Pinewood Derby Planning You will need a Derby Chairperson (Preferably someone knowledgeable in Pinewood Derby) Ten Steps to a Successful Pinewood Derby: 1. Assign a Pack Meeting date for the Derby. The entire meeting time should be for the Derby. o Date and Time: 2. Provide adequate indoor facility space for equipment, participants, and spectators. o Place: 3. Schedule with whomever is in charge if track equipment is to be rented or borrowed. o Who: 4. Purchase kits ahead of time in quantities of eight for price break and distribute at least one month ahead of time. 5. Determine what Awards will be given and Order or Make ahead of time. The awards should be given out DERBY night to be most effective. 6. Make sure Official Derby rules are given out to ALL families in Pack to ensure fairness to ALL participants. 7. Optional: Have Den or Pack show and tell workshop on "How to make a car." Suggest tools to use, Do's and Don'ts. 8. Pre-weighs-in/Trial Runs. Whenever possible prior to official Derby night. This saves lots of time and headaches at the Derby. (Will still need official weigh-in on Derby Day unless cars are taken up and stored by race official until Race Day, but helps eliminate disappointment and time spent trying to get cars race ready at checkin.) o Date/Time/Place: 9. Assign helpers in advance or at Derby night. 10. Thank everyone involved.
STEP 1: Assign Date Assign a Pack Meeting date for the Pinewood Derby. Make sure you schedule well in advance of Derby to assure the date. Reconfirm prior to Derby night. Make sure that someone will be there to let you in (with a key!). Typical Weekday evening time schedule Set Up 5:30-6:30 p.m. Registration 6:30 (Webelos 1 hour later) Racing & Awards 7:00-8:30 Tear down and clean up 8:30-9:30 Large Packs (50 or more Scouts), a Pre-Weigh-In, prior to Derby Night, is a MUST! STEP 2: Provide Space Provide adequate indoor facility space for equipment, participants, and spectators. Most school gyms and lunch rooms are adequate. The larger the pack, the greater the space needed. Churches and Legion Halls are also used. The length required to accommodate chart, starting end space, 4 sections of track, stopping section, and finishing end space is approximately 45 feet long. Clean up afterwards -- and remember, GRAPHITE IS DIRTY!! Prime equipment required: Track The number of lanes are 2 to 8 (and up). Length of tracks vary. The Pack can build, rent, or borrow a track to suit. The track must have a releasing mechanism at the starting end, and some sort of finish line or electronic scoring system at the finishing end. You may need to make special arrangements for stopping the cars at the end of the track. Microphone system (optional) Chart Needed to control race (either on a clipboard or on a big board) Tables (one each for) Registration and final weigh-in Awards (preview for all the spectators) Chart Support Holding Table for next Den to race Display Table to hold all cars Pit Stop Table with tools and repair parts Graphite Table, with pie plates and newspaper Trash can or bag, brooms, etc, for clean up.
STEP 3: Secure the Track If renting or borrowing a track, schedule several months in advance. Equipment will vary. Make sure you know what is being provided. Check it out -- don't wait until the night of the Derby. If your Pack wants to build a track, look at different plans, and select one that meets your needs. Plans are available in the Cub Scout How-To Book or at the Scout Center. Materials for a six- lane track can cost $150-$200, and labor can range from 40-100 hours, depending on the plan. This project should be undertaken by "handy" volunteers, relatively skilled in woodworking. More advanced power tools, such as table saws, drill presses, power sanders, etc. are very helpful. STEP 4: Purchase Kits Purchase kits ahead fo time in quantities of eight for a price break, and distribute them at least one month prior to Derby night. Pinewood Derby kits can be purchased (or ordered) at your local Scout Distributor store, through the BSA catalog. Check the current BSA catalog for the prices. Official Pinewood Derby kits must be used for all cars to make the contest fair for all. The official kit contains the following: One block of wood Four plastic wheels Four axle nails Decals Kit basic instructions Extra replacement wheels and axles are also available with the kits. They come in packages of five. It is a good idea to have some of these handy. STEP 5: Awards Determine what awards will be given, and order or make them ahead of time. Awards should be distributed at the Derby to be most effective. They are important recognition, both for building the car and racing. Every entry should receive some kind of award. Special Pinewood Derby awards can be purchased from your local Scout Distributor or the BSA Catalog. These include Pinewood Derby segments, certificates, ribbons, and trophys. Make sure you use Cub Scout awards and not Boy Scout or Council awards. You can also purchase trophys from sporting goods or trophy distributors. Some quick printing service shops also offer a variety of certificates and duplicating.
Pinewood Derby awards can also be made. These could include certificates, ribbons, neckerchief slides, or a variety of homemade trophies. Award Types: 1st Place Den 2nd, 3rd Place Den (optional) 1st, 2nd, 3rd place Pack trophies Fastest Wolf, Bear, Webelos (optional) Overall Design (optional) Most Original (optional) Greenest (use your imagination!) STEP 6: Pinewood Derby Rules Make sure that official Derby rules are given out to ALL families in the Pack to ensure fairness to ALL participants. The cars should be checked for compliance with the official rules at registration. It should be understood that a car could be disqualified by the officials at any time. The cars should be checked for: Components used in building the car Weight, width, length, and underside clearance dimensions Check car weight with an accurate scale or balance. Official maximum weight is 5 ounces (141.75 grams). Have a drill available at the Derby to remove some weight from cars that are over the limit. Width and length of the cars can most easily be checked with a small wooden box with inside dimensions of 7 inches long by 2.75 inches wide. A box (or boxes) constructed from 0.25 inch plywood and hot glue works nicely. Checking the underside clearance of the cars is equally simple, using a strip of 3/8 inch plywood on a small plywood board. If the car rolls freely, it should not have any trouble on the track. STEP 7: Workshop Organize a workshop to assist those who have never constructed a car, or who might not have the tools or skills to build the car at home. The workshop can be held at a Pack or Den meeting place, or at someones home. Have the tools and materials ready to show and use. It might be helpful to have example cars at various stages of construction. Tools for the workshop should include coping saws or a jig saw, a hand electric drill, a bench or table, chisels, hammers, hot glue gun, glue sticks, sanding blocks, rasps (wood files), pliers, scredrivers, punch, and a board to pound on. Materials should include sandpaper, paint, sealer, wax, buffing cloth, weights, hand cleaner and paper towels.
Show a basic car design on paper. Show how to put the lines on the block of wood, either by tracing or using carbon paper. Demonstrate how to make the initial cuts with a coping saw or jig saw. Adults can help with power tools at this stage. Demonstrate detailed shaping. Instead of using a knife, encourage the use of a wood rasp with both fine and coarse teeth. Drill and/or chisel out a hole in the block of wood for wieght to be added. You will need a bench vise, drill and bits, and possible extension cords. Weights can be purchased at the Scout Center, from hobby stores, or you can use lead fishing sinkers, plumbing solder, or other metal wieghts. Weigh the car components (wood block, axles, and wheels) along with the weights. Don't forget to allow for the glue, sealer, paint, and wax coats to come later. After the weights are put in the holes, conceal them with plastic wood. Sand the car with fine sandpaper. A sanding block could be helpful. Encourage the Scouts to do lots of sanding to get a good finish on their car. Apply a coat of sanding sealer and two coats of paint to the wood. Add stripes, decals, or any detailing. Apply an overcoat of either clear lacquer or wax and buff. Wheels can be sanded to remove burrs or imperfections, but the treads must be left flat. Put the wheel in the chuck of a drill, and sand it lightly with a sanding block. The axles can also be sanded lightly to remove burrs. Insert the axles (nails) through the wheels and into the grooves in the car body. Cars with crooked wheels don't race too well, so make sure they're straight, and apply a little hot glue to keep them in place. Squirt some graphite into the wheels at the axle. Spin off the excess onto newspaper. Graphite is pretty messy, but it makes the cars roll much better. You can obtain graphite from the Scout Center or hobby shops. STEP 8: Pre-Weigh-In/Trial Run This can be a great help prior to Derby Night, especially for Packs with many members. The best time for a Pre-Weigh-in is a week or less from the Derby date. Most of the cars will be finished or almost finished, and will be ready for additional weight to bring them up to the official 5 ounce limit. Bring an accurate scale. Preferably the same scale that will be used at Derby Night registration. Calibrate it to 5 ounces (141.75 grams). Also bring all the tools and materials that will be necessary to secure the weights to the body of the car. (See the "Workshop" section for a list.) Make sure you've got enough space, tables, etc. for dozens of boys to work on their cars. Make sure you've got enough time to get every car through the process. (About 2 hours should be enough for 40 boys.) Weigh each car (including all parts and accessories). Add weight to bring it up to 5 ounces. Weigh the car and the weights together. Weigh in a little bit light for unfinished cars to allow for paint and wax. Make sure every Scout knows if they are supposed to bring their own weights, or if the Pack is supplying them. Have extra weights, or you might end up borrowing nuts and bolts from the furniture.
Each Scout and parent or helper then uses the tools to drill, chisel, or cut some sort of holes for the weights. Add the weights, and secure them with hot glue or plastic wood. Weigh the car and parts again to make sure that they do not exceed the 5 ounce limit, or to see if they need "just a little more." This can happen if a lot of wood is removed to make room for the weights. If possible, set up the track and allow the Cubs to make a trial run, just to ensure that the car will make it down the track. Discourage Cubs from repeated trial runs as they risk damage to their car. STEP 9: Helpers There a many ways to run a Pinewood Derby, and the size of the Pack and the location of the Derby will determine the number of helpers. The helpers do not have to be Cub Scout leaders. Get as many parents involved as possible. Some of the helpers you will need are: Set Up Crew (minimum 4-6 adults or older boys) Sets up track, tables, chairs, and microphone. At least one person on the set up crew should have experience setting up and testing the track. Run several test races, moving the cars to all lanes, to ensure that there aren't any "bumps." Registration Table (2 to 3 adults) Adult(s) Print Cub's name, Den number, and Rank on Sign-in/Attendance Sheet. Assign numbers, affixing them to the cars. Note the car number on the Sign-in/Attendance Sheet. Weigh in car (maximum weight 5 ounces or 141.75 grams). Check car length (7"), width (2 3/4"), underside clearance (3/8") and inspect each car to ensure that they comply with BSA, Council, and/or Pack rules to be qualified for the race.. Pit Stop Table (1 adult) Graphite cars using dry or powdered graphite. Cover table with newspaper, taped down at the corners. A pie plate can be used to catch excess graphite. Car repair facilities can include an electric drill and bit, hot glue gun, extension cords and three-prong adapters (if required), small hammers and screw drivers, a fine-tooth rasp, emery cloth or fine sandpaper, a knife, hand cleaner and paper towels, and a trash bag or can. Have extra wheels and axles for replacement of any that do not meet specifications Holding Table (1 adult) Place cars by Den on table (carpet pieces help keep cars from rolling). Track Crew (6-10 adults) Crowd Control (2-3 adults) Keep Cubs and other spectators back from track. Act as runners & gophers. Race Announcer
Announces Scout names and lane assignments, says "Ready, Set, Go!" about 900 times, and makes other announcements as required. Needs microphone and speaker with extension cords. Race Chart Controller Determines lane assignments for each heat. Can either use a clipboard or a large "Race Board" which holds the Scout's name cards. Race Starter Makes sure that cars are properly aligned on the lane strips. (The Cub Scouts should place their own car on the track.) Releases the cars to start the race. "Get Ready" Person Assembles the next group of boys to race, collects name cards and forms, all just a little away from the track. Finish Line Judges: (2-3 adults) Make final decisions on race finishes, and communicate winners to the Race Chart Controller. If an electronic scoring system is not available, they will have to "eyeball" the finish (and agree on the winner). Clean Up Crew (minimum 4-6 adults or older boys) Disassemble and store track. Put away tables, chairs, and microphone. At least one person on the clean up crew should have experience setting up taking down the track. Sweep up afterwards, paying particular attention to the Pit Stop Table area. STEP 10: Thank Everyone The successful Pinewood Derby is the result of efforts of many people, and they should all be thanked for their efforts. Thank the Cub Scouts for their efforts to build a car, compete against their friends, and their showing of sportsmanship. Thank the parents for helping their sons do their best, coming to the Derby, and supporting the Pack. Thank the Den and Pack leaders, and all the volunteers who helped plan, set up, run, and clean up after the Derby. Thank the Pack's sponsor organization, whomever provided space and materials for the Derby, and any other organizations that contributed time, effort, or materials to make the Derby successful. And finally, thank and congratulate yourself for helping to make it all possible.