Pinewood Derby

Racing in a Cub Scout pinewood derby is great fun. The Cub gets to design his racing vehicle, work with his adult partner (parent, grandparent, friend, uncle, etc.) to build it, and see it perform on race day. Win or lose, the Cub will take pride in having done his best. When he races in a Cub Scout derby, he learns craft skills while helping make the car, the rules of fair play and good sportsmanship—things he will need to remember all his life.

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 roll down an inclined track. We have a pinewood derby every year usually in January.  Every boy can design and build his own little speedster to enter in the race.  There are a million, billion, zillion design ideas on the internet.   I have seen everything from replica’s of real cars to a car that was made to look like a giant pencil eraser.  Google Pinewood Derby and select images.

There are also lots of how to do’s and “special secrets” to tweak your car to run faster on the internet.  You can even find special parts to help cheat it a bit faster down the track; but only if you race in the ”Outlaw” class.  More on that later.

Remember the statements in the first paragraph?  However the cub may choose to design and build his derby car remember the phrase, ‘his car’.  When the adult partner takes over the build they undo the purpose of this exercise.  My favorite Derby car in January 2010 was a car, not carved or shaped with the wheels just pounded into the block.  It was decorated by the Cub himself with a felt tip pen.  He put everything into his car he could and there wasn’t a more proud kid in the room.  Sometimes the adult helper gets a little carried away and the kid sees the car for the first time at weigh-in.  Fancy cars are fine, just make sure the Cub gets to do as much work as he can do safely, age appropriate to him.  A Tigercub might learn a lot about sanding, painting and wood gluing his Tigercub year.  He might not get to use the scroll saw.  Like I said age appropriate participation - the boy’s safety comes first.

Here are Pack 332’s basic rules:

1. The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.
2. The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.
3. The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.
4. The wheelbase (distance between the axles) must not exceed the distance between the precut axle slots on the standard pinewood block, i.e. 4 3/8". Shortening the wheelbase will be permitted.
5. All four wheels must be used, and all four must touch the track. No wheel shall ride upon the center guide strip. No extra guide pins, rollers or wheels designed to ride on or against the center guide strip will be allowed.
6. No part of the car may extend forward of the point where the car touches the starting post.
7. The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body so it does not rub on the track.
8. The car weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces.  Weights may be added but they must be added in such a way they don't hang down from or are attached to the bottom of the car reducing the derby's clearance.  The original clearance height between the bottom of the car and the track must be maintained or the car will drag and ruin your boy's chances of winning. 
9. The wheels should be lubricated with graphite or powdered silicone. Oil and other liquid lubricants are prohibited.
10. The official race scale that is used at car check-in shall be considered final.
11. The official pine wood block must be used. The block may be shaped in any way that is desired.
12. 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.
13. The axles (nails) may be altered, polished and lubricated.  No substitute axles are permitted. 
14. Specific  Car Modifications Not Allowed include;
    1. Wheel bearings, washers or bushings are prohibited.
    2. The car must not ride on any type of springs
    3. No starting devices.
    4. The car must be freewheeling.
    5. No loose material of any kind, such as lead shot, may be used if not glued securely to the car so it won’t fall off on the track or floor and cause someone to slip and fall.