Pinewood Derby

Thanks to Ryan Angell for the hip video from our Derby Days Check out the live footage

Welcome to the world of Pinewood Derby!!

Cub Scouts just like you have been building their own cars and competing in Pinewood Derby® events since 1953! At the heart of this event’s success is the process itself – bonds are strengthened as the Cub Scout partners with a parent or adult mentor to design, carve, paint, weigh, refine, and race the car. So enjoy the ride!

The benefits, for Cub Scouts and adults, are discovered through the derby process itself: strengthening bonds, sharing responsibility, developing teamwork, learning new skills, exercising creativity, building sportsmanship and confidence, and making new friends.

The father of the Pinewood Derby®, Donald Murphy, described his vision for the event to Scouting magazine in 1999: “I wanted to devise a wholesome, constructive activity that would foster a closer father-son relationship and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship through competition.” As Cub Scouts learn the skill of good sportsmanship, they are better able to recognize and appreciate the new skills they’ve acquired, show respect to all those involved, and experience the fun and excitement of competition.

Important Dates:

1. Track setup will be the Thursday evening before the race. Parents are encouraged to attend to help with setup. This is also the only day for scouts to get an”unofficial” trial weigh-in for their cars. Scouts can still take cars home and make modifications.

2. Derby check-in: ALL SCOUTS PLANNING TO RACE A CAR IN THE PACK 502 PINEWOOD DERBY MUST BE CHECKED IN between 7-9pm the Friday evening before the race. Once your car is officially checked in, you will not be able to get it back, lubricate it or make any modifications.

3. Derby Race Day: Saturday 3pm -7:30pm Date TBD

Derby Supply Stores:

Blackhawk Hardware*

4225 Park Road
Park Road Shopping Center
Charlotte, NC 28209
704-525-2682
Monday – Friday, 8a.m. to 9p.m.
Saturday, 8a.m. to 6p.m.
Sunday, 1p.m. to 6p.m.

Blackhawk Hardware Paint and Plumbing team will help cut out your car while you wait (if you missed the Pack 502 clinic prior to the winter break). They’ll also show you weights, paint, and graphics to make your pinewood derby car cooler and faster!!

Carolina Scout Shop
2121 Westinghouse Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28273
(704) 583-2627
Mon-Fri 9:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sun Closed

Free Pinewood Derby Templates:

Scoutlife Derby ideas

Template Lab

Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby website

http://www.PinewoodDerby.org

Pinewood Derby Rules

The Official Cub Scout BSA Pinewood Derby Rules are in the box of the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kits handed out by the scout leader. Cub Scout packs are not required to follow the exact Pine Wood Derby rules established by the BSA and Pinewood Derby rules CAN differ from one pack to another. So every derby car builder must get a copy of Pack 502 rules and build accordingly. It is important to read all rules before planning and building your Pinewood Derby car.

• Printable copy of Pack 502 Pinewood Derby Rules
• The Pinewood Derby is open to all Cub Scouts.
• Cars should be built by the Cub Scouts with some adult guidance and supervision.
• Any technical assistance should be fully explained to the Cub Scout so that he can use that knowledge on future projects.
• Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
• The car shall not ride on springs.
• Only official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby wheels and axles are permitted.
• Only dry lubricant is permitted; graphite dust can be used in the wheels
• Details, such as steering wheel and driver are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications.
• The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.
• Derby weights: Cars can weigh exactly 5 ounces or less.
• The fastest cars tend to be those weighing exactly 5oz. See other Speed Secrets here.
• Design elements suggested: Paint, Decals, Skins, Tape

Pack 502 Schedule of Weigh-ins

• Thursday – time TBD: Trial Weigh-in and help with Final Tune-Up hosted at Harrison Church.
• Friday 7:00pm-8:00pm: FINAL Weigh-ins and Trial Runs on Track (Max of 2 trial runs per car),
• Friday 9:00pm: Official FINAL check-in ENDS at 9pm sharp.

Purpose of Weigh-ins

• Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it is eligible to compete. If, at Final registration, a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason for failure and will be given time within the official weigh-in time period to make desired adjustments.
• After final approval, cars will not be re-inspected unless the car is damaged in handling or in a race.

ALL SCOUTS RACING A CAR IN THE PACK 502 PINEWOOD DERBY MUST CHECK IN NO LATER THAN FRIDAY 9:00pm. Late entrants will not be allowed to compete in the official races.

Did You Know?

• A fast Pinewood Derby® car can reach a speed of nearly 20 miles per hour. Pretty good for a little block of wood!
• If a Pinewood Derby® car racing down the track was enlarged to the size of a real automobile, it would be speeding at more than 200 miles an hour. That’s fast!
• The first Pinewood Derby® was run in 1953 at the Manhattan Beach Scout House near Los Angeles when Cubmaster Don Murphy introduced the idea to Pack 280C.
• Over the years, Cub Scouts have built close to 100 million Pinewood Derby® racers. That’s a lot of cars!
• If you lined up all the Pinewood Derby® racecars, bumper-to-bumper, they would reach more than 7,000 miles – far enough to stretch from Pineville, NC, to the North Pole!
• No Pinewood Derby® car has ever used a drop of gasoline. Gravity and low friction = Speed!