[Updated Info coming soon.]
Pinewood Derby
Pack 103’s annual Pinewood Derby race is held in March; scouts will receive their kits at the February Blue and Gold Banquet. If you do not receive a kit, please contact your den leader. All cars must be checked in pass inspection on the Thursday night before race day, which is typically on Saturday.
Every year we have a few difficult situations in which Scouts cars do not meet the rules and they are disqualified from the competition, so PLEASE read this info below!!
​
Thur Pinewood Derby Car Dropoff School Foyer (Parking Lot Side) 5 - 7pm
Fri Pinewood Derby Set Up Community Room 7pm - completion (Den Leaders Only)
Sat Pinewood Derby Race Community Room 10:30am - 1pm
General Information
The Pinewood Derby is a long-time traditional Cub Scout activity. Cars should be designed and built by the Scouts as much as possible. It is expected parents will participate handling power tools where necessary, etc., but it is the spirit of the event that the cars are inspired by and built by the Scouts. The parent involvement will be greatest with the Tigers and should progressively decline as the Scouts move into Bears and Webelos.
The Derby events are divided into 2 days. Thursday is the Inspection and registration. Cars will be checked for rules compliance, and once they qualify, will be impounded until the racing is completed the following day. Scouts should lubricate (dry lubricant only) and completely prepare the car for racing before submitting it for inspection. Cars that fail initial inspection can be repaired to conform, but cars MUST be qualified on Saturday – there is NO Saturday inspection or qualifying.
These rules may seem overly specific, but are meant to ensure that the cars will all run on the unique Pinewood track, that the competition is fair for all participants and that winning Pack 103 cars will conform to the rules of the Northern Star Council. There are many books and websites out there on derby car design and many of the tips in those books do NOT conform to these rules.
Rules:
If you simply use the kit, shape the block, add weight, paint, and push in the provided axles and wheels there is little to worry about in terms of construction rules. Here are the rules per the Norther Star Council:
http://www.northernstarbsa.org/Portals/2/Documents/2016-Pinewood-Derby-Rules.pdf
​
Racing Format:
Racing is done by Den in the following order: Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos 1, Webelos 2, with one winner out of each age group. This will be followed by an open race targeted primarily at siblings. Open race cars must still conform to all of the above rules and be checked in on Friday. Each car races four heats – one on each of the four lanes of the track. Of the four heats, the worst time is dropped and the winner is the car with the fastest average time for its three best heats, measured in elapsed seconds. The five Den winners qualify to race in the Northern Star Council meet. The five Den Winners will be impounded at the close of our races, in accordance with Council rules, in order to qualify to run at the Council Meet.
Design:
Funny, unique designs are encouraged. There will be special design prizes awarded irrespective of car performance. Cars can be accessorized with almost any kind of item provided the completed car meets all the rules, which are listed above.
​
