Figure 1.--Here we see a group of 1960s Cub Scouts watching their Pinewood Derby races "roar" down the race track. The cars are being started by one of the pack's Den Chiefs (a Boy Scout assigned to assist a Den Mother at the weekly Den Meetings) who is wearing the green shoulder cord associated with his position. Notice the pannel he is lifting to ensure a fair start.

There was a great build-up followed by the big night. Cubs on the appointed date each Pack meets for the great showdown--the Pinewood Derby race. Cubbers report a NASCAR or Indinpolis 500 (Indy) atmosphere pervade the event. The race is conducted on a long, graduating descent track. Here the drivers" dual with their Pinewood cars. After a formal registration, only the "drivers" (Cubs) can touch the cars. The cars must be returned to the pit after each race, with no modifications permitted. A typical Cub pack might have 60 boys eligible to participate. In a active pack 30 boys might bring their cars to race. Packs commonly had the younger boys compete separately. This was formalized when the Tiger Cub progam was ininiated. Tigers (first grade boys) compete separately. A smaller track is used for the younger Tiger Cubs. The remainder of the Pack consists of boys in the 2nd through 5th grades. "Drivers" are the boys themselves. They are the only person that may handle the car after inspection at the check-in. The drivers chose a "best design" winner among themselves. At one 1999 event, many cars had different shapes and colors, even a Sheriff's cruiser complete with working lights and siren! But the favorite was a Le Mans style formula car. The racing can be fast and exciting. Each Cub's car is entered into the double elimination, best of three heats, tournament. Rounds might have exciting series where two cars were judged to be equally fast. It is not unknown for four dead heats to determine a round winner. The big event was a series of elimination races on wooden track leading to a grand winner. It was not just the fastest racer that won. There were prizes for the best cars in categories like funniest, scariest, best paint job, etc. In keeping with the spirit of Cub Scouting every boy got a ribbon for something.

Preliminaries

There was a great build-up followed by the big night. Cubs on the appointed date each Pack meets for the great showdown--the Pinewood Derby race. Cubbers report a NASCAR or Indinpolis 500 (Indy) atmosphere pervade the event. After a formal registration, only the "drivers" (Cubs) can touch the cars.

The Track

The race is conducted on a long, graduating descent track. Here the drivers" dual with their Pinewood cars.

The Racers

A typical Cub pack might have 60 boys eligible to participate. In a active pack 30 boys might bring their cars to race. The remainder of the Pack consists of boys in the 2nd through 5th grades. "Drivers" are the boys themselves. They are the only person that may handle the car after inspection at the check-in.

The Cars

The boys take great interest in decorating their cars. At one 1999 event, many cars had different shapes and colors, even a Sheriff's cruiser complete with working lights and siren! But the favorite was a Le Mans style formula car.

Determining the Fastest Car

This was the actual race and the big event of the evening. The racing can be fast and exciting. Each Cub's car is entered into the double elimination, best of three heats, tournament. The cars must be returned to the pit after each race, with no modifications permitted. Rounds might have exciting series where two cars were judged to be equally fast. It is not unknown for four dead heats to determine a round winner. The big event was a series of elimination races on wooden track leading to a grand winner.

Younger Boys

The difference between the younger and older Cubs resukts in a substantial difference in ability and maturity. Cre has to be taken to address the needs of all the vrious age groups. Packs commonly had the younger boys compete separately. This approach gave the younger boys a better chance of competing successfully. The separate races for the younger Cubs were formalized when the Tiger Cub progam was ininiated. Tigers (first grade boys) compete separately. A smaller track is used for the younger Tiger Cubs. THeir races are accorded all the importance of the older Cubs.

Other Competitions

It was not just the fastest racer that won. There were prizes for the best cars in categories like funniest, scariest, best paint job, etc. In keeping with the spirit of Cub Scouting every boy got a ribbon for something.The drivers chose a "best design" winner among themselves.