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Pinewood Derby 2018 Photo Gallery
Pinewood Derby 2019 Photo Gallery
Pinewood Derby 2020 Photo Gallery

The Pinewood Derby is perhaps the highlight of a Cub Scout’s year because of its fun and excitement. It is a time for a parent or guardian and a scout to work together in a hands-on project that builds skills and character. The craft skills come from learning to work with wood, planning a design, and creating a unique derby car. The character development comes from learning about sportsmanship.

Pinewood Derby Rules

• Cars shall be constructed using Official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby parts. The use of prefabricated wheels, axles, and car bodies is prohibited.
• Length: Car cannot be more than 7 1/8 inches long.
• Width: Car cannot be more than 2 3/4 inches wide.
• Height: Car cannot be more than 3 1/8 inches tall. (This restriction is due to the finish line height.)
• Weight: Finished car cannot weigh more than 5.0 ounces. A scout will be given an opportunity to adjust weight during the pre-race inspection. Bottom mounted weights must be recessed into the bottom of the car so as not to come in contact with the stop zone of the track.
• All four wheels must touch the ground and NOT BE BENT INWARD OR OUTWARD SO AS TO RACE ON THE EDGE OF THE WHEEL.
  
• Cars that fail the initial inspection may be taken home for modifications or modified at the worktables available at registration. Early registration is encouraged to allow time for any adjustments required due to a failed inspection.
  

Race Procedures

• Dress Code: Competing Scouts are encouraged to be in Class A Uniform. Scouts and Scout Leaders observing the competition are encouraged to be in uniform.
  
• Attendance Requirements: In general, Scouts must attend to compete.
  
• Races: Entrants will be separated into 6 groups by Rank. Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos and Arrow of Light will compete with others in their rank. The top three (3) finishers from each Rank will be eligible to race in the final pack wide championship race. The championship race will be the last race of this event. In addition, we will run two extra races - 1) There will be an OUTLAW race, where scouts will be able to run cars they made from last year.  This race will be run as a group regardless of den to determine first, second and third places; and 2) We also have a FAMILY division race (winner take all) where scout leaders, moms, dads, non-scout siblings, grandparents, etc. can race against each other.
  
• Impound: After a car is registered and passes inspection, it will be impounded by the Race Officials until all races are completed. No car may be altered after it has been placed into impound.
  

Awards

• Rank Medals by Den: Lion – First, Second, Third; Tiger – First, Second, Third; Wolf – First, Second, Third; Bear – First, Second, Third; Webelos – First, Second, Third; Arrow of Light – First, Second, Third
• Championship Trophies: First, Second, Third
• Trophy for "Slowest" derby car
• Trophy for "Best Decorated" derby car, voted on by the scouts
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals for the OUTLAW race (where any scout can race their car from last year)
• Trophy for winner in the "Family" race division (Where scout leaders, moms, dads, non-scout siblings, grandparents, etc. can race against each other)
• All awards, trophies and medals will be awarded at the conclusion of the event.

* All information above is from the Boy Scouts of America Scout Shop.

For more information about the Pinewood Derby or to see some derby car ideas, check out Scout Life.  Want to buy some accessories for your derby car?  Check out the official derby BSA parts at the Scout Shop.