The Pinewood Derby and Its History in Cub Scouting 
Like many popular Scouting programs, the pinewood derby began at one unit and spread nationwide like wildfire. The grassroots program—because of its very nature, its inherent merit, and the fact that it is just plain fun—went from one father’s idea at a California Cub Scout pack to sweeping the nation in the early 1950s.

Cubmaster Don Murphy of Pack 280C, Manhattan Beach, California, had a son who was unable to compete in a local gravity-powered car competition. Murphy came up with a way for his boy and his pack to make and race miniature gravity-powered cars on a small indoor track, and the pinewood derby was born. That first derby was held May 15, 1953. By 1955, the pinewood derby was part of the official Cub Scouting program and, while always optional, has become a key part of many Cub Scout packs’ annual programs.

Variations of the pinewood derby have been developed over the years, including the raingutter regatta and the space derby, both of which demonstrate the worth (and the fun) of the pinewood derby in a slightly different form. The basic elements of this course can be used in any of these variations.

The Why of the Pinewood Derby: What Scouting Goals Are Accomplished? 
In general, the Scouting program tries to avoid events with a single winner or even class winners. The Cub Scout standard is, after all, that a boy should do his best. We do not, for example, tie advancement to whether a Cub Scout beats the other members of his den in a foot race, but rather to whether he betters his previous standards. The primary methods of the Cub Scouting program—including the goal of personal achievement—are based on individual achievement and accomplishment rather than individual victory at the expense of another’s defeat.

The goals of Cub Scouting are not often extended to include competition or competitive sports, though the goals of character development, sportsmanship and fitness, and respectful relationships can easily be seen to give a special perspective on our very competitive world.

While, in some ways the pinewood derby is a special case (principally because it is so much fun), we can use the pinewood derby to further the goals of Cub Scouting. We can broaden the derby’s simple one-winner perspective to a program all participants can feel good about. At the same time, we need to be alert to the possibility of problems that can spoil the boys’ fun and discourage Cub Scouts and parents. Sometimes these problems have actually caused youth to drop out of Cub Scouting.

Given that competitive events like the pinewood derby can raise emotional levels beyond what is appropriate, what Scouting goals does the pinewood derby help a Scout achieve?

• Sportsmanship and good citizenship is taught by following the derby rules and cheering on friends and den partners as they race against others in the pack.
• Personal achievement comes to any boy who picks up a woodworking tool and shapes raw wood into a sleek design. And, by learning woodworking, he prepares himself to more easily serve in the Boy Scouting's service projects.
• Family understanding is enhanced because building a pinewood derby car puts the boy and his mom, dad, or other adult partner into a close and sometimes intense learning experience over, potentially, many hours.

It is very clear that any boy who can cheer on a friend in a derby race, when his own car has been previously eliminated, must be said to have had his character developed, if not his car-building skills. But finally, and probably most convincingly, participating in the derby is fun. This is especially true if participation is stressed, and personal achievement is very broadly defined and rewarded.

So let’s start to have some fun.

The Pinewood Derby Competition versus Recognition 
A key element of Cub Scouting is recognition of personal achievement rather than simple victory. We do this by providing a way of recognizing the achievement of each boy rather than simply celebrating the car that was fastest down the track. National Supply has made available a whole host of recognition items ranging from a simple participant ribbon and a racer’s license (that can simply be passed out or used in conjunction with having had the car certified as meeting the derby rules) to individual display stands for each boy. A supplement to this unit includes a list of many of the items available from national supply for pinewood derby competitions.

Another way to broaden the plateau of victory (so that more boys can stand on it) is to have different ways of competing. Certainly the simple idea of first-, second- and third-place awards in the actual pack speed competition is easy to understand. But you can have more winners by arranging that class winners are also recognized: Tiger first, second, and third place; Wolf first, second, and third place; Bear first, second, and third place; and Webelos first, second, and third place. Here three speed recognitions become 15 winners—class winners plus overall winners.

And speed is not the only thing to recognize. You can recognize craftsmanship, paint jobs, funny cars (cars built to look like bedsteads or forest animals), stock car racers, Indy cars, or even give the Cub Scouts a ballot and have them pick a Cub’s choice. When you consider first-, second-, and third-place winners in each category, you can see that it is easy to spread recognition as wide as you wish it to be. There are no limits to your creativity in creating recognitions for the Cub Scout.

One possible thought to consider here. While it can be heartbreaking to see a Cub Scout’s lip tremble because he did not win a trophy, Cub Scouts are not entirely without a competitive spirit. They are, after all, boys first. Life does not provide a prize for everybody that shows up. Therefore, it is probably a good idea not to arrange it so that every boy wins a prize.

Every boy can receive a recognition, but it is probably a good idea that no more than 50 percent or 60 percent of the boys win awards. Of course, the cost of all this, if commercially produced (even from national supply) trophies or plaques are used can be prohibitive. There are other alternatives, of course, including the pack-made trophy which could be a Webelos craftsman project or an adult contribution to the derby. For an idea to allow adult-made trophies, see the build-your-own-trophies materials section attached as a supplement to this training.

The important thing is to balance victory and recognition, to award personal achievement, and to promote the goals of Cub Scouting: character development, spiritual growth, good citizenship, sportsmanship and fitness, family understanding, respect for relationships, personal achievement, friendly service, fun and adventure, and preparation for Boy Scouts.