A lot has changed since the first Pinewood Derby Race in 1953 …Believe it or not, the Pinewood Derby began after Cubmaster Don Murphy from Cub Scout Pack 280 C from Manhattan Beach, California (Present Day Pack 713), went to enter his son into the Soap Box Derby, which typically runs once a year, with winners advancing onto Akron, Ohio, and found that his Son was too young to compete…
So, he came-up with an ideal to cheer his Son up, and developed what is known today as the Pinewood Derby, one of featured events in Cub Scouting still to this date… he took the concept of the larger Soap Box Car that races down a hill in communities across America that is powered by gravity and developed the ideal into an event that is full of excitement and action packed which is now known as the “Pinewood Derby”. It doesn’t get any better than the teamwork between Scout and Parent or Guardian to create their car and compete, while allowing our Scouts to experience the “Spirit of Competition”.
The event itself has come a long-way from the days of Scouts and Parents building cars, wheels and axels out of wood blocks and tracks made from panels of plywood… to Race Car Kits, Tool Kits to support the building process, to high tech aluminum tracks with beams of light to monitor the finish line, and oh yes! Computers to make it all happen. Thankfully, what has not changed is that the Pinewood Derby still occurs in Cub Scout Packs across America with Families and friends coming together to cheer their Scout-on.
Cub Scout Pack 125… Our Annual Pinewood Derby We host annually the Pinewood Derby Event for Cub Scouts of Pack 125. Our event typically is held in late January to early February, with Derby Car Kits given to Scouts in December at our Pack Christmas Party. This allows our Scouts to decide on their design, shape, color schemes and begin to build their race cars.
Derby Car Workshops We also offer Derby Car workshops several evenings throughout January, which is staffed by Pack Volunteers, Parents and Grandparents who are willing to lend a helping hand in the building of derby cars, or provide wood cutting services to make sure our Scout get exactly what they have in mind.
Registration, Inspection & Weigh-In Leading up to Race Day, Scouts will arrive at the Scout Room with their Derby Cars in hand to register and have their car inspected and weighed. Derby cars have to meet the Derby Rules for construction and weight limits to pass inspection. At that point the Pack maintains the vehicles in a safe and secure “Pit Area”. Announcements are made within the Pack for Workshops, Registration and Race Day. (For further information on rules for building you Derby Car, please click on Pinewood Derby Rules below)