Pack 121's Pinewood Derby Homepage

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!
 
Cub Scouting's signature event is typically held in the winter, early in the New Year.  As the time gets closer, more specific information will be available on this page as well as in our Pack calendar.  Be sure to save the date, and tell your friends and family so they can join us!  This is a family event so bring the grandparents, uncles, cousins, and anyone else who might enjoy the race.
 
"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 sloped, metal track. Every boy can design and build his own "Grand Prix" car to enter in the race.  Siblings and Parents are welcome (and encouraged!) to join the fun and build a car, too!

 

Race Day Highlights


There will be three divisions...  

1) The Scout Derby - with the three fastest cars qualifying for the District Pinewood Derby

2)The Outlaw Derby - Parents and Leaders compete in this category.
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!  Trophies are awarded for both speed and style.  Who says looks aren't everything?

Derby Workshops

There will be several opportunities to mold and shape that block of pinewood into a mean, lean, well-decorated racing machine.  Before race day, there will be at least one Workshop set up for boys and their parents to have access to woodworking equipment and design their cars.  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.

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.  All active Scouts will receive a kit as a Christmas present in December.  Parent and siblings may purchase their own kits.  The kits are sold at the local Scout Shop, online, or from the Pack as available.  Cars may not exceed 5 ounces in weight and must conform to certain size restrictions and specifications.  Decorating the cars are up to the imagination of the boys.  The complete set of rules will be available at the Derby Workshops, and will also be sent out via email as the Derby gets closer.  A copy of the rules can be found by following the link below:

(Note:  This rules sheet has dates and times that are for another district and do not apply to Pack 121)
2017 Pinewood Derby

Workshop:
February 4th, 2017

Race Day:
March 4, 2017

The menu below is a list of categorized topic pages offering some tips and suggestions on designing and racing a pinewood car.  This information is not "official" and is not meant to replace the official Cub Scout rules.  Additionally, there are many resources available on the Internet where even more design tips can be found.  The most important thing is to be creative and have fun!