Pinewood Derby

Get ready to race!

The Pinewood Derby is one of the most exciting Cub Scout events of the year! Scouts get to build their very own wooden race cars from a simple block of wood, then race them down a big track to see whose car is the fastest, coolest, or most creative.

But it’s not just about winning—it’s about having fun, trying your best, and spending time with your family and pack. You can paint your car, decorate it any way you want, and even give it a fun name. Every car is different, and every Scout gets to show off their awesome design.

Even better? By building and racing your car, you’ll complete your Racetime Adventure—a special part of your Cub Scout journey that helps you move up and earn your next rank!

So grab your tools, get your imagination ready, and start your engines. The Pinewood Derby is more than a race… it’s a Cub Scout tradition you’ll never forget!

Eligibility & Car Design

• The car body must be made from the block of wood provided in the official Pinewood Derby car kit provided by the Cub Scout pack. Other components, such as axles and wheels, must be part of the kit or official Scouting America parts.

• The car must have 4 wheels total, two in the front and two in the back. 

• Wheels must rotate freely. Lubrication of wheels and axles is permitted using only dry graphite.

• Cars must fit within the official size limits:

➡️ Maximum overall width: 2.75 inches

➡️ Maximum length: 7.0 inches

➡️ Maximum height: 3.0 inches

➡️ Minimum ground clearance: 0.375 inches (this is the distance from the bottom of the car to the track surface)

➡️ Maximum wheelbase: 4.5 inches (distance between front and rear axle).

➡️ No part of the car may protrude forward beyond the starting pin.

• The maximum weight of the car is 5.0 ounces (141.75 grams). This includes the car body, wheels, axles, and any added components (e.g., weights or decorations). 

• The car may be hollowed out and built to the maximum weight by the addition of wood, metal, plastic, paint, or decals only, provided each is built into or securely affixed to the body. It is recommended to add sufficient weight to the car to bring it as close to the 5.0 ounce weight limit without going over.

Construction Guidelines

• Cars must be built and decorated by the Cub Scout participant, when the task is age appropriate, with minimal adult assistance.

• It’s important that the child takes the lead in the design, assembly, and decoration of the car to ensure the Cub Scout spirit.

• The car must not contain any items that could damage the track or harm other cars (e.g., sharp points, protruding objects, excessive weight).

• The car must be able to roll down the track by gravity alone. No motors, magnets, or any other powered components are allowed. Use of bearings, bushings, washers, or the like between the wheel and car body are prohibited. Wheels must come in direct contact with the car body.

• Burrs and flashing are encouraged to be removed from axles and wheels. Is it permissible to polish wheels and axles.

• Wheel alterations prohibited - use of any type of beveled, tapered, thin sanded, wafered or lathe-turned wheels is prohibited. 

Decorations

• Cars can be decorated with paint, stickers, or decals to reflect the Cub Scout's personality and interests. However, please ensure that decorations do not interfere with the car’s performance (e.g., sticking out too far or obstructing wheel rotation).

Inspection & Check-In

• Each car must be registered, numbered, and pass inspection and weigh-in before it can compete in the Derby. The car will be weighed, measured for size, and checked for compliance with these rules.

• Prior to Race Day the Pack will hold a pre-check night to allow for Cub Scouts to check their car is compliant to the rules and provide them sufficient time to make any required changes.

• The Cub Scout or a designated adult may bring the car to the inspection station before the race, but once checked in, the car cannot be altered (e.g., adding weights, adjustments to the wheels, or adding lubricant).

• Be sure to lubricate the axles and make any last-minute repairs before the car is presented for Check-in and Inspection.

• Cars that do not meet the size, weight, or other specifications will be allowed to race, but will not be eligible for Pack Awards. Basic tools will be available for making last minute modification prior to being checked in.

Race Format

• The Pinewood Derby Race will be run on an aluminum track with four lanes and electronic timing.

• The cars will race in a series of heats. Each car will be raced in 4 heats.  Each car will be run on each of the lanes.

• Prior to starting any heats, the Pack will run test cars down the track to verify proper functionality of the timing hardware and ensure serial communications to the computer have not timed out.

• The following rules apply:

1. If a car comes off the track during a heat, a “No Race” will be declared and the heat will be run again. If the same car jumps off the track a second time, that car’s time for that heat will default to 9.9999 seconds.

2. If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, a “No Race” will be declared and the heat will be run again. If the same car leaves its lane a second time and/or interferes with another car, the interfering car will be removed from the heat and assigned a time of 9.9999 seconds for the heat.

3. If a car suffers a major mechanical problem, a “No Race” will be declared and race officials will attempt to repair the car within 5 minutes. If the car is still unable to compete, the damaged car will be assigned a time of 9.9999 seconds for the heat and any remaining heats.

4. If a car or cars do not make it to the Finish Line, the car(s) will be assigned a time of 9.9999 seconds for the heat.

5. Any heats that are required to be run again will be run after all other heats are completed.

• The three fastest average times in each of the den-level races will be recognized with an award for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the respective den-level.

• The three fastest average times across all the den-level races will be used to determine the Overall Pack 161 Pinewood Derby awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

• In case of a tie, a tiebreaker race will be held between the tied cars.

Safety & Sportsmanship

• All participants and spectators should exhibit good sportsmanship and respect for the race officials and other participants.

• Cars must be safely stored in the designated area when not racing to prevent damage.

• Please refrain from tampering with or handling other scouts’ cars during the event.

Modifications & Repairs

• No modifications are allowed once the car has passed inspection and is in the race lineup.

• If a car breaks during the race, repairs may be allowed at the discretion of the race officials before the car can return to the track.

Non-compliant Cars

• The Scout owner of a non-compliant car will receive a participation patch. Their car will still race but will not qualify for a speed award

How will heats be determined? - Pack 161 uses Grandprix Race Manager software. Racers are entered into the software into a group for the Pack and sub-groups for each Den. The software will then generate all the heats for the Pack as a Group. Racers may be in heats with racers in other dens, but ranking is based on time and not place in the heat. The order of the heats is determined by the software to ensure every racer has an opportunity to run on each track lane. When all heats are completed, the software automatically ranks each racer by their three fastest times averaged for both Sub-Group (Den level awards) and Group (Pack level overall awards).

What happens if my car is non-compliant to the requirements? - Scouts are encouraged to build a compliant car and the pre-check night will help ensure that happens prior to race day. If the car arrives on race day non-compliant, the scout and their parents are encourage to make as many modifications as possible on-site to make the car compliant prior to inspection and check-in. In the event the car cannot be made compliant but is otherwise safe to run, the Grandprix Race Manager allows for the car to be marked as not compliant where it will be permitted to race in its heats, but will not be considered for Den or Pack level awards. This is not preferred, but is an option to ensure every scout gets to race.

How are heat times measured? - Pack 161 uses a Smart Line Electronic Timer to measure each heat. The electronic timer "talks" (Serial Communication over USB) with the computer running the Grandprix Race Manager software, which records all times for each car in each heat. Fastest three times are averaged, automatically by the software.