Each scout will receive a derby car kit from the Pack in December.

General information about the derby can be found here and here.

View the video at the bottom of this page for insights from YouTuber and former NASA engineer Mark Rober. 

Another father and den leader from Pack 163 in Charlotte, NC created a free book for reference as well.

Need design ideas? There are many free design templates available online and in our Pack's Google Drive.

CHECK IN

All cars will be checked in before the derby begins. Cars will not be checked in after the event has started. Alternate arrangements can be made in advance if absolutely necessary.

Cars will be registered and inspected to ensure they are race legal. We will have tools to make spot repairs or modifications to non-compliant cars. 

Cars will be impounded after check in. Our cadre of leaders will place the cars on the track and retrieve them after each race. Cars will be returned at the end of the derby.

RACE RULES

General

1. All cars must be made from current official BSA Pinewood Derby kits (stock wood block, axles, and wheels). Alternative wheels and axles are only allowed if they are sold by the Scout Shop.

2. All cars must be made in the current school year by the Scout and adult helpers. Previous years cars are prohibited.

3. All scouts will be randomly assigned to heats. The final race schedule will depend on the number of entries. Each scout will race at least 4 times.

4. Siblings and family members are welcome to enter a legal car into the race.

RACE SPECIFICATIONS

1. Allowable car dimensions

   • Width not to exceed 2.75 inches

   • Width between wheels must be 1.75 inches

   • Wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles) must be 4.375 (4-3/8) inches

   • Length not to exceed 7 inches

   • Height not to exceed 5.5 inches

   • Ground clearance at least 3/8 inch (see below diagram of track section viewed from the end)

   • Weight not to exceed 5 oz as measured by the Pack 9 official scale

2. The car must be able to rest against the start gate, which consists of a single pole in the middle of the track (see pic below).

3. Accessories, such as steering wheel and driver, are permissible as long as these accessories do not assist the car's performance and do not cause the car to exceed the allowable dimensions.

4. All weights must be securely fastened to the car. 

   • No sliding, moving, movable, or liquid-based weights are allowed.

   • You may want to avoid having any weights or objects underneath the car as the stop section will allow the car to skid to a stop on its belly (see pic below).

5. Dry lubricants (such as graphite) are the only lubricants allowed. 

   • No wet lubricants (such as oil) are allowed.

   • No hubcaps or wheel coverings may be used to hold in lubricant.

6. Other modifications

   • Cars must be freewheeling with no starting or propulsion devices.

   • Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited, except to the extent they act as weights only.

   • Cars shall not ride on spring suspensions.

   • Wheels cannot be altered to change their footprint (shape/profile). Mold seams may be removed, but wheels may not be narrowed, ridged, or otherwise changed.

   • Axles may be polished to remove burrs and secured with clear glue.

   • Wheelbase may not be modified - although it may be shifted slightly should the pre-cut grooves not be true.

7. Only race officials will be permitted to fix wheels that fall off during the race. Repairs will not be allowed for any other damage to the car during the race, including weights that fall off. The car will have to continue racing without the weights. If the damage is such that it prevents the car from completing all runs, the car will be disqualified.

AWARDS

1. The fastest racer from each den and the overall fastest pack car will receive awards.

2. Everyone will be invited to vote on their favorite design. One scout will be awarded best design from each den as well as an overall best design ("best in show").

3. The top 3 fastest cars and "best in show" will be invited to race in the Etiwan District Pinewood Derby.

Pack 9 Derby Finishes

Each car races twice per lane for a total of 8 races. The slowest heat time is discarded. The cumulative time of the remaining 7 heats determines final standings.

2022

1st Place "Victory Crown" by Jett Nettles (Bear) 21.1604 sec

2nd Place "Creeper" by Wade Beaver (Wolf) 21.4736 sec

3rd Place "Golden Spark" by William Mitchum (Wolf) 21.7709 sec

4th Place "Mister Tiger" by Michael Cossel (Tiger) 21.8196 sec

5th Place "Barely Legal" by Miller Sprotti (Arrow of Light) 21.8469 sec

2023

1st Place "Pikachu" by Dash Nettles (Wolf) 21.4126 sec

2nd Place "Street Fighter" by Jett Nettles (Webelos) 21.6931 sec

3rd Place "Jude's Ride" by Jude Moreland (Lion) 21.7961 sec

4th Place "Smoke" by Thomas Arthur (Webelos) 21.9597 sec

5th Place "Jellyfish" by Charles Glasser (Lion) 22.0761 sec

Best in Show "Tank" by Ian Prough (Lion)

2024

1st Place "Squirtle" by Dash Nettles (Bear) 21.3591 sec

2nd Place "Kaiser" by Kyle Burkeen (Arrow of Light) 21.5484 sec

3rd Place "Cobra" by Wade Beaver (Webelos) 21.5707 sec

4th Place "Mamba" by Jett Nettles (Arrow of Light) 21.5710 sec

5th Place "McLaren" by Ben Carlson (Bear) 22.0213 sec

Best in Show "USS Yorktown" by Ian Prough (Tiger)