Everything families ask about the derby. The short version: cars are handed out at Build Night on December 10 and raced on Saturday, January 16.

Signing up

What is the Pinewood Derby?

Scouts — and siblings — design a car from a block of wood at the December 10 pack meeting and race it on Saturday, January 16.

How do I sign up?

What does it cost?

Scouts $5 — car kit, a slice of pizza and drinks. The usual price is $10; Patriots’ Path Council covered the car kits after Pack 160 passed its goal of 15 new scouts.
Siblings $10 — car kit, pizza and drinks.
Leaders $10 — car kit, pizza and drinks.

When do we get the car kit?

Kits are handed out at the December pack meeting on 12/10, 6:45–7:45 pm. If your family cannot be there, speak to a leader about collecting one.

Building the car

How do we get started on the night?

Only the wooden block comes out of the box at the meeting — the axles, nails and wheels stay in the box so they do not get left behind at the clubhouse.

Draft a design. Draw an outline using the template provided, at home or at the clubhouse.
Cut the block. Scouts queue for an adult to cut the block on the band saw.
Sand. Smooth the car down at the clubhouse.
Finish at home. More sanding, paint, wheels and any detail.

What does a typical car look like?

There isn’t one. Freehand designs are very welcome and there is plenty of inspiration online.

Are there restrictions on the design?

Yes — cars must follow the Rules & Regulations, and they are inspected at check-in. The two caught most often are:

Weight: no more than 5.00 ounces.
Axle width: the distance between the wheels on each axle must stay at the kit body’s 1¾ inches, measured right to left.

Race day

What time should we arrive?

Each den has a check-in slot between 10:30 am and noon. The full schedule goes out once it is finalised.

How does the racing work?

Racing starts around noon and scouts race with their den. Every car runs six times, once in each lane, and the times are averaged — so a single bad run will not sink you. The sibling and leader races follow once the dens have finished.

Do we have to stay all afternoon?

No. Families need to be there for check-in and for their den’s race, and are free to come and go around that.

What is the Grand Finale?

After the leaders’ race, the fastest three cars from each den race off to decide the pack’s fastest three.

Prizes

What can scouts win?

Every registered child gets a certificate of participation.
Trophies for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fastest cars in each den, and in the siblings’ race.
The top three from each den go through to the Championship Race for pack-wide 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Trophies for Most Creative, Best Character, Most Realistic and Best in Show.

Food

What is included, and what is for sale?

Each registered scout and sibling gets a slice of pizza and drinks. Extra slices are available for a suggested $3 donation. There is a bake sale open to everyone.

Helping out

Where can we help?

Bake sale — donate baked goods or snacks, or take a shift at the stand.
Build Night (12/10) — setup, the welcome table and kit handout, walking new families through the design process, and cleanup.
Preparation — buying or setting up race-day drinks, and setting up on Friday, January 15.
Race day — registration table (check-in and inspection), pit (fixing cars that fail inspection), garage, catcher at the finish line, runners, and counting the Most Creative ballots.

Speak to your den leader or Lee Ann Rivera.

Open the original FAQ document — leaders can edit that copy directly.