Pinewood Derby

The purpose of the Pinewood Derby is to help the Cub Scout build a team relationship with their parent or guardian, experience the sense of accomplishment and the excitement of competition, learn Win/Lose good sportsmanship, and to have fun!

The first pinewood derby was held on May 15, 1953, at the Scout House in Manhattan Beach, Calif., by Cub Scout Pack 280C (the present Pack 713). The concept was created by the Pack’s cubmaster, Don Murphy, and sponsored by the Management Club at North American Aviation. To read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinewood_derby

Scouts will be given a car kit (paid for by Pack Dues). They will work on designing their car from the December to January pack meeting. Before the race (either race day or a separate day a few days before the race), scouts will check in their cars at which their cars will be measured and weighed. If the car is overweight, the scout will have a chance to adjust it before race day.

General Notes

Race Day Etiquette: Parents, siblings, and guests are expected to display and model appropriate sportsmanship. The Pinewood Derby is an opportunity to set a good example for our cubs of the values of scouting and maintaining a positive attitude regardless of race success. Criticism, negative comments towards others, and arguing over results will not be tolerated. Demonstrate support for your child and his/her team!
Parents and Scouts are encouraged to work together on the car. Feel free to engage other family members, too.
Have fun! This is not intended to be a stressful thing and no one will think any more or less of the family based upon the performance of the car. The Scouts simply look forward to seeing their cars race down the track!
All cars must pass inspection to qualify to race.

Derby Car Design Assistance

Woodcrafter of Columbus 1077 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220

Scouts are welcome anytime and staff will assist in cutting their derby cars for free.

Please check your email for details on the following sessions:

Troop 123 Session at St. Michael's on January 4th

Haze Saputra's House on January 11th

Haze Saputra's House on January 25th

2025 Pinewood Derby Speed Contests

Fastest Car awards (time based - lowest sum of each lane time)
- - Open to Scouts only
  - Fastest car in each rank
  - Fastest car in pack championship
    - - Fastest 2 cars in each rank qualify for pack championship
Sibling competition awards
- - Open to siblings of scouts
  - Award for running car down the track
Open competition
- - Open to adults & Scouts
  - Anything goes as long as it's safe and won't damage the track

2025 Pinewood Derby Design Contests

Best design in each rank
- - Open to Scouts only
  - Decided by judge scores
  - Winners go to Pack's Choice contest
Pack's choice
- - Open to Scouts only
  - Decided by scout votes

Speed Contest Rules

Car Dimension & Weight Restrictions - The Basics

Length - 7 inches maximum.
Width - Shall not exceed 2.75 inches (width at the wheels may not be modified, it must be the same as the original kit).
Height - 5 inches maximum.
Weight - Shall not exceed 5 ounces (official scale at check-in will determine weight).
The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.
The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body so it does not rub on the track. (if you use the axle guides that are pre-cut in the pine block, you will not have to worry about this requirement).
Make sure the front of the car is closed since it sits against the starting gate.
- - If a car is designed with V cut into the front, a rubber band may be used to close the front of the car (at the discretion of the Race Marshall).

Car Modifications

Axles, wheels, and body shall be from the materials provided in the kit. Additional wheels can be purchased separately, but BSA wheels must be used.
- - - The official pinewood block must be used. The block may be shaped in any way that is desired.
    - Official BSA wheels must be used. The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded.
      - You may remove the seams and imperfections from the wheels with sandpaper.
        You may paint the wheels.
    - Official BSA axles must be used. Axles may be altered, polished, and lubricated.
The official number must be clearly marked on the car. Assigned number was noted on the kit box.
All 4 (four) wheels must be touching the ground.
The wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheel) cannot be moved from the original pinewood block position
The track width (the distance between the centerline of the left and right wheel) cannot be moved from the original pinewood block position
Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
No liquid lubricating oil may be used. Axles may only be lubricated with powdered graphite or silicone.
The car shall not ride on any kind of spring.
The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.
Details, such as steering wheel and driver are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width and weight specifications.
No loose materials of any kind are allowed in the car.
A completed car purchased from a third party is not allowed (except for the Adult / Open Race).
A car built in a previous year is not allowed (except for the Adult / Open Race).
The car may not be sent to a third party facility for tuning or other performance enhancements.

Design Contest Rules

As cars are checked in for racing, they are awarded between 1 and 5 points in each of the following categories:

Originality: A simple race car design or an undecorated block with wheels may not score as highly as a pencil or shark car.
Craftsmanship: Are there rough cuts or smooth sanded edges? Are any accessories added to the car well-thought-out in placement and cleanly attached? Are the weights invisible or integrated into the design?
Technique: Was the car hand-painted, air-brushed or wrapped? Were there bubbles under a wrap or drips of paint left to dry? Did the Cub Scout and his or her adult partner branch out and use any new or interesting techniques?
Judges’ Choice: This category allows judges to allot points for any reason they choose, be it a favorite character or theme or even how excited the Cub Scout was when checking in his or her car.

Judges are allowed to use their discretion to award points. All judges' decisions are final.

Rank Design Award

The top design point holder from each rank is awarded a “<rank name> Design Award” and advances to the “Pack’s Choice” design contest.

Speed contest winners are ineligible from also winning a rank design award and from participating in the pack’s choice design contest.
In the case where a rank’s speed contest winner also has the most design points for that rank, the second highest design point holder will be awarded the design award for that rank and advance to the pack’s choice contest.
In the case of a tie, the winner will be decided by the “Judges Choice” points.
If a tie still exists, alternate judge(s) will be brought in to decide.

“Pack’s Choice” Award

Each Cub Scout will be given a single voting token. The Cub Scouts & siblings place their voting token in the container designated for their favorite car. Any criteria can be considered for the Pack’s choice award. The car with the most tokens is awarded the “Pack’s choice Design Award”.

In the case of damage incurred during the racing, Scouts in the may perform repairs to their car before the Pack’s Choice contest begins. The contest will happen at the scheduled time.
In the case of a tie, judges will be brought in to determine the winner.
All cars must adhere to the speed contest rules to qualify for the design contests.
Cars must participate in the speed contest to qualify for the design contest.

Race Day Procedures & Rules

Once a car passes inspection and is entered into the race, only race committee members can touch it.
If the car loses a wheel, or is otherwise damaged, the racer, race committee members, or Akela(s) shall have 10 minutes to make repairs.
Each car must pass inspection before it will be allowed to compete. The Inspection Committee has the responsibility to disqualify those cars that do not meet these rules.
If the 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 adjustments.
Each car must be able to travel down the track without interfering with other cars. The Pinewood Derby Race Coordinator has the responsibility to disqualify those cars that cannot consistently stay on track or fail to complete full runs down the track.
- - - 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 is subject to disqualification.
    - If a car suffers a mechanical problem during a heat and a repair can be accomplished within 10 minutes, the heat will be run again. If not, the car is subject to disqualification.
All race officials' calls are final.