The story of the pinewood derby starts with Don Murphy, Cub Master for Pack 280C in 1953. Don Murphy wanted to create a new father-son Cub Scout activity he could do with his 10 year old son who was too young to race in the Soap Box Derby, which requires the boy to drive a home made car down a hill.
What is the point of a 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.
Who came up with Pinewood Derby?
Cubmaster Don Murphy
The first pinewood derby was held on May 15, 1953 at the Scout House in Manhattan Beach, California by Cub Scout Pack 280C (the present Pack 713). The concept was created by the Pack’s Cubmaster Don Murphy, and sponsored by the Management Club at North American Aviation.
When was the first Pinewood Derby race?
May 15, 1953
The first Pinewood Derby race was held May 15, 1953, in Manhattan Beach’s Scout House.
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.
What is the fastest Pinewood Derby car?
The Black PRO Car
The Black PRO Car is our fastest pinewood derby car. It pushes the Speed Limit! It is track-tested car ready to race featuring our race winning PRO friction-free BSA Ultra-Lite graphite-coated wheels and PRO BSA graphite-coated grooved axles.
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.
Why is Pinewood cheap?
While oak trees take about 20 years to reach maturity (to start producing acorns), pine trees only take 1.5 to 3 years. The faster growth rate means that pine is often a cheaper option than oak as it’s easier to grow new trees quickly.
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.
Does Pinewood break easily?
Is pine furniture durable enough to last? Yes. While pine wood is softer than hardwood varieties, it offers a good deal of stiffness, strength and shock resistance. Pine wood is also more resistant to shrinking and swelling.
Is the Derby the oldest race?
Kiplingcotes Derby (also spelt Kipling Cotes), run at Kiplingcotes in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is widely accepted to be the oldest annual horse race in the English sporting calendar.
Who invented the derby car?
According to the popular version of the sport’s origin, stock car driver Larry Mendelsohn is credited with organizing and promoting the first true demolition derby, in Long Island, New York, in the late 1950s.
How do you win Pinewood Derby secrets?
10 Tips and Tricks to a Fast and Cool Looking Pinewood Derby Car
- Bake your block.
- Max out your weight at the regulation 5 ounces.
- Use all of the graphite.
- Sand and polish your wheels and axles.
- Check alignment.
- Spend time sanding.
- Use a high-quality paint.
- Add decals.
Are heavier Pinewood Derby cars faster?
The heavier your car is, the faster it’ll be. It’s the location of the weight that makes the difference. The ideal placement for the center of gravity is 7/8-in. in front of the rear axle.
How heavy can a Pinewood Derby car be?
5 ounces
MAX OUT YOUR CAR’S WEIGHT AT 5 OZ
In most races, a Pinewood Derby car’s weight is limited to 5 ounces. If your car weighs less than that, add coins or other weights.
How long does it take to make a Pinewood Derby car?
How long does it take to build a pinewood derby car? Plan on at least one day to cut and sand the car, another day to paint it and a third day to add decals and the wheels and axles.
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 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.
Can you 3D print a pinewood derby car?
So the Pinewood Derby is around the corner and you want to make the coolest car for the race. You realize that you don’t want to make your car out of wood and the pre-cut wood templates look tacky. Then you realize that you can make your car using a 3D modeling program and get it printed on a 3D printer!
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.
Can you use tape on a Pinewood Derby car?
The car may be hollowed out, drilled or modified and/or built up to the maximum weight by the addition of wood or metal. However, the material must be securely fastened to the car with screws, nails, or glue. No loose materials of any kind are permitted. Tape is NOT allowed to attach weights.