The Pinewood Derby is a fun Cub Scout racing event held in many packs. During the event, Cub Scouts race small, driverless wooden cars down a sloped track. The cars are powered only by gravity.
Who participates in Pinewood Derby?
Ground Rules. The race is open to all registered Cub Scouts who were the 1st place winners at their pack pinewood derby. If the 1st place winner is unable to go, then the 2nd place winner can take its place. The race categories are Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and 4th grade Webelos Scouts and 5th grade Webelos Scouts.
What is the purpose of Pinewood Derby?
The purpose of the Pinewood Derby is to help the Cub Scout build a team relationship with their parent or helper, experience the sense of accomplishment and the excitement of competition, learn Win/Lose good sportsmanship, and to have fun.
Is there a national Pinewood Derby?
Did you know that there are no national Boy Scouts of America official Pinewood Derby rules? Even though each car-building kit comes with a “rules and instructions” printed insert, they are suggested rules. Your pack’s race committee will decide on the official rules for the race.
Why is it called Pinewood Derby?
Pinewood Derby is a Cub Scout racing event. Cub scouts create small cars, usually from kits that contain a piece of pine (hence the name, pinewood), 4 plastic tires, and 4 nails to use as the axles.
Is Pinewood Derby for Boy Scouts?
The pinewood derby is the wood car racing event of Scouts BSA. Pinewood derbies are often run by packs of the Cub Scouts program.
Why is a heavier Pinewood Derby car faster?
Weights. One of the most important ways to make a fast pinewood derby car is by adding weights. Because the cars are relatively light, they need to overcome friction and air resistance when navigating down the racetrack. Most modern tracks feature an initial slope followed by a long, flat section.
What are the disadvantages of Pinewood?
Here’s the list of Pine wood disadvantages,
- Pine wood scratches and dents easily.
- Pine wood is knotty.
- Need regular maintenance.
- Poor weather resistance.
- Difficult to stain.
- Darken with age.
- Too many movements of the wood.
Can Lions participate in Pinewood Derby?
This includes just the registration fee. Lions are responsible for obtaining their own uniform shirt & hat as well as guide book. It was decided that Lions would not participate in the pinewood derby.
Is a shorter Pinewood Derby car faster?
The longer the wheel base, the greater the turning distance (a short car turns much more quickly than a long car).
Can you reuse a Pinewood Derby car?
Basically, this year’s cars must be built from new materials (car body, wheels and axles) found in the official Pinewood Derby kit, however parts of cars, such as weights, from previous years may be reused.
What is the fastest Pinewood Derby Shape?
But aerodynamics rule the day, and the best shape is a simple wedge. Just like a spoiler on the rear of a sports car, the wedge shape allows as much air to flow over the top of the car without hinderance while keeping the car pinned to the track.
Where is the heaviest Pinewood Derby car?
Science says the heaviest part of your car should be about 1 inch in front of the rear axle. The idea is that the farther back the weight is, the more potential energy you have because your center of mass is higher up on the track.
How long does a Pinewood Derby last?
about 12 days
A regular Pinewood Derby race on a 40-foot track lasts a couple of seconds. The Pinewood Derby Race Across America is expected to last about 12 days.
How long does a Pinewood Derby race last?
about two minutes
How long does it take to run the race? From user reports, with the RaceManager each heat should last about two minutes (or less!) per racer. See Running the Race for an explanation.
Is Heavier better for Pinewood Derby?
Weight and Distribution
One of the most fundamental rules in the Pinewood Derby is the maximum weight limit of 5.000 ounces, or 141.643 grams. Simple physical principles dictate that a heavier car will run faster.
Why is Boy Scouts in decline?
The BSA had more than 4 million boys participating in the 1970s. Reasons for the drop include competition from sports leagues, a perception by some families that they are old-fashioned, and busy family schedules.
Why Did the Boy Scouts get shut down?
The Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy in February 2020 after being hit by a flood of sexual abuse lawsuits as several U.S. states passed laws allowing accusers to sue over allegations dating back decades.
What are Boy Scouts in the UK called?
The British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association (BBS & BGS Association; also known as The Brotherhood of British Scouts) is an early scouting organisation, having begun as the Battersea Boy Scouts in 1908.
Should I bake my pinewood derby car?
Per the Pinewood Derby rules, the weight of the car shouldn’t exceed 5 ounces. One way to ensure your car doesn’t go over the weight limit is to bake the block! Naturally, wood holds water, and water adds weight. You’ll want to help your Scout by baking the block in an oven at 250 degrees for one hour.
Can a pinewood derby car have 3 wheels?
You may sand the wheels to remove the seam or other imperfections on the surface, but the profile may not be changed (i.e. you can’t make the wheel width thinner). c. Cars can run with 3 wheels touching the track, but the 4th must be installed.