Pinewood Derby

2024 Results 

2025 Race Day - February 8th

The Derby will be held at the Jaworek Elementary.  Each Pack in Marlborough will be racing and the winners of each pack will race against each other for the city champion!  This is a family event so bring the grandparents, uncles, cousins, and anyone else who might enjoy the race.

Siblings and friends are able to race if they purchase a car kit form Mr. Pye for $10.


Key Dates:

Race Day – February 8, 2025
 1st Open Garage – January 4, 2025
 Last day to be able to check your car in – February 3, 2025


SCHEDULE

 "Be Fast... or Look Good Trying"

The pinewood derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Pinewood derby cars are small wooden models that Cub Scouts make with help from their families. Then they race the cars in competition. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track. Every boy can design and build his own "grand prix" car to enter in the race.

Printable Rules

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ARg1sKNre_-w0zNA_fxJFmkW7hJQbnNz/view?usp=sharing

Printable Templates <-- Click the link

Prizes and Recognition

The Derby is about doing one's best and having fun, so all child participants will be recognized.  But that doesn't mean our race winners won't take home some shiny hardware.  As well as speed awards, we'll have voting for: Most Patriotic or Cub Scout Pride, Best Paint Job, Best Use of Imagination, Least Like a Car, Best in Show.

Derby Workshops

There will be several opportunities to mold and shape the block of pinewood into a mean lean well-decorated racing machine.  We will announce dates and times for the workshops once we get the parents lined up who will be supervising the shop tools.  The scouts are not permitted to use power tools but they are encouraged to design the shape of their cars, sand them, and decorate them accordingly.  Parents are encouraged to assist the child but they should let the child do most of the work.

Equal Ground

All entries in the derby will start with the "Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit" which includes the body, 4 axles, and 4 wheels.  All nine pieces MUST be used before the car can race. The kits are sold at the local Scout Shop or online.  All active Scouts will receive a kit in December. Parent and siblings are on their own.  Cars may not exceed 5 ounces in weight and must conform to certain size restrictions and specifications and rules listed above.  Decorating the cars are up to the imagination of the scouts.  The complete set of rules will be available at the Derby Workshops as well.

Tips and Tricks

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BvV9i4ekgux68k0ObS1FMVQmiRNESxKW/view?usp=sharing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RjJtO51ykY


Design Guide

Before the first workshop

1. Check your kit

2. Look at designs online

3. Print template

4. Decide what type of weights you are using

a. Purchase weights

At the first event

1. Cut car

2. Basic sanding

3. Weight placement (CoG)

4. Drill holes for weights if needed (glue in if possible)

5. Drill axle holes if needed/wanted

After the first event

1. Secure weights if not already done

2. Finish sanding/shaping

3. Paint and decorate!

4. Attach wheels and tine car

a. This is where you apply any tricks you have learned from articles, guides, and videos

b. Stay within the Pack 31 rules!

Before weigh-in

1. Make any final adjustments to the weight

a. Be as close as you can be to 5oz without going over

                                          i. Scale will be available at the den meetings leading up to weigh-in

b. **No weights will be added by the pit crew at weigh-in**

                                          i. You may bring weights to adjust your car weight if you choose

2. Apply assigned number to the front of your car

a. The placement of the number will determine how the starter places your car on the track

3. Complete the weigh-in checklist.

2025 Pinewood Derby Car Numbers