Process

1. Scouts design and build their cars using kits provided by Den leaders. 

   • The November or December Pack meeting is dedicated to building derby cars. 

   • Kits and accessories are also available at the Seattle Scout Store. 

2. Pre-Race Weigh In and Inspection typically occurs the day before the race.

   • All cars must be weighed in the day before the race.  

   • All cars must meet inspection criteria based on the rules below.

   • Scouts complete a document that provides a name and description of their car. 

   • Cars are stored in a secure location overnight to ensure no modifications can be made after inspection and weigh-in.

3. Races occur in heats.

   • For fairness, each car races in four heats. Once in each of four lanes on the metal track.

   • Cars are timed with a digital timing device which also captures the car’s average speed (which is surprisingly fast!).

   • Results are tracked with software and displayed live.

Typical Awards and Prizes

We give both objective awards (race-based) and subjective awards (non-racing) (subject to change):

Racing Awards

• Trophies for top 1, 2, 3 in each Den

Non Racing Awards (As voted by Scouts as peers)

• Most Unique Car

• Fastest Looking Car

• Most Creative Car

• Best Paint Job

• Car I Want to Drive

Help Scouts Personalize Their Cars

Scouts give their car an official name and a description/bio. This will help us during announcements and introduction of the car. Scouts have a tremendous sense of pride when their car is announced. Scouts document the name and description during weigh-in.

Pack 624 Pinewood Derby Construction Rules

1. The cars should be built by the Scout with minimal parental guidance.

2. Width: The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches, inclusive of all accessories.

3. Length: The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches, inclusive of all accessories.

4. Weight: The weight of the car shall not exceed 5.00 ounces. 

5. Wheels: Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited. The contact surface of the wheels may not be modified, other than de-burring the plastic so it is smooth. Wheels that have been rounded, or have had the contact patch narrowed will not be allowed.

6. The car MUST have 4 wheels.

7. Springing: The car shall not ride on springs of any kind.

8. Details: Details such as steering wheel, driver, decals, painting, and interior detail are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width and weight specifications.

9. Attachments: The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices or moving parts other than the wheels. All attachments must be within the dimensions noted in items 1 through 3 above.

10. All weights added to car must be firmly mounted and non-moving.

11. Lubricants. Graphite lubricants are permitted (white graphite is preferred). All petroleum and silicon based lubricants are prohibited (for the longevity of our track!).

12. Inspection: Each car must pass inspection by an official inspector before it will be allowed to compete. The inspectors have the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet these specifications. Inspection shall be held prior to race day.  All cars must be weighed in prior to race day. Actual weigh in date and time will be announced.

13. The Pinewood Derby Race Chairman & Cubmaster have final say as to whether a car is allowed to race or not.

Pinewood Derby Construction Hints

Weight

For a car to be a contender in the race, it should weigh as close to 5 ounces as possible. This can be attained in any number of ways. We have seen everything from gluing stacks of coins on the car to pouring molten lead. The trick is that on weigh-in day, you will need to tweak the weight to get exactly 5 ounces.  Rather than use a very sharp implement to do this, consider the following idea:

• When planning the car, consider boring a 1/2 - 3/8 inch wide hole about 2” deep straight down the long length of the car in the back.  Fill this hole with lead shot, bb’s or similar item as close to 5 ounces as possible without going over. Glue these (as they can’t move per the rules).  Finally a cork goes in the end (decorated as a tail pipe, of course). On weigh in day, adjustment is as easy as adding a couple bb’s. A little glue on the cork ensures it doesn’t come out during the race.

• Gluing/attaching weights on the bottom does not work (no matter what the Scout Store says)! Weights and accessories on the bottom of the car will cause the car to bottom out and stop on the track. In fact, the car may not move at all. This is a heart-breaking outcome for your Scout! Correcting this can also require potentially hazardous modifications on weigh-in day.

Clearance

Nothing is worse than seeing a car bottom out on the track.  The wheels should be in the grooves provided in the car body.  If you nail them higher on the body there will not be enough clearance. Attaching weight and other goodies to the bottom causes the same issue. 

Wheels

The “axles” (actually nails) easily work their way out of the grooves on the bottom.  Make sure and glue them so this won’t happen.

Paint

“A sticky car fast does not go…” or so the saying goes.  Give yourself plenty of drying time.

Friction

This is what it is all about. Without giving away all the secrets, think about friction and where it can come from. The winning cars minimize friction at all the places possible. Graphite is a great lubricant, but we recommend white graphite. 

Winning Goes beyond THE RACES!

We give awards for artistic and creative efforts as well as performance.  The best part of the derby (in many peoples’ opinion) is seeing all the cars lined up for the first time and seeing the creativity of a diverse group of Scouts. The photo at the top of this page was the line-up of cars for the 2019 Pack 624 Pinewood Derby.