Frequently Asked Questions

The big race is happening soon. You and your Cub Scout are ready to build the best Pinewood Derby® car ever. The answers to these most frequently asked questions will help get you going—FAST!

• Where can we get our Pinewood Derby® kit?
  • Your local Scout shop has them. Scout leaders might arrange ways to provide them to members of your Cub Scout pack. And you can always order kits through www.scoutstuff.org.
• Who builds the car?
  • A Pinewood Derby® gives a Cub Scout and an adult a project to complete as a team. They design the car together, build it, and then enter it in the race. Each boy can work with one or both parents, a guardian, grandparent, or other responsible adult.
• What are the weight limits for a Pinewood Derby® car?
  • All cars in a Pinewood Derby® must be of a certain size and weight so they have an equal chance to win. Use the official Pinewood Derby® kit to ensure that you start with the correct size. For most derbies, the finished car can weigh no more than five ounces.
• What are the other rules?
  • Each Cub Scout pack decides its own rules. For most derbies, your car must be built with the parts found in the official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby® kit—the wooden block, official BSA® wheels, and axles. Paint, decorations, decals, and weights can be added as long as the final car stays under five ounces. For a look at sample rules, click here.
• Can we substitute our own wheels, axles, or wood block for those from the Pinewood Derby® kit?
  • No. By starting with identical materials, every Cub Scout has a fair chance in the derby.
• How can we make our car go fast?
  • Be sure the wheels are straight. Check the axles when you start building the car to be sure they fit correctly. (Your pack’s experienced Pinewood Derby® adults can show you how.) Make any adjustments to the axles before your Cub Scout begins sanding and painting the car, then remove the wheels. After painting the car, replace the wheels and you’ll be ready to race.
  • Heavier cars are often faster than lighter ones. You can add metal (such as a fishing weight) to your car to bring it close to the five-ounce limit. Before painting your car, drill a hole in the wood a little larger than the size of the weight and glue the weight in place. Cover with wood putty and sand the area smooth. Securing coins to bottom of car is another way to add weight. See Pinewood Derby® products for special coin pockets. Experienced Pinewood Derby® adults can lead you through these options.
• Is it okay to lubricate the axles?
  • Check your Cub Scout pack’s rules. Dry lubricant such as graphite is often allowed, though oil and other fluids are not.
• How can we practice before the race?
  • A practice track for testing the speed and balance of a car is available at www.scoutstuff.org; some Scout shops offer free weigh-ins.