the Pinewood Derby Car Kit you received at our November Pack meeting. If you need another car kit (due to breakage, missing parts, etc.), please contact a scout leader.
Wheel bearings, washers and bushings are prohibited from being used with the axles. Wheels are prohibited from being reshaped. Only light material imperfections may be removed. The car shall not ride on springs.
Car must be free-wheeling. No propulsion devices allowed. Only dry lubricant is permitted.
Additions such as steering wheels and driver are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the dimensional specifications listed below. Each car must pass tech inspection. Owners will be informed of failure (if present) and given an opportunity during the weigh-in period for appropriate adjustments before official check-in. Once approved, cars will not be inspected further or accessible.
Exception to above: If car is unable to reach the finish line on first attempt or experiences a wreck, then it is allowed to go to the “garage” for repairs.
Weight: The car must total 5 oz. or less. Every car will be weighed by tech inspection before the race using one official scale.
Dimensions: Total length must not exceed 7 inches. Total width must not exceed 2 ¾ inches. Total height should not exceed 4 inches, or damage could result. Width of the car body between wheels must be 1 ¾ inches. Bottom clearance between car and track must not be less than ⅜ inches. Be sure to measure any weights fastened on the bottom.
Axle locations are prohibited from being altered from where they are designated on the pine block in your kit.
Open class entries must abide by the same rules and guidelines as above.
Appearance of the car must in no way be offensive. If there is a question, then it is probably not ok.

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