Pinewood Derby

Intro

Our pack holds a Pinewood Derby once a year, in January or February. 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 2022

This year’s Pinewood will be held February 8, 2025 in the gym located at Bammel Church of Christ (2700 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX 77068)

Build Your Car at the Workshop

We will be holding a workshop February 1, 2025 from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm at 1323 Troop Hut (5927 Louetta Rd. Spring, TX 77379). Experts will be onsite to help you and your son 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 wood working 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 son decides on his car design, it is always difficult to determine how much involvement you as a parent should assist in building the car. The following is not a rule but just a gauge by which you may use. Also keep in mind, BSA do 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.