Pinewood Derby
2024 Dates
Build clinic - Saturday, January 27, 1-3pm at the Donhowes' house
Build clinic - Sunday, February 4, 1-3pm, at the Donhowes' house
Final tuning workshop - Saturday, February 10, 11:00am-12:00 pm in the Springer Multi
Derby Car Registration - Saturday, February 10, 1pm-1:45 pm, in the Springer Multi
Derby Races - Saturday, February 10, 2pm, in the Springer Multi
We will not be able to cut out any cars on the race day, so please be sure to get your car cut and shaped prior to then.
If you are able to help out with the event, please email the the Pinewood Derby Chairs.
What is Pinewood Derby?
The pinewood derby is a racing event for unpowered, unmanned miniature cars. With the help of their adults, Scouts build their own cars from wood, usually from kits containing a block of pine wood, plastic wheels, and metal axles.
We provide help cutting cars out at drop-in build clinics in the weeks leading up to pinewood derby. Scouts are responsible for sanding, painting, weighting, and installing axles on their cars.
Logistics
We have plenty of cars on hand for scouts and siblings. Each cub scout will receive a free car. Additional cars for siblings and parents who'd like to participate are $5 each. Cars will be handed out at the build clinics. If for some reason you cannot make the build clinics please email the Pinewood Derby Chairs and we can arrange to get you a car kit and help cut out your design.
Design
Use this template to design your car, both a top down view and a side view, ideally before the build clinic. You may have to scale the image depending on your printer. Note that dimensions are listed on the template; check that your printer hasn't scaled them incorrectly. The template also labels the front and back of the car explicitly and you should design with those in mind.
Do not glue the template to the top or side of your car as this makes it more difficult to cut out. Do not make your car any thinner than 1/2" in the middle of the vehicle and no thinner than 1/4" at either end of the vehicle. Sanding the car will take off up to 1/8" of material as well, so take that into account.
Build
We provide assistance cutting out your design as well as sandpaper for sanding your cars at the build clinics. Scouts are responsible for painting their own cars and can choose to spray paint, brush paint, or decorate their cars with markers and stickers as they prefer. Scouts are also responsible for installing their axles (including polishing and lubrication) as well as adding weights to their car.
Weights
Cylindrical tungsten weights: this is the option the pack has the most experience with. They're nice because you can drill 3/8" holes in the car and then slide the weights in. After the race, you can pull out the weights and reuse them the following year.
Adhesive flex weights: Being able to cut to length and stick on the bottom of the car makes it easy to install, but it's less reusable and is also harder to concentrate the weight all at the back.
Tungsten putty: Similar to the cylinder weights, except you can mold it to fit any hole.
Race Day
On race day each car will race four times, once in each lane of the race track. Awards will go to the fastest average times in the pack as well as the fastest Lion car and the fastest sibling car. Additional awards will go to best overall cars in the following categories:
Fuel Economy Award (slowest car)
Bob Vila Award (best craftsmanship)
Magnifying Glass Award (best detail)
Seuss Award (best imagination)
Side-Splitter Award (funniest)
Wild Side Award (most outrageous)
All That Glitters Award (most bling)
Marty McFly Award (most futuristic)
Real Deal Award (most realistic)
Picasso Award (best paint job)
Over the Rainbow Award (most colorful)
Rose by Any Other Name Award (best name)
Rules
GENERAL RULES
All cars must pass inspection to determine conformity with these rules before being allowed to register. Cars not conforming to these rules shall not be registered and shall be returned for correction. Any car that cannot be brought into conformity by the time registration closes will not be permitted to compete.
After registration, no weight shall be added or additional lubrication permitted.
If a car is damaged during registration or a race, or jumps the track during a race, one repair period for a maximum of five minutes will be permitted. If the car is not ready to race after five minutes it may be disqualified. If a car jumps the track three times during a single race heat, it may be disqualified.
Cars shall be powered by gravity only.
No loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the cars.
No part of a car may be constructed to extend beyond the back of the starting gate. When a car is registered either end may be designated as the “front” but the designation may not be changed later.
Prior to presentation of awards, winning cars may be subjected to a teardown inspection at the discretion of the race official(s). Any car discovered during post-race teardown inspection to be non-conforming shall be disqualified, and final standings adjusted accordingly. Under no circumstances shall correction or adjustment be permitted of a car discovered during post-race teardown inspection to be non-conforming, nor shall any race be re-run.
OFFICIAL CLASS RULES:
The only acceptable kit for construction of cars competing in the Official Class is the official Boy Scouts of America kit consisting of a one-piece wood block car body, zinc-plated nails for axles and wide tread plastic wheels, designated as Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Car Kit. The basic body block, axles and wheels must be official BSA parts; however, decorations and accessories may be purchased through non-BSA sources.
Cars competing in the Official Class must be built primarily by Cub Scouts, with assistance by others only as necessary, and must have been constructed within the past 12 months.
Dimensions of cars competing in the Official Class must conform to the following:
Width: 3 inches maximum, including wheels and axles.
Track: 1~3/4 inches minimum between inside edges of wheels.
Length: 7 inches maximum.
Weight: 5 ounces (141.75 grams) maximum.
Height: 3~1/2 inches maximum.
Clearance: 3/8 inch minimum bottom clearance, inclusive of weights and accessories.
Cars must have 4 wheels which can only be the official BSA wheels provided with the BSA car kit. 3 wheels MUST touch the track. Wheels shall not be modified or reshaped in any way. Wheels may be mounted on a mandrel in a drill, drill press, lathe or mill, but may only be sanded to remove molding burrs and shall not be “turned” or machined for concentricity or roundness. Wheel running surface (“tread”) must be kept flat and parallel to the track surface. Remolding or reshaping of the wheel axle hole is prohibited. Wafering, bearings, axle sleeves or bushings are prohibited.
Cars must use the official BSA axles provided with the BSA car kit. Axles must be inserted in the original grooves cut in the car body as provided. Re-drilling of the axle holes, particularly with a drill press or mill, is not permitted. No axle supports are allowed other than glue or putty to secure the axles in their slots. Wheelbase (lengthwise distance between the axles) may not be changed.
Only dry graphite or white Teflon powder lubrication may be used.