1 of 7

Write now Article Tools

Pinewood Derby is one of the highlights of each Cub Scout's year. Each Scout starts from a block of pine and is to create a car (within specifications) that will compete against all the other Scouts in his Pack. The three top finishing cars in my son's pack move on to the next level of competition.

The idea behind the Pinewood Derby is that the Scout and his parent (typically his father) will work together to create their design. It involves planning their car, working with tools, working with paint and glues - you know, guy stuff.

Now, Pinewood Derby is famous for the amount of work some kids (or more correctly, some kids fathers) put in on their cars. It can be very competitive and there is an entire industry that has sprung up - offering speed upgrades, books on how to make your car faster, and more. You can even find on ebay people who are selling cars they have designed that have clocked extremely fast times for upwards of $100! There is even a movie based on Pinewood Derby experiences available ("Down and Derby")

My son, always with an alternative view of the competition, had become famous for both his original designs and his ability to finish behind all other competitors. Last year he boldly announced at the start of the race that he intended to finish last, and, by gum, he did. As such, he was given an impromptu award. This year they formalized the award (which should be named after my son) and had a trophy awaiting the last place finisher. Despite our talking about flattening one tire or 'accidentally' using super-glue as a lubricant, we have never done anything to intentionally slow his car down (we also didn't do anything to speed the car up). Design has always taken precedence over speed and a by-product of that is that his cars were slow.

Now might be a good time to run down his past projects. His first year in Cub Scouts, he went with the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile design. It looked great, but rolled slow. His second year, it was his school bus, the third year he went with a 'Lego car' (easiest by far, by the way, just cut the block and glued a Lego base on it and he built it up from there), and last year he went with an ice cream truck. The Weinermobile, school bus and ice cream truck all needed two blocks to make the design and all needed extensive excavation of the blocks to get under the 5 ounce limit. The two block design also was a great way to increase the resistance on the air flow - adding precious seconds to his time down the track.

This year,

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Pinewood Derby: Cub Scouts' reception to outcome?
We want to hear your view. Write now!