2023 Pinewood Derby Key Dates!
Adult Volunteer Setup / Racer Registration / Weigh-in:
Saturday, January 28th from 9:00am - 2:00pm
Registration Required!
Race Day:
Sunday, January 29th 12:00pm - 5:00pm!
Clean-up / Tear Down at 5:00pm (Adult Volunteers)
The race will be live-streamed on YouTube Live.
Saturday, January 28th from 9:00am - 2:00pm
Registration Required!
Race Day:
Sunday, January 29th 12:00pm - 5:00pm!
Clean-up / Tear Down at 5:00pm (Adult Volunteers)
The race will be live-streamed on YouTube Live.
2023 Pinewood Derby Registration Form
Registration Closed for 2023!
2023 Pinewood Derby Livestream Recording & Results
2023 Pinewood Derby Racers
Introduction
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The first Pinewood Derby® was run in Southern California in 1953 by Cub Scout Pack 280C at the Manhattan Beach Scout House, where Cubmaster Don Murphy introduced the idea to his pack. The derby was publicized in Boys' Life magazine in October 1954 and was an instant hit. The rules set out for the very first race still stand today: “The derby is run in heats – two to four cars starting by gravity from a standstill on a track and run down a ramp to a finish line unaided. The track is an inclined ramp with wood strips down the center to guide the cars.”
If you would like to know more about Pinewood Derby please check out BSA's Official site for more information. |
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What Scouting Goals Are Accomplished?
In general, the Scouting program tries to avoid events with a single winner or even class winners. The Cub Scout standard is, after all, that a boy should do his best. We do not, for example, tie advancement to whether a Cub Scout beats the other members of his den in a foot race, but rather to whether he betters his previous standards. The primary methods of the Cub Scouting program—including the goal of personal achievement—are based on individual achievement and accomplishment rather than individual victory at the expense of another’s defeat.
The goals of Cub Scouting are not often extended to include competition or competitive sports, though the goals of character development, sportsmanship and fitness, and respectful relationships can easily be seen to give a special perspective on our very competitive world.
While, in some ways the pinewood derby is a special case (principally because it is so much fun), we can use the pinewood derby to further the goals of Cub Scouting. We can broaden the derby’s simple one-winner perspective to a program all participants can feel good about. At the same time, we need to be alert to the possibility of problems that can spoil the boys’ fun and discourage Cub Scouts and parents. Sometimes these problems have actually caused youth to drop out of Cub Scouting.
Given that competitive events like the pinewood derby can raise emotional levels beyond what is appropriate, what Scouting goals does the pinewood derby help a Scout achieve?
Sportsmanship and Good Citizenship
is taught by following the derby rules and cheering on friends and den partners as they race against others in the pack.
Personal Achievement
comes to any boy who picks up a woodworking tool and shapes raw wood into a sleek design. And, by learning woodworking, he prepares himself to more easily serve in the Boy Scouting's service projects.
Family Understanding
is enhanced because building a pinewood derby car puts the boy and his mom, dad, or other adult partner into a close and sometimes intense learning experience over, potentially, many hours.
It is very clear that any boy who can cheer on a friend in a derby race, when his own car has been previously eliminated, must be said to have had his character developed, if not his car-building skills. But finally, and probably most convincingly, participating in the derby is fun. This is especially true if participation is stressed, and personal achievement is very broadly defined and rewarded.
So let’s start to have some fun.
The goals of Cub Scouting are not often extended to include competition or competitive sports, though the goals of character development, sportsmanship and fitness, and respectful relationships can easily be seen to give a special perspective on our very competitive world.
While, in some ways the pinewood derby is a special case (principally because it is so much fun), we can use the pinewood derby to further the goals of Cub Scouting. We can broaden the derby’s simple one-winner perspective to a program all participants can feel good about. At the same time, we need to be alert to the possibility of problems that can spoil the boys’ fun and discourage Cub Scouts and parents. Sometimes these problems have actually caused youth to drop out of Cub Scouting.
Given that competitive events like the pinewood derby can raise emotional levels beyond what is appropriate, what Scouting goals does the pinewood derby help a Scout achieve?
Sportsmanship and Good Citizenship
is taught by following the derby rules and cheering on friends and den partners as they race against others in the pack.
Personal Achievement
comes to any boy who picks up a woodworking tool and shapes raw wood into a sleek design. And, by learning woodworking, he prepares himself to more easily serve in the Boy Scouting's service projects.
Family Understanding
is enhanced because building a pinewood derby car puts the boy and his mom, dad, or other adult partner into a close and sometimes intense learning experience over, potentially, many hours.
It is very clear that any boy who can cheer on a friend in a derby race, when his own car has been previously eliminated, must be said to have had his character developed, if not his car-building skills. But finally, and probably most convincingly, participating in the derby is fun. This is especially true if participation is stressed, and personal achievement is very broadly defined and rewarded.
So let’s start to have some fun.
Pinewood Derby Rules
The official PWD Pack 301 rules are available by downloading the PDF document below.
| pack301pwdrules.pdf |
6 Ideas for Pinewood Derby Cars!
Award Categories
PACK AWARDS
All cars will compete to win a Pack Trophy for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place for SPEED, the fastest car overall.
Cars will be judged Pack-wide for a trophy in the following categories:
MOST PATRIOTIC | MOST CUB SCOUT PRIDE | MOST HUMOROUS | MOST AWESOME THEME | MOST FUTURISTIC
COOLEST PAINT JOB | BEST IN SHOW | BEST CRAFTSMANSHIP | BEST DESIGN | SAFEST DRIVER
DEN AWARDS
Within each den age group, all cars will compete to win a Den Trophy for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place for SPEED, the fastest car overall. This gives youth a chance to compete for speed within their age group.
All cars will compete to win a Pack Trophy for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place for SPEED, the fastest car overall.
Cars will be judged Pack-wide for a trophy in the following categories:
MOST PATRIOTIC | MOST CUB SCOUT PRIDE | MOST HUMOROUS | MOST AWESOME THEME | MOST FUTURISTIC
COOLEST PAINT JOB | BEST IN SHOW | BEST CRAFTSMANSHIP | BEST DESIGN | SAFEST DRIVER
DEN AWARDS
Within each den age group, all cars will compete to win a Den Trophy for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place for SPEED, the fastest car overall. This gives youth a chance to compete for speed within their age group.
Sibling Cars
Siblings of active Cub Scouts are welcome to build a car and race! There is no charge for sibling cars. Sibling cars are not eligible to win Pack or Den awards, but will race against each other for a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medal.