Pinewood Derby

Pack 675's Pinewood Derby Homepage

Race Day

The Derby will be held at Mount Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, January 28th, with check and weigh in on Friday, January 27th. Weigh-ins start at 6PM Friday, racing starts at 8AM Saturday. Snacks, lunch foods, and drinks may be available as a fundraiser. 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 track. Every boy can design and build his own "grand prix" car to enter in the race.

Race Day Highlights

There will be three divisions...

1) The Scout Derby - Scouts race within their ranks, with the top three finishers receiving a an award, and then racing for the fastest overall car in the pack. Top finishers in each rank will qualify to race in the Silver Comet District Pinewood Derby.

2)The Leaders Derby - Where your Pack leaders get to relive their childhood for the day and race for bragging rights.

3) The Sibling Derby - Scout brothers and sisters through fifth grade can enter their own cars.

Prizes and Recognition

All participants will be recognized for their participation, but the top 3 finishers in each rank will receive an award. We also have awards for he sibling and leader races.

Derby Workshops

There will be several opportunities to mold and shape the block of pinewood into a mean lean well-decorated racing machine. We will announce dates and times for the workshops once we get the parents lined up who will be supervising the shop tools. 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 (wood block, 4 nails, 4 wheels) MUST be used before the car can race. The kits are sold at the local Scout Shop.

We run a race format that ensures that each car runs on each lane of the track to keep the race fair. Cumulative scoring across each of these runs will be used to determine the winners.

Rule Highlights

  • Wheels are available in different colors at the Scout Shop and are allowed as substitutes to the black ones in your kits

  • Once checked-in, cars will be impounded and only handled by leaders and volunteers running the races. If repairs are required between races due to damage received during a race, the car may be re-checked for adherence to the rules.

  • The maximum weight of the vehicle is 5 oz, as read on our official scale at check-in

  • The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7".

  • The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2-3/4".

  • Wheels and axles must be in original location that came with blocks of wood!! They cannot be extended!!

  • The car should have 3/8" clearance underneath the full length of the body in order to clear the track. If your car has less than this clearance, it may drag!

  • The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled, or rounded. The seams of the wheels may be removed.

  • At least 3 wheels must touch the inspection and racing surface at all times. Car must have 4 wheels in place

Printable Rules

The Silver Comet District Pinewood Derby rules are posted below. We follow these construction rules for cars, because our Pack winners are eligible to compete in the District race later in the year.