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Design Your Car
- Plan your design with a quick sketch.
- Cut your block or save time with an Official Pre-Cut Pinewood Derby Block.
- Sand your car and optionally add weights to reduce friction and increase speed.
- Add your personal touch with paint, stickers, decals and sound kits.
- Test your car on a Pinewood Derby Practice Track or visit your local Scout Shop during Champ Camp.
A Storied Tradition
- The Pinewood Derby has fostered creativity, innovation, and amicable rivalry amongst Scouts for 70 years.
- First introduced in 1953 by Don Murphy, a Cubmaster in California.
- The original rules for the Pinewood Derby required each car be made fom a single wood block.
- The Pinewood Derby has become a favorite activity for Cub Scouts across America, with millions of participants each year!
![](https://retailobjects.scoutshop.org/media/wysiwyg/STORIED_TRADITION_1.jpg)
![](https://retailobjects.scoutshop.org/media/wysiwyg/STORIED_TRADITION_1.jpg)
Ready. Set. Go!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can we get our Pinewood Derby kit?
Here at Scout Shop or your local Scout Shop also has them. Scout leaders may arrange ways to directly provide them to members of your Cub Scout pack, and you can always order kits through ScoutShop.org
Who builds the car?
Participating in a Pinewood Derby is a team effort for a Cub Scout and an adult mentor. They design the car and build it together, and then enter it in the race. Each Scout can work with one or both parents, a guardian, grandparent, or other mentor.
What are the weight limits for the Pinewood Derby car?
All cars in a Pinewood Derby must be of a certain size and weight so they have an equal chance to win. Using the official Pinewood Derby® kit will ensure that you start with the correct size. For most derbies, the finished car can weigh no more than five ounces.
What are the other rules?
Each Cub Scout pack decides its own rules. For most derbies, your car must be built with the parts found in the official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit - the wooden block, official BSA wheels, and axles. Paint, decorations, decals, and weights can be added as long as the final car stays under five ounces.
Can we substitute our own wheels, axles, or wood block for those from the Pinewood Derby kit?
No. Starting with identical materials gives every Cub Scout a fair chance in the derby, but there are fun wheel and axle kits in regulation available online and your local Scout Shop.
How can we make our car go fast?
There are lots of different ways! Check out our tips here: 10 Tips and Tricks to a Fast and Cool-Looking Pinewood Derby Car.
Is it okay to lubricate the axles?
Check your Cub Scout pack's rules. Dry lubricant such as powdered graphite is often allowed.
How can we practice before a race?
A Pinewood Derby Practice Track for testing the speed and balance of a car is available at Scout Shop. Some local Scout Shops offer free weigh-ins.
Need Help Organizing a Pinewood Derby Race?
To ensure that your Pinewood Derby Race is safe and competitive, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the rules and safety guidelines. Downloading these resources will provide you with all the necessary information to meet the requirements and make memories that last a lifetime!
![Pinewood Derby Resources Pinewood Derby Resources](https://retailobjects.scoutshop.org/media/wysiwyg/RESOURCES_1.png)
![Pinewood Derby Resources Pinewood Derby Resources](https://retailobjects.scoutshop.org/media/wysiwyg/RESOURCES_1.png)