The 2024 Pinewood Derby took place on Sunday, March 24 at Ballard East. 

In the spring of each year, Pack 163 hosts our annual Pinewood Derby. Each Scout receives a Pinewood Derby car kit and is asked to create the derby car that they think will run the fastest. This event build camaraderie between Scouts, fellowship with the community, and tests the Scouts' ingenuity and engineering skills, as well as their originality and creative thinking. 

This Derby also features an Open Class race in which siblings or other family and friends can participate with a Derby car of their own. 

Official rules for the Cub Scout Pack 163 Pinewood Derby Race: 

ALL CARS MUST PASS INSPECTION TO QUALIFY FOR THE RACE.  

The following rules will be the basis for inspection:

1. Only official Pinewood Derby race car construction kits may be used for this race. The wood provided in the kit must be used. The block may be shaped in any way as desired. Construction of ALL entries MUST have begun AFTER last year's races. Cars must be built new for this season and cannot have been raced in previous years.

2. Official Pinewood Derby race car wheels (as included in the kit) must be used. The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded.

3. Only axles supplied with the kit may be used. They may be polished or lubricated using powdered graphite or powdered teflon "white lube".  Only dry lubricants will be allowed for lubricating the wheels. One application of lubrication is allowed before the beginning of racing and none may be added thereafter.  

4. The completed cub scout car weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces. Open class cars shall not exceed 10.0 ounces. The official race scale measure of the pack is considered final. 

5. The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.

6. The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.

7. The maximum height of the car cannot exceed 7 inches (This is so cars will pass under the finish gate).

8. The car should have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels to fit track grooves.

9. The car should have 3/8” clearance underneath the body to prevent rubbing on the track.

10. The addition of wheel bearings, washers and/or bushings are prohibited. The car must not ride on any type of springs. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices.  Only gravity may power the car.

11. All cars should bear the scout's name and den rank/number on the bottom of the car.

12. No adjustments shall be made to cars after inspection.  Cars shall be placed in the “pits” on car stands where they shall remain until official racing has begun.  No further repairs or adjustments are allowed during racing unless damage to the car has occurred that makes it unraceable.

Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it will be allowed to compete. The Inspection Committee has the right and responsibility to disqualify those cars that do not meet these specifications.

Other racing points to consider:

• If, during a race, no car reaches the finish line on the track, the car which went the farthest in its lane shall be declared as the heat winner.

• No part of the car can extend past the starting pin so as to give an unfair advantage in finishing or interfere with a fair start.

• If a car jumps off the track or jumps to a different lane, the heat will be run again. If the same car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.

• Only one car may be registered by any person in the Pinewood Derby open class category.

• Scouts may choose to enter a 2nd car in the open class category and abide by the open class rules and guidelines for this car.

• Awards will be presented by our Event Judges in the following categories:

  • Best Glow

  • Best Design or Decoration

  • Most Colorful

  • Best Brakes

Scout Awards:

Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each den will be presented. 

Awards for Fastest Overall 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place (Based on fastest times among all dens).

 Open Class Awards:

Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in Open Class will be presented. 

We typically hold our annual Space Derby at one of our Fall Pack Meetings. Scouts receive a balsa space derby kit from the Pack earlier and they work to create their own rocket to use in the Space Derby. This event is a newer event, in the spirit of the original Pinewood Derby, that allows Scouts to work on their creativity, ingenuity, and engineering skills to try to create the fastest rocket. 

For this event, only currently enrolled Scouts are able to participate - there is no "Open Class" race for sibling or other family or friends to participate in. 

Official rules for the Cub Scout Pack 163 Space Derby Race: 

Registration and Rocket Inspection will take place between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM on race day.  

Late registrants will not be permitted to race. 

All rockets must pass the following inspection to qualify for the race:

1. Only basic materials supplied in the Official BSA Space Derby kit may be used. The hanging device supplied in the kit MUST be used.

2. The nose cone (propeller assembly) must not be glued in place on the nose of the rocket. A notch or groove should be formed in the tail of the rocket to seat the rubber band-holding dowel. The dowel must not be glued in place. (These rules allow for rubber band replacement in the case of breakage)

3. Two rubber bands per rocket will be allowed.  Replacements should be available.

4. There are no restrictions on the weight or design of the rocket. Rockets may be detailed in any way as long as it does not exceed original kit length, is flight-worthy, and does not interfere with another rocket during the race.

5. Rockets with wet paint will be disqualified.

6. Scout may use graphite powder between the propeller and the bushing if desired. Other forms of lubrication are prohibited.

7. Scouts shall use rockets built for this year, NO previous year rockets will be allowed.

8. Each ROCKET will be wound with the same number of turns via the automated winding system used by the Pack. 

9. At registration, numbers will be assigned to each rocket.  Rockets will race according to these numbers - dens will not be separated.

10. Once the rocket is submitted for entry, no further adjustments can be made except in the case of mechanical failure.

11. Any entry that experiences a mechanical failure will be allowed to re-race if it can be repaired.

12. One rocket per scout may be entered in the race.

13. All rulings by “Space Command” are FINAL.

14. Awards will be presented for showmanship in the following categories:

1. • • Most Creative

     • Most Colorful

     • Most Patriotic

     • Best Theme