Pinewood Derby Race – Everything you need to know!

In this post, I will help guide you through everything you need to know to participate in our upcoming Pinewood Derby Car Race!

I will also be updating this page if any information changes. Last update: 11/18/2025

Ready, Set, GO!!!

Getting Started

Everyone starts with an official pinewood derby kit. Scouts were issued kits at the Den Meeting on 11/17.

The official starting kit.

The kit includes a block of wood, 4 nails (axels), and 4 wheels. In order to qualify for the race, you must use this kit. You cannot replace the block, wheels or axels with parts not from the kit.

Shaping the Block into a Car

No doubt this is the most intimidating part for newcomers. Carving the car from a woodblock to a “car shape” requires using power tools (and a lot of adult supervision!) Since not everyone has experience in this or the tools, our December 1st Pack Meeting will be a DERBY CAR WORKSHOP where adult volunteers will bring their band saws and help scouts get their main shape cut out. Then on their own, scouts will use sand paper to smooth out the wood and assemble their pieces.

Before you have your block cut at the pack meeting, be sure scouts draw the shape they want cut out onto their block of wood. You can use a piece of paper as as template and trace it onto both sides of the block.

Draw a template and trace it onto your block. Image credit: Fskr

Decorating your Pinewood Derby Car

Scouts do this on their own at home. Scouts can paint designs on their car, use stickers, or glue items to it. One of the rules is anything attached to the car must be permanently attached. (No removeable features, such as legos). Check out the PINE WOOD DERBY CAR RULES to make sure your derby car qualifies for the race!

Scouts will also name their cars. Each car will need to have it’s own unique name.

TIP: Add your axels and wheels AFTER you finish decorating it to avoid “gumming” up your wheels, thus slowing down your car.

Event Information

Race Day: Saturday January 10th
Race Location: TBD
Check In Day/Location: TBD

The day before the race, scouts will drop off their finished derby car. Their cars will be inspected and weighed to make sure they qualify for the race.

Cars are inspected and weighed the day before the race. Once they are dropped off, no more modifications can be made.

The Pinewood Derby Car Rules for Qualification

Each derby car will be inspected to qualify to race. The rules are:

  • The cars should generally be built by the child, with minor assistance from the parent
  • You can only use wood, axels and wheels provided in the box- no outside materials/kits/parts will be allowed for these components
  • The car must be at least as wide and at least as long as the original block of wood, in its longest/widest dimensions
  • Cars can weigh up to 5.0 oz. If the car exceeds the weight limit, the car is disqualified.
  • You can only use powdered graphite for wheel/axle lubricant- no other lubricants are permitted
  • Decorations must be permanently attached to the car and no longer or wider than the
    wood base
  • Keep decorations kid friendly and scout appropriate. Inappropriate decorations on cars
    will be removed or may end in disqualification
  • Only one car per scout for the main race

Weights

The heavier the car, the faster the car will go. However, the weight is capped at 5 oz. To add weight to your car, there are many options. Some people glue coins to their cars. You can also purchase derby car weights such as these: https://a.co/d/bOubTW0 . Other ideas include adding fishing weights or BBs. You could drill holes and drop weights into your car and cover up with wood glue, or just glue weights directly onto the car. It’s really up to you! You want to get as close to 5 oz without going over.

Axel Lubricant

The only allowed lubricant is powdered graphite. No liquid lubricants. Amazon has a lot of Weights & Powder Lubricant kits available. Example: https://a.co/d/6gIP6Pq

stick on weights and powder lubricant example

More Helpful Tips

  • There are many videos and website that can provide tips and tricks to building the cars
    and design elements to making them faster- these are fun to review with the kids
  • A quick google search can show images of numerous creative cars designs
  • You can trace the top and side of your wood block and have your child draw the design in these rectangles which can be used as a guide for cutting the car.
  • The key to a fast car is adding enough weights. Don’t skip this step!
  • Make sure you put on your wheels/axels only after you have finished with
    cutting/painting/adding weights (ie: near the last step)- if the axles get gummed up, you
    will have a slow car

Outlaw Races

In addition to the main race with the scouts, there are also the “Outlaw Races”.

Family members of any scout and adult leaders are welcome to participate in the outlaw races (parents, siblings, etc). Anyone not registered in pack 850 cannot compete in the main race, but can compete in the outlaw race. Registered scouts can also compete in the outlaw races, as well. There are less rules for the outlaw race! Outlaw cars must still start with the same pinewood derby car kit and must weigh under 14 oz.

Any car racing in the Outlaw Race must pay a $5 dollar entry fee.

Last year’s outlaw cars

Awards

  • Top 3 Racers from each den
  • Top 3 Racers from each pack
  • Pack Favorite
  • Scouts Own Creation
  • Turtle Track Champion
  • Red, White, and Zoom (Most patriotic)
  • Best Scout Spirit
  • Imagination Station Award

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!