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About
Overview
Join The Tradition
Become one of the millions of Cub Scouts who have been building and racing Pinewood Derby® cars since 1953. Partnering with a parent or adult mentor, Cub Scouts work together, strengthening bonds and building confidence – and their own custom race cars! They begin by choosing a car design, then carve it out and detail it with paint, decals and other accessories, and lastly, perfect strategies to compete in their pack's own Pinewood Derby®. It's a wonderful learning experience centered on teamwork, ingenuity, and sportsmanship.
Did You Know?
Since the first official derby, Cub Scouts have built close to 100 million Pinewood Derby® cars!
How Did It All Start?
Pinewood Derby was created by Cubmaster Donald Murphy in 1953. Murphy said, “I wanted to devise a wholesome constructive activity that would foster a closer father-son relationship and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship through competition.”
Cubmaster Don Murphy held the first Pinewood Derby® race in Southern California with Cub Scout Pack 280C at the Manhattan Beach Scout House. The derby was publicized in Boys' Life magazine in October 1954 and became 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.”
Today the Pinewood Derby® stays close to its roots, giving Cub Scouts an excellent way to learn about craftsmanship, sportsmanship, and respect for others through friendly competition.
Fun Fact
A Pinewood Derby® car can reach a speed of nearly 20mph, and if a derby car and track were enlarged to the size of a real automobile the car would be speeding at more than 200mph!
Planning Your PWD Race
Each pack organizes its own Pinewood Derby®, establishes their own rules and conducts the events. The Cubmaster can designate volunteers (for small packs) or a committee (for larger packs) to manage the event. The following outline makes it easy for your pack to get started:
*Helpful Hint: No boy or girl should miss out on the fun - this means the Cub Scout pack may need to gather resources to help the dens - or an individual Cub Scout - to make sure everyone has access to tools and necessary materials to build their cars.
As the Cub Scouts are completing their designs, test runs can be useful in fine-tuning and building excitement for the upcoming race day. Check with your local Scout Shop for weigh-ins and special event dates!
Good Timing
Three Months Before Race Day
*Helpful Hint: If you don't have experienced leaders, consult with your district and neighboring Cub Scout packs.
Two Months Before Race Day
One Month Before Race Day
One Week Before Race Day
Pinewood Derby Day
Committee/Volunteers
Cub Scouts
Ready, Set, Race!
Hand out awards and share snacks and highlights!
Overview
Join The Tradition
Become one of the millions of Cub Scouts who have been building and racing Pinewood Derby® cars since 1953. Partnering with a parent or adult mentor, Cub Scouts work together, strengthening bonds and building confidence – and their own custom race cars! They begin by choosing a car design, then carve it out and detail it with paint, decals and other accessories, and lastly, perfect strategies to compete in their pack's own Pinewood Derby®. It's a wonderful learning experience centered on teamwork, ingenuity, and sportsmanship.
Did You Know?
Since the first official derby, Cub Scouts have built close to 100 million Pinewood Derby® cars!
How Did It All Start?
Pinewood Derby was created by Cubmaster Donald Murphy in 1953. Murphy said, “I wanted to devise a wholesome constructive activity that would foster a closer father-son relationship and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship through competition.”
Cubmaster Don Murphy held the first Pinewood Derby® race in Southern California with Cub Scout Pack 280C at the Manhattan Beach Scout House. The derby was publicized in Boys' Life magazine in October 1954 and became 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.”
Today the Pinewood Derby® stays close to its roots, giving Cub Scouts an excellent way to learn about craftsmanship, sportsmanship, and respect for others through friendly competition.
Fun Fact
A Pinewood Derby® car can reach a speed of nearly 20mph, and if a derby car and track were enlarged to the size of a real automobile the car would be speeding at more than 200mph!
Planning Your PWD Race
Each pack organizes its own Pinewood Derby®, establishes their own rules and conducts the events. The Cubmaster can designate volunteers (for small packs) or a committee (for larger packs) to manage the event. The following outline makes it easy for your pack to get started:
*Helpful Hint: No boy or girl should miss out on the fun - this means the Cub Scout pack may need to gather resources to help the dens - or an individual Cub Scout - to make sure everyone has access to tools and necessary materials to build their cars.
As the Cub Scouts are completing their designs, test runs can be useful in fine-tuning and building excitement for the upcoming race day. Check with your local Scout Shop for weigh-ins and special event dates!
Good Timing
Three Months Before Race Day
*Helpful Hint: If you don't have experienced leaders, consult with your district and neighboring Cub Scout packs.
Two Months Before Race Day
One Month Before Race Day
One Week Before Race Day
Pinewood Derby Day
Committee/Volunteers
Cub Scouts
Ready, Set, Race!
Hand out awards and share snacks and highlights!