Every year in January we hold our annual pinewood derby race. Scouts are provided with a kit that contains the body block, wheels, and axles (nails). Scouts design cars for one of two categories: fastest car, or best gas mileage. A few weeks after our pack race is the district race, where scouts from packs all over the area get together to compete. Each den is allowed to send four scouts to the district race.
Fastest Car - The car that has the fastest average speed calculated over a series of runs down the track. The slowest time is thrown out, and rest are averaged together. The car must adhere to all rules in the official rules document.
Best Gas Mileage - The car that has the slowest average speed calculated over a series of runs down the track. The car must adhere to all rules in the official rules document, and must cross the finish line to be able to qualify. This category always brings some of the most interesting designs and is always popular on race day. This category is not used at the district races, it's only used in our local pack.
This is a project that should involve parents and scouts. Keep scouts involved in car design and building, while keeping safety in mind. The more input your son has on design, the more work he puts into the final result, the more he will learn and grow from the experience. It's a great way for parents to spend quality time with their scout, while teaching woodworking skills, STEM concepts, patience, and determination. Not every car can win, so make sure to have fun throughout the process, emphasizing effort and gracious professionalism.
Our pack uses the district rules in order to make sure our scouts are compliant for both races. A link to the official rules, and a FAQ document are below.