Pinewood Derby is Coming!
William Millard
Pinewood Derby is March 7th! Please see the update below with our detailed schedule. We still need volunteers, so if you can help, please sign up.
What: Annual Pack 118 Pinewood Derby
Who: All scouts (Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos I, Webelos II) are eligible to race. We will also have races for siblings that would like to make a car and an Outlaw Race for parents.
Where: W.T. Moore Elementary Cafeteria (1706 Dempsey Mayo Rd.) Parking will be located at the rear of the school. Look for the open gate at the bus ramp.
When:
Saturday, March 7th
8- 10 a.m.: Set-Up- This is a great time to help out and test your car before the race!
1:00 p.m.: Doors Open
1:00-1:30 p.m.: Check-in:All racers must be checked in before 1:30 as we will start with our race heats promptly at 1:30 p.m.
1:30-3:00 p.m.: Race Heats for our Dens, Siblings and Outlaws
3:00-3:15 p.m.: Show Car Judging
3:15-3:30 p.m.: Awards
3:30-4:00 p.m.: Clean Up
Attire: All Scouts and Leaders must wear their Class A Uniforms.
Volunteers: We are in need of volunteers to set-up the track, decorate, check-in cars, man the pits, judge car designs, sell concessions, and clean up. Please use the sign-up link below if you’re able to help.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4EA9AF2FA4FA7-62638373-pinewood
Rules: Please review the Council Leader's Guide for a list of rules and specifications:
https://scoutingevent.com/Download/664172406/OR/2026_Leader_Guide.pdf
The single most important rule: YOU MUST BUILD YOUR CAR FROM A RECTANGULAR WOOD BLOCK FROM AN OFFICIAL BSA PINEWOOD KIT!
You should have received your kit in December at the Christmas caroling event. If you do not have one, please reach out to your den leader.
If you start with anything other than a rectangular piece of wood from an official BSA Pinewood kit your scout's car will not be eligible to participate at the Council Derby and will not be eligible to win any of the pack design or speed awards. We want everyone to have fun and we don't want any disappointed scouts so please - no pre-assembled cars, no pre-cut cars, no car kits that you put together, etc.
As long as you start with a BSA rectangular block you can add all kinds of fun things to your car. Colored wheels from the scout shop or elsewhere can be used (as long as they are official BSA wheels) and all kinds of objects can be added to your scout's car. You and your scout can be as creative as you like and add just about any items to your car that you want to (such as miniature figures, etc.) as long as the car doesn't exceed the rules maximum dimensions or weight limit of 5 oz.
Fun Awards Categories
We will be presenting the following design awards at this year's Derby.
- Best Scout Theme (invited to district race)
- Most Creative (invited to district race)
- Best Sports Theme (invited to district race)
- Most Patriotic (invited to district race)
- Judges Choice (overall appearance) (invited to district race)
- Funniest Design
- Best Animal Design
- Best Military Design
- Best Paint Job
- Most Futuristic
- Fastest Looking Design
- Safest Design
- Most Radical
- Independent Effort (scout made-unassisted)
- Most Colorful
- Strangest Shape
- Grand Marshall's Choice
There will be prizes for “show” and prizes for "go". In addition to the 17 design “show” awards, scouts will also win awards for placing in their rank.
Scouts will each race in 4 heats with the other scouts in their rank (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos I, Webelos II). Trophies will be awarded to the 1st place champion in each rank. Medals will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each rank and for the show categories listed above. The Pinewood Derby racing software averages the fastest 3 of your 4 times and these times will be used to determine how your scouts place in your rank. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will then be able to compete in the Council Derby Race. Please see below for more info.
We will have a Sibling only race (must be under 16 to enter) and an Adult race. In the Sibling race, all cars must conform to all rules as the Scout race except kit cars will be allowed. There will be trophies awarded for best design and fastest car. The Adult race is an opportunity for dads, moms, and grandparents to race "illegal" cars that do not conform to the rules.
The following rules will apply for the Adult race:
- 10 oz weight limit.
- Extended wheel bases allowed.
- Modified or machined wheels and axles allowed.
- Non- BSA wheels and axles allowed.
- Maximum height of 3.5 inches to ensure the car will fit under the timer.
- All cars must fit into the dimensions box (standard dimensions) to allow that no car with interfere with the other cars on the track.
- No propulsion systems allowed (i.e. rockets, electric fans, springs, motors, etc.)
- No ball bearings allowed.
- No liquid lubrications allowed