Cub Scout Pinewood Derby

About the Pinewood Derby

The Pinewood Derby is a racing event for Cub Scout Pack 334. Cub Scouts, with the help of parents, build their cars from wood from kits supplied by the Pack. In races, awards are given for First, Second, and Third Place, as well as Best Gas Mileage. All cars are also judged for Creative Awards, including Most Unusual, Most Colorful, Most Detailed, Best Design, and Best Display. Parents and siblings are also invited to create their own cars to compete in our separate family race.

The Pinewood Derby is one of the highlights of Cub Scouting’s year. It is a day of fun, food, cheering, and creativity.

Each Cub Scout wishing to participate is given an official kit, which includes instructions, a block of pine wood, four plastic wheels, and four nails. Kits are usually handed out in early winter, and the race is usually held in late winter or early spring.

Race Format

Beginning in 2025, we will use a hybrid racing format that incorporates the double-elimination bracket system we’ve used in the past, along with the software (GrandPrix Race Manager) and timer (TwinTurbo) to measure each car’s speed each time it races.

In Round One, we will have multiple “heats” so every car can run once on every lane (our track has three lanes). This will allow each car to have three timed runs. The slowest time of the three will be dropped, and the remaining two times will be averaged.

In Round Two, the twelve cars with the fastest average speeds will race in head-to-head, double-elimination races, which will determine the First, Second, and Third-Place winners.

The Best Gas Mileage winner will be determined by the car that finishes Round One with the slowest average time.

Creative awards (see below) will be judged before the start of the race and announced at the end of the race; Scouts will (please!) take their cars home with them after the race.

Specifications

The finished car must use all nine pieces and meet our specifications (included in the instructions supplied with each kit). Each of these seven specifications will be measured on each car at Weigh-In:

• Weight: not more than 5.0 ounces
• Length: not more than 7 inches
• Width (including wheels and axels): not more than 2 3/4 inches
• Width Between Wheels: not less than 1 3/4 inches
• Bottom Clearance: not less than 3/8 inch
• Height: Not more than 5 1/2 inches

Other than these basic design rules, Cub Scouts are encouraged to carve and decorate the car however they choose. Blocks can be whittled with a hand knife, bandsaw, or Dremel carving tool for major shaping. Decals can be bought at scout shops or hobby shops.

Many Cub Scouts also add weights to the final design to bring the car to the maximum allowable weight; coins and glued-in lead or steel pieces are common ways to add weight. Cars typically vary from unfinished blocks to whimsical objects to accurate replicas of actual cars. Dry graphite powder is the only lubricant allowed, and it often helps to polish the provided nails.

Be creative, have fun, and maybe try for an award. There will be trophies or plaques for each creative classification and for the actual race of First, Second, Third Place, and Best Gas Mileage.

Boys Life Magazine has great tips on Making a Fast Pinewood Derby Car.

Weigh-In, Inspection, Isolation, Attendance & Conduct, and Disputes

The specifications and rules above will be measured and checked for each car at Weigh-In. Cars that do not comply will be returned for quick modifications when possible. Cars will not be accepted unless they comply with all specifications and rules, and cars that do not comply by the end of the Weigh-In can not race. Once a car has been accepted at Weigh-In, the car will be isolated and kept by the Pack until after the race; it may not be handled by anyone except Race Officials or modified in any way, including lubrication.

Race officials have the right to disqualify cars that do not comply with all of the specifications and rules or that could damage the attendees, facility, or track.

A Scout does not need to be present for their car to be turned in during Weigh-In or to race on Race Day.

We invite all Scout families to attend the race and encourage loud and enthusiastic cheering. However, mocking any Scout or their car is absolutely not acceptable. Unsportsmanlike conduct by any Scout or other attendee will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or race area.

Decisions of the Race Officials during Weigh-In, Isolation, or the Race are final.

Awards

Race Awards: based on each car’s speed going down the track, based on the Round Two head-to-head races.

• First Place
• Second Place
• Third Place
• Best Gas Mileage*: for the car with the slowest average time this year.

Creative Awards: based on the votes of the Creative Judges and the Pack Committee.

• Most Unusual: for the car with the funniest, most original, most unique design this year.
• Most Colorful: for the car with the most and best use of color this year.
• Most Detailed: for the car with the most attention to detail in both paint finish and accessories this year.
• Best Design: for the car with the best overall design this year.
• Committee’s Choice**: For the car the Pack Committee chose as their favorite this year.

*In 2024, we added the Best Gas Mileage award.
**In 2024 we replaced the Best Display award with the Committee’s Choice award.