Cub Scouts Race, Create and Learn at Annual Pinewood Derby

By Marisa Dawson

The sound of countdowns, cheers and wheels racing down the track filled the room at St. John’s Lutheran Church last Saturday as local Cub Scout dens gathered for one of the most anticipated events of the year: the annual Pinewood Derby.

At the derby, each scout begins with the same simple materials (a block of wood, four nails and four wheels) and transforms them into a uniquely designed race car. The event tests not only speed, but also creativity, craftsmanship and sportsmanship.

“So the Pinewood Derby, this is one of our biggest events of the year. Probably is our biggest event of the year,” said Committee Chair Ben Zaayer. “But the goal is to teach them… when they start, they get a block of wood, four nails, four wheels, and then take that and turn it into a car that’ll run that track.”

While the races themselves are fast, with top cars finishing in just over three seconds, the weeks of preparation beforehand teach lessons that extend far beyond the track.

“The general goal of any Pinewood Derby is about a 3 second car,” Zaayer said. “But it can be about creativity, it can be about speed, and really trying to figure out how to polish those wheels down, polish those axles down, and make this as fast as possible. But also to let them build something with their own two hands.”

The derby includes traditional speed trophies for the fastest cars, but organizers also emphasize creativity and inclusivity through additional awards.

“We do our speed trophies, obviously, for first, second, third, but then also… we also have the superlative awards. So we have an award for best paint jobs. Even if it’s the slowest car, they could still be the best paint,” Zaayer said. “So you can compete on different angles, but we try to make it inclusive for every kid to create something unique and wonderful.”

For newly appointed Cubmaster Rebecca Frans, the derby represents an important opportunity for scouts to build confidence and character.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of the leadership team that guides our scouts. There’s so many life skills that these kids will learn throughout their scouting journey. Scouts builds character and confidence in kids,” Frans said. “I can’t wait to continue to see the growth in the kids that participate in the scouting program.”

She said the derby helps teach children to take pride in their work and practice good sportsmanship, regardless of the outcome. “I hope the kids learn to take pride in their hard work — whether they leave with a trophy or not, it takes time and work to make the derby cars. Each pinewood derby offers the chance for kids to learn how to be good sports; whether they place or not, they can encourage or be happy for their fellow scouts,” Frans said.

The excitement leading up to race day is contagious, with leaders building anticipation by encouraging creative designs and announcing themed categories.

“As the leadership team, we are also really excited for this event, so I think that excitement just sort of radiates out to the rest of the scouts,” Frans said. “We announce various car decorating categories that we vote on — for example, the most patriotic looking car, or the most unique design. This really encourages the kids’ creativity and it’s always great to see what they come up with.”

For the scouts themselves, the best part of the derby is often seeing their creations, and those of their friends, in action. Cub Scout Rowan Myers said he designed his car with a scouting theme and focused on improving its speed this year. “So I did a scout theme… and I tried to make it really fast,” Myers said.

When asked about his favorite part of the event, Myers said, “Probably watching everyone race… I like all the unique designs.”

Other scouts shared similar excitement. Charlie Cartner said he chose to paint his car red and blue because those are his favorite colors and enjoyed the creative process most second only to the actual racing. “Probably the racing and the painting… The painting is kind of fun because you get to choose the color and the design,” Cartner said.

Michael Eisenreich also said his favorite parts were “racing it, painting it and cutting it,” adding that he hopes to improve his design next year by “making it faster.”

Beyond the fun and competition, organizers emphasize the life lessons the derby provides. Scouts learn about sportsmanship, patience and problem-solving, while gaining exposure to basic woodworking skills. “We talk a lot about sportsmanship with the kids in their dens as they’re preparing for this,” Zaayer said. “How do we act when we win? How do we act when we lose? How do we act when we’re in between?”

Older scouts also play a key role in running the event, assisting with race operations and helping younger scouts throughout the day. Their involvement allows them to earn service hours while practicing leadership and giving back to a program they once participated in themselves.

“When the older scouts help run the derby, it gives them a chance to give back to the event that they participated in for so many years,” Frans said. “The younger scouts look up to the older scouts, especially at events like this. Having the older scouts available to the younger scouts is a way to encourage them.”

As each heat began, the room filled with a unified chant of “3, 2, 1!”- a moment Frans said is her personal favorite. “I love the anticipation as each heat of the race is ready to begin! Hearing all of the kids count down ‘3, 2, 1!’ and then seeing the cars zoom down the track — it’s so fun,” she said.

From carefully painted designs to finely tuned wheels, each car represented hours of work and imagination. But whether they crossed the finish line first or not, every scout left the event having built something of their own, and gained lessons that will last far longer than the race itself.