Pinewood Derby

February 1st at 9:00am
Monticello VFW

The Pinewood Derby is a time-honored tradition in Cub Scouting where children and their families come together to design, build, and race small wooden cars. It’s both a friendly competition and an opportunity for scouts to learn valuable skills like craftsmanship, creativity, and sportsmanship.

How It Works

Each participant receives a Pinewood Derby kit, containing a small wooden block, plastic wheels, and metal axles. Using these materials, scouts, with the guidance of their parents or guardians, carve, sand, paint, and assemble a car. The goal is to create a car that is not only fast but also unique and visually appealing.

Race Day

The cars are raced down a specially designed track.  Gravity powers the cars, and the winner is determined by whose car crosses the finish line first. The races are timed, with heats allowing every scout multiple chances to compete. Awards are given for speed and creative design.

Key Values

• Teamwork and Family Bonding: Parents and scouts work together, fostering collaboration and quality time.

• STEM Learning: Scouts learn about physics, engineering, and aerodynamics while building their cars.

• Sportsmanship: The event emphasizes having fun, cheering for others, and embracing both victories and losses graciously.

The Pinewood Derby is more than just a race; it’s a cherished event that combines fun, learning, and the spirit of friendly competition, creating lasting memories for scouts and their families.

Building Your Car

Watch the above video(Thank You Pack 9037) for an overview of building a pinewood derby car.  

Here are some additional resources

If you don’t have access to tools or would like some assistance cutting out your car we will be having a car building workshop on Jan 12th at 11:30 at Jeff Bullert's House. 5054 134th St NW, Clearwater, MN 55320
Pleae contact Jeff if you have any questions.  Jeff.Bullert@gmail.com

Car Design Rules

• The length of the car shall not exceed 7”

• Overall width including accessories shall not exceed 2 ¾”

• The overall height of the car shall not exceed 3”

• The bottom clearance of the car shall be no less than ⅜”

• The inside wheel width (distance between left front and right front wheels, and distance between the left rear and right rear wheels) shall be no less than 1 ¾” and no more than 2 ¾”

• The front of the car must be at least ½” wide in the center of the car.  No narrow pointed front ends.

• Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces

• Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are strictly prohibited.

• Only official BSA-Certified Pinewood Derby wheels and axles are permitted

• Only dry lubricant is permitted(Graphite)

• Accessories and details such as steering wheel and driver are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications.

• The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.

• Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it may compete.  If, at registration, a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason for failure, and will be given time within the official weigh-in time period to make the adjustment. After approval, cars will not be re-inspected unless the car is damaged in handling or in a race.

• All body parts, weights and accessories must be securely fastened.

• Car must be newly constructed this year.  The car must not have been raced in any other pinewood events except for the qualifying race that has earned the spot at district competition.