Pinewood Derby
Every scout gets a block of pine, four wheels and four axles, and turns them into a race car. Then it's race day: gravity does the rest. It's the pack's biggest day of the year.
Cars built by Pack 137 scouts.
STEP 1Get your kitThe pack provides an official Pinewood Derby kit to every scout.
STEP 2Design itSketch a shape on the full-size template. Fast, funny or beautiful: it's the scout's choice.
STEP 3Build nightExperienced builders help scouts and parents cut, drill, sand and tune using the pack's woodworking tools.
STEP 4Race dayCheck in, weigh in, and race against the clock with the whole pack.
The most important rules
Read these before you start cutting, to avoid disappointment at check-in.
- Built by the Cub Scout, with a parent's help
- Use the entire official kit from the pack: no pre-cut cars or parts from other kits
- Built new this year
- Use only the black wheels and axles from the kit
- Don't modify the axle slots
- All four wheels must touch the track
- No heavier than 5.00 oz, including paint and decorations. No liquid or moving weights.
How the race works
- Each rank races in its own division.
- Every car runs once in each of the four lanes, and its four times are added together. Lowest total time wins, so every car races the clock.
- Trophies go to the four fastest cars in each division.
- The four fastest cars from each division then meet in the Pack Finals, the last race of the day.
- Design awards like most original, most realistic and best paint job are judged by our oldest scouts, the Webelos and Arrow of Light.
Builder's toolbox
Car design template (PDF)Print it at full size and let your scout draw the design.Max Velocity speed guide (PDF)Derby physics for speed fans. Not every tip in it is allowed under pack rules, so check the rules first.
Your best tool is the packAsk your den leader, the Derby Coordinator or other families. Many have tools and tricks they're happy to share.
Not every scout cares about speed, and that's fine. Ask your scout if they'd rather go for style, craftsmanship or humor.