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How to run a pinewood derby race


...and build a pinewood derby stand


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"How to" Run a Pinewood Derby Race "How to" Build a Pinewood Derby Car Stand

How to Run a Pinewood Derby Race

Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Planning Guide

When I ran the Pinewood Derby for my son's Cub Scout Pack, I create this list below to help me (and the next race manager) organize the activities we needed to manage our race. This plan assumes the race will be held the fourth week of January.

Instead of trying to manage every task yourself, break up the tasks into sub-teams and appoint a leader for each sub-team. For example, I had a “track team”, a “food team”, a “Pit team” and an “activities team”.

Below is a breakdown of the activities and who is responsible for them.

Action

When

Who
  September Activities  
Reserve gym at school Start of school year Cub Master who sets yearly schedule
  November Activities  
Order car kits 3 weeks before Dec Pack meeting Race Manager
Pre-announce race date at meeting Nov Pack meeting Race Manager
Sign-up volunteers to help with the race Nov/Dec meeting Race Manager
  December Activities  
Copy race rules and Pinewood Derby info sheet. Insert into car kits   Race Manager
Get track reserved 3-4 weeks before Race Manager
Hand out car kits to Den leaders – at end of meeting so kids don’t open boxes and spill contents! Dec Pack meeting Race Manager
Annouce Pinewood Derby Workshop to teach how to build a pinewood derby car. This is especially helpful to Tiger Scouts. Dec Pack meeting Race Manager
  January Activities  
Pinewood Derby Workshop first week of Jan Race Manager
Race committee meeting – select people and sign up for activities. Fill in names for sub-team leaders Jan 13 Committee team
Order trophies Jan 10 Race Manager
Order ribbons for Den winners, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in Den Jan 10 Race Manager
Give gym layout to Janitors. Order TV and stairs for stage Jan 15 Race Manager
Make 30 copies of “Best in Show” ballots Jan 25 Race Manager
Race Day    
Setup track starting at 3 for 6PM race Jan 25 Track team
Setup check-in table with official scale, post rules Jan 25 Track team
Setup computer, enter contestant names Jan 25 Track team
Layout stage with trophies, ribbons and car holders Jan 25 Track team
Food Ordering    
  • Order 35 pizzas for 75 kids
  • Order liter bottles of soda
  • Buy 400 cups, plates, 900 napkins
  • Get pizza warmer box
  • Get change $1, $5, .25
 Jan 20 Food team leader
Car Repair Pit    
  • Two hot glue guns
  • Lead strip and cutter
  • Graphite
  • Two postal scales
  • Screw drivers, wood chisel, extra wheels, axles
   Car Pit team leader
Race night activities
Fun stuff to keep scouts and siblings busy while race is going on.		    
  • Balloon shaving
  • Ring toss
  • Limbo
  • Car stand building
  • Face painting
  • Patch trading
   Activities leader

Race Management Tips


  • Each car should have a unique number sticker that is attached to the car for identification. the number can also be or painted on the car.
  • If you have a lot of kids, divide them up by age. The first round of races should be between kids of the same groups
  • Set up the track a day or two before the race so that the kids can make a few practice runs. Bring the scale too so that they can weigh their cars.
  • Consider holding an unlimited race (with its own set of rules) after the official race where the adults (and kids) can race their "other" cars.

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Pinewood Derby Car Stands



Diagram of a pinewood derby stand #1

Instructions to make derby stand #1


Below are the steps to build the pinewood derby car stand diagramed above...

  1. Cut a 1"x3" board down to a 1"x2" and a 1"x1" for the top and post.
  2. Shave a saw blade width off of the resulting 1"x2" with a table saw for the top.
  3. Cut the 1"x2" into 2" sections.
  4. Cut the 1"x1" into 4" sections.
  5. Cut the 4" sections into 2 sections using a 45 degree miter.
  6. Shave a 45 degree face off of the 1"x3" on the table saw or router for the name plate.
  7. Cut the 1"x3" into 3" sections.
  8. Drill the Top at a 45 degree angle for a screw into the post.
  9. Drill the top and bottom of the post for a screw.
  10. Drill the bottom for a screw into the post


Each stand requires 5" of 1x3 so an 8' long 1x3 should make 18 stands. Depending on the type of wood used this can be a very inexpensive stand even if you get brass plates for the base.
Additionally, we make finishing the stand a woodworking project for the scouts. They have to sand the pieces, put the stand together with two screws and varnish it (this usually takes one den meeting and can be counted toward advancement).

Pinewood Derby Car Stand #2 (simpler!)


We also made a simpler stand out of three pieces of wood (pictured below), a 1"x3" for the base, a 2"x4" for the upright and a 1"x2" for the top to hold the car. This stand only required one angle cut in the 2"x4" do the car mounted at an angle.

This only requires four screws, two on the bottom and two on the top.

pinewood derby car stand picture

Pinewood Derby stand kit (only requires four screws!)




pinewood derby car on stand picture

Completed pinewood derby car stand



...just apply stain and you're done!



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