2022 Pinewood Derby

[Peter Kostik]

Hello P195 families,

We have set our tentative date for 2022 PD race on Sat Feb 12th. We want to give scouts a plenty of time to work on their cars, and will offer up few days in January to do the rough cut, and other prep. Now is a good time for them to start thinking of the designs.

All the scouts will get a PD kit purchased for them free of charge. If you have any siblings that would like to participate in the sibling race, please let your den leader know, as to how many are needed (sibling kits will be at $5 per kit, payable to the Pack). We would like to order the kits around Jan 10th, which will be our 1st Den mtg in Jan, so please give the sibling kit count to your den leader asap, and pay on the 10th.

It is too early to tell if we will do a race in the cafeteria, outdoor, with scouts, or virtual (like last year). We will surely let you know as we get closer.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday season, and Happy New Year.

Thanks,

Peter Kostik

Upcoming events:

Jan 10 - den mtg

Jan 17 - mlk holiday

Jan 24 - den mtg

Jan 31 - pack mtg

Feb 5 - RV klondike derby (optional for webelos/aols)

Feb 12 - pack pinewood derby

[Peter Kostik]

Hello all,

The den leaders should now have all the PD kits, and will be distributing them soon. Please have the scouts pick their own designs, so they (with parent help) draw the main cut lines on the wood block once they get it.

We will look to provide 2 opportunities/workshops to do the cuts with the band saw, this coming Mon 1/24, and then the following Mon 1/31. Will probably set up a table outside the cafeteria entrance.

The race date is Sat 1/12, so please save the date. We will provide more details, but for now, plan to have the car race ready by the 12th.

Thanks,

Peter Kostik

[Peter Kostik]

Hello all,

Just few details as we have some families that are participating for 1st time. We are following official BSA rules for PD, otherwise, our winners wouldn't be able to compete in the district race. The rules sheet is included in your PD kit, also here https://www.scoutshop.org/pwd-rules

We are currently considering race date on Sat Feb 12th, or Sat Feb 19th. We will offer one more workshop (this coming Mon the 31st, during the pack mtg).

Few things you may need to buy:

Weights (example https://www.amazon.com/Pinewood-Derby-Weights-Pro-Weight/dp/B01M4N9BBZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?crid=3MI4W0UZASR03&keywords=pinewood+derby+weights&qid=1643327287&sprefix=pinew%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-11 )

Graphite (example https://www.amazon.com/Pinewood-Derby-Graphite-Moly-additive/dp/B001FB3Y6U/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2BYZDZ7BN9M2Y&keywords=pinewood+derby+graphite&qid=1643328348&sprefix=pinewood+derby+gr%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-3 )

These should last you for few years (until your scout completes cubscouts)

Let me copy few additional details from 2020 PD event I sent last year (ignore dates and times below).

========= From 2020 PD =======

The construction of a PD car could be broken down into:

1) pick a design (beware of restrictions on length, width, and wheel spacing to the track)

2) draw main cut lines on the block for the rough cut, and have it cut (on your own if you have the tools, or at the workshop)

3) work the block according to your design - tools that may be needed, file, sand paper, drill,...

4) finishing touches - paint,...

5) polish the axles (to get rid of the grooves), so the wheels roll with least amount of friction

6) install the axles with the wheels. Hot glue can be used on the bottom, to ensure axles don't move

7) install the weights (keep an eye on the weight, as you will need to ensure that final weight falls under the limit in the rules - 5oz

8) before the check-in, add dry graphite lubricant  to the axles

We will offer a workshop to do a rough cut this Saturday  Jan 23rd at 10am in SMS parking lot, in the back, by the garage. When you arrive, please have the main cut lines drawn on the PD block. Please limit people present to a scout and one parent (and wear a face mask). There will likely be another workshop at later date, but I would try to get this (#2) step done the sooner the better, so you are not rushed later.

Besides the items in the PD kit, you will also need the weights and (dry) graphite lubricant. If your scout is younger, it may be good to invest in getting a set that will last you trough the cubscout years to come. The weights could generally be re-used from your previous years car.

The PD race is going to be on Saturday Feb 20th. We will announce the Check-In date / time (likely on Fri before) as we get closer (it will be a dropoff). The race will be conducted by  the den/pack leaders and possibly some parent volunteers (as we are only allowed few people in the cafeteria) , and live-streamed / recorded for scouts to watch

=========

For car design ideas, just google pinewood derby cars. If you have any other questions, please ask your den leader, or myself.

Btw, this is a great opportunity for scouts to work on an interesting handy project with their dad, or grandpa. Have fun. 

Thanks,

Peter Kostik

[Peter Kostik]

Hello,

here are a few updates:

1) we will offer another workshop this coming Monday Feb 7th, during the den meetings. We will have the band saw to cut any remaining cars, and few drills, to let scouts (with parent help) polish the axles. It is important that scouts bring either the block of pinewood, or axles (short nails from the kit) to the meeting in cafeteria

2) our Pack race will be next Saturday the 12th. This year we will start the race earlier, at 9am, to allow us to finish sooner, as handful of scouts have 1st reconciliation at noon. We will still live stream (and record) the race on youtube and facebook, so even if some families can't stay till the end, they will be able to watch it online.

3) We will do the car check-ins on Friday 6:30pm - 8pm, in cafeteria. In order for this to go smoothly, please have your car race ready as much as possible by the time you bring it for checkin (including applying graphite on the axles). Suggestion is to have thew weight just a sliver under 5oz, as we will be using precise/calibrated scale, so we don't want you to have to make too many modifications to shed some weight😁. If there are any dads that can help and volunteer at checkin, it could go smoother. After checkin, we will keep the cars, until after the races are over on Saturday. We will also need few volunteers to help us bring the track from the garage to the cafeteria, and assemble/test it. If possible all denleaders should expect to stay tru the checkins/setup.

On Sat during the race, we will have some light refreshments for kids.

Thanks,

Peter Kostik

[Peter Kostik]

Hello P195,

here are few updates. the PD race is this Saturday, starts at 9am in SMS Cafeteria. If you feel comfortable coming in, it will be in-person. For those who would rather watch live from home, we will send the youtube link tomorrow.

PD car check-in:

• please bring race-ready car to SMS  tomorrow between 6:30 and 8pm. We will have a check-in station setup inside the main entrance to the school (breezeway btw Church and School). There will be an event in Cafeteria at this time, so we can't use it.
• As mentioned before, try to have your car weighted before you come (cooking scale is fine), but try to be a bit under 5oz. We will have a precise scale on hand, so to ensure you don't have to make big modifications to your car at check-in. Also, please apply the graphite on axles (inside the wheels)
• Once the car is checked in, a slip filled out and number assigned, we will take it and store it on the rack, not to be touched until the race.

PD race day

• ideally we would've have setup the track on Fri, all the cars are checked in, so we can start at 9am sharp
• for the race you would enter Cafeteria from the entrance we usually use. The track will be setup in that left part of the cafeteria (closer to bathrooms, not the kitchen).
  
• We will run individual dens first. There was a request to run Wolfs and AOLs earlier, so we may start with these. Lions and Tigers will run in combined "den". Top 3 from each den will advance to the Pack race.
• Usually top 3 of each den will also advance to the District race in May, so they can choose to participate (more info on this later)
• mid through the race we will serve snack (hotdog, bag of chips, drink) to scouts/siblings and present parents. I believe we are buying for 60 people so that should cover all
• we would like all present (kids and adults) to wear masks throughout the race
• after the conclusion of the race, we will award the winners (scouts take their cars home with them), and then break down the track, and cleanup, for what we would need help from all of you

Good luck on Saturday!

Peter Kostik

[Peter Kostik]

The Youtube link for the livestream tomorrow is here: https://youtu.be/H5xWb3suksU

We will also try to setup a live stream on Facebook, in our private Cub Scout Pack 195 group. If you are not a member, please request to join.

A huge thanks to all scouts and parents who came out today to do the early checkins, and our awesome leaders for making it go smoothly.

If you have an AOL scout, and don't have any younger siblings (this is your final PD), please consider donating any PD tools/accessories, like weights, graphite,... to the Pack, so we can use it for the years to come.

See you all tomorrow at 9am. And good luck to your scout(s) at the race.

Thanks,

Peter Kostik

[Peter Kostik]

Thanks to all who participated in this year's Pinewood Derby. 

Also, special thanks to our announcer Oliver, the leader race crew (Dan, Tim, Ryan, Dom) and Lattanzio family for preparing a delicious snack. And of course all the parents who helped their scouts, volunteered with the PD prep, checkins, and the race itself.

The Youtube livestream is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5xWb3suksU (Some people mentioned that the video isn't playing and it's flagged as Restricted. This could be due to your home router/network having restrictive parental controls for youtube. It generally works if you get off wifi, and just stream it via cell network on your phone).

Our website has been updated too - https://www.scoutpack195nj.com/. The official results are available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l7PSL_ahEAMj9vkvX02oo46xdiccOQkP/view?usp=sharing

All the full race sheets are saved here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DCjeTkVgu8OS1XpEr4ZwyUkVXAZBVbOf?usp=sharing

Feel free to share the video with friends, family, neighbors, maybe they will get excited to want to join P195 for the next year's PD.

Thanks all.

Peter Kostik

[Peter Kostik]

Hello P195,

here are the details about the Raritan Valley District Pinewood Derby.

Sunday May 22nd, 2022,  11:00 am to 2:30 pm
Bridgewater Commons
400 Commons Way
Bridgewater Township, NJ 08807

Exact location will be clarified. For now, we know it will be in the former Microsoft store space, across from the Lego store (inside the mall).

Any cubscout can participate (not just 1st-2nd-3rd at our Den/Pack races). Remember to check the weight of your car, and also apply the graphite to the axles before the race. If there were any discrepancies pointed out to you before our race, those should be addressed before the district race. Please reach out to your Den leader if you need any help.

Register ($15 per scout) at: https://scoutingevent.com/358-RVPinewood

During registration, specify that you are with Pack 195.

Thanks, and good luck.

Peter Kostik