Pinewood Derby

Intro

Our pack holds a Pinewood Derby once a year, usually in January. The pinewood derby is a racing event for Cub Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America. Cub Scouts, with the help of parents, build their own cars from wood, usually from kits containing a block of pine, plastic wheels, and metal axles.

Pinewood 2025

This year’s Pinewood will be held January 11, 2024 at The Bammel Church of Christ Youth Center – 2700 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX 77068

Derby check in is the prior day January 10, from 6-8 pm.

YOU MUST CHECK YOUR CAR IN THE DAY PRIOR

Derby race day is January 11th from 8am to 12pm.

Build Your Car at the Workshop

We will be holding a workshop on January 4th from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the Troop 1323 Scout Hut behind Plymouth United Church. Experts will be onsite to help you and your cub scout with as much help as they want to get ready for the derby. We will have a band saw, a drill Press, a table sander, miscellaneous woodworking hand tools, and a Painting Station!

Rules

The rules can be found here.

The pack provides a stock kit sold by BSA. You are asked to use the parts in the kit to build your base car.

Derby Meister Plea

As your cub scout decides on their car design, it is always difficult to determine how much involvement you, as a parent, should have in building the car. The following is not a rule but just a gauge by which you may use. Also, keep in mind BSA does not want Cub Scouts utilizing Power Tools, so I would suggest you involve them heavily with tasks where their safety is not a concern (i.e., painting, sanding, gluing, etc.)

Suggested parental involvement:

Lions and Tiger Cubs: 75-90%
Wolf Scouts: 50-60%
Bear Scouts: 25-35%
Webelos I : < 20%
Webelos II: <10%

Some Useful Links

http://www.rahul.net/mcgrew/derby/designs.html
- Has some unusual design ideas
http://www.abc-pinewood-derby.com/basic-guide.php
- The tips are good.
- Please do not buy anything performance-related.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RjJtO51ykY
- Mark Rober Pinewood Science