It’s Pinewood Derby Season in Michigan!

“A celebrated rite of spring,” the Pinewood Derby has been a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) tradition since 1953. Many a Boy Scout has gone from asking for help from his dad to build basic block-shaped cars to helping their own sons crate precision-designed works of art for a shot at the annual championship.

History

The Pinewood Derby is basically a spinoff of the Soap Box Derby. The Soap Box Derby itself was fueled, so to speak, by the first car races in America. The first car races at the start of the 1900’s quickly became hugely popular, and Soap Box races gave younger people a chance to join in the fun. By the 50’s and 60’s, the Soap Box Derby held every August was at the top 5 most attended sporting events, with Chevrolet as sponsor and many celebrities making appearances.

The Soap Box Derby though was still limited to those aged 11-15, and was not without risks of accidents and injury. This was the very reason that the Pinewood Derby was started. In 1953, Don Murphy, Cubmaster of Pack 280C (now Pack 713), was looking for an alternative for his son who was still too young to join the Soap Box Derby. He thought to use the same gravity-powered concept behind Soap Box Derby cars, but unmanned and in miniature. Thus, the first Pinewood Derby was held on May 15, 1953 in Manhattan Beach, California. It quickly became popular nationwide and was included in the official program of the BSA.

The Modern Pinewood Derby

As mentioned, the Pinewood Derby is basically a spinoff of the Soapbox Derby. The cars used are built by each father (or other relative) and son team, much like in the Soapbox Derby. They started out simply enough with “four wheels, four nails and three blocks of wood.” The block making up the body of the car used to come cut into the shape of a 1940s Indy 500 car, but since 1980, solid blocks have been issued to give each team more room for creativity.

Today, official kits come with a block of wood (made of pine, of course), four plastic wheels, and four nails. These cost around $4. From this very basic starting point, however, things can get crazy. As long as teams stick to the allowed lubricants and dimensions, cars can practically be designed any way you want, from rough unfinished blocks to realistic replicas of real racecars. Usually, only graphite is allowed as a lubricant, while limits on weight and dimensions are typically 5 ounces, 2 ¾ inches wide, and 7 inches long. Typically, metal or lead weights are added to reach the limit and add to the car’s inertia at the beginning of each race.

There is also a large market for “aftermarket” additions or modifications for the cars, such as decals, fenders, body kits, wheels, axles, etc., which will cost several times the price of the kit, for those who want to go all out. Finished cars can also be found for a hundred or more dollars on sites like eBay, but are heavily discouraged – after all, this bypasses the entire point of building something together.

The dates of your local derby, as well as the specific rules and regulations, may vary for each pack, but the idea remains the same. It encourages parents and guardians to spend time with the children in building each car to the best they can and the “healthy competition, participation and creativity” of the event.

Because of the time and effort put in to each team’s car, the awards should also reflect hand-made craftsmanship made with precision, quality, and good design. Great Lakes Trophies & Engraving is proud to have been a part of such great American traditions as the Pinewood Derby for 20 years. We offer the highest quality awards whether traditional, specific to the Pinewood Derby, or even custom made. Contact us today for any awards you may need!

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