Hosting a Pinewood Derby is an exciting and memorable event that brings together communities, sparks creativity, and instills friendly competition. This can be a rewarding experience for everyone involved, but where should you begin?
With this helpful guide, you’ll learn about everything you need to host a Pinewood Derby that will have people reminiscing for years to come. From planning the event to building the cars and setting up the track, you’ll get all the information you need to create a truly unforgettable event.
What Is a Pinewood Derby?
Pinewood Derbies are basically miniature car racing events where participants get to craft small wooden cars and race them down a wooden track.
Traditionally associated with the Cub Scouts, these unique events give attendees the opportunity to design their own gravity-powered vehicles for both maximum speed and the best design. However, a Pinewood Derby is about more than winning—it’s an opportunity to foster teamwork and teach basic engineering concepts in a fun, hands-on way.
Reasons To Host a Pinewood Derby
Pinewood Derbies offer a range of benefits for participants. Here are a few of the basic ones:
- Engagement: This activity involves the whole community. Kids get to show off their creativity, and parents can help with the car-building process while spectators enthusiastically cheer them on.
- STEM learning: Participants learn about physics, engineering, and design while building their cars.
- Memorable fun: For years to come, attendees will look back on your Pinewood Derby with fond memories.
- Inclusivity: This kind of event can be open to anyone. Clubs, schools, or even whole neighborhoods can join the fun.
Step 1: Plan the Event Details
Every successful event starts with a great plan, so consider the following steps to make sure your event goes off without a hitch.
Choose a Date and Location
Pick a time and place that’s convenient for your target audience. If it’s a group-specific event, consider aligning it with your club’s schedule.
For larger gatherings, a weekend date can maximize attendance. Look for a space with enough room for a track and seating for spectators—school gyms, community centers, or large outdoor spaces work well.
Set the Rules
Clear rules ensure fairness and fun. You can adopt existing Pinewood Derby rules or modify them for your group. Common rules include a maximum or minimum car weight, specific dimensions for cars, and restrictions on certain materials.
Before the event, email the participants a copy of these rules or provide them with a printed handout.
Assemble a Team
Running a Pinewood Derby is easier with a team. Recruit volunteers to help with registration, setting up the track, judging for both speed and design categories, and coordinating refreshments and cleanup.
Gather Supplies
Here’s an essential checklist of model hobby supplies you need to get started:
- Pinewood kits: These usually come with wood blocks, wheels, and nails.
- Track and timer: Many hobby supply shops will let you borrow or purchase a track designed for Pinewood Derby events.
- Scale: You’ll need this to weigh the cars during the building process.
- Decorations: Banners, balloons, and themed decorations will add a festive touch.
- Awards: Trophies, ribbons, or certificates will help you congratulate winners on their hard work.
Having solid supplies makes the day run smoothly, so check out Midwest Model Supply to find the materials you need to get the event rolling.
Step 2: Distribute the Car Kits
The cars are the heart of any Pinewood Derby, so guarantee that your participants have time to craft their masterpieces. Around six weeks before the race, distribute the kits to your participants. You can purchase official kits from Midwest Model Supply or create your own kits if you’re feeling extra crafty.
Each kit typically includes a wooden block, axels in the form of nails or metal rods, and wheels made from plastic or rubber. To promote creativity, encourage participants to personalize their cars through sanding, painting, and accessorizing.
Step 3: Help Participants Build Their Cars
Not everyone has the expertise needed to build a Pinewood Derby car, so try offering workshops or additional resources to get everyone on the same page skill-wise.
Additionally, consider throwing an optional “Car Crafting Day” where kids and adults can bring their kits in and work on designs together. This fosters a sense of community and ensures everyone has access to equal tools and guidance. Remember—when you encourage creativity, you help keep the event accessible to all skill levels.
Step 4: Set Up the Track
On the big day, arrive early to set up the track and prepare the venue. Pinewood Derby tracks typically include multiple lanes, allowing for head-to-head races. However, most modern tracks have electronic timers to record each car’s speed accurately.
Decorate the Venue
Make the event space feel festive with banners and streamers. You could even create a winner’s podium or photo booth area where participants can pose with their cars or trophies.
Create a Schedule
To keep everything running smoothly, post an event schedule that outlines when the racing will start, how each round will be conducted, and when the awards will be announced. A clear schedule will eliminate stress and keep participants engaged.
Step 5: Race Time!
With the following steps, you’ll be able to keep the event both orderly and exciting as soon as it begins.
Registration and Inspection
Have participants register their cars and perform a final weigh-in to verify that they meet the event’s rules. Place race numbers or name tags on the cars for easy identification.
Conduct Heats
Races typically occur over multiple rounds, so use a bracket to display the rankings so everyone knows when it’s their turn to go.
Encourage Good Sportsmanship
Remind participants that the event is about having fun, not just winning. Cheer on each racer and recognize efforts—no matter the outcome.
Step 6: Celebrate With Awards
Wrap up the event by acknowledging everyone’s effort with fun trophies, ribbons, or creative awards for “Best Crash” or “Most Likely to Win a Drag Race.” Highlight different achievements or offer small participation prizes so everyone leaves feeling accomplished.
Step 7: Build a Tradition
A single Pinewood Derby is great, but why not make it an annual event? Over time, participants will look forward to the experience and will develop their designs and improve their strategies for next time. A recurring event fosters long-term community engagement.
To truly keep the memories alive, create a digital scrapbook or photo gallery of each year’s event and distribute them to interested participants or volunteers.
Now that you know everything you need to host a Pinewood Derby, you’ll be ready to plan a unique event that is guaranteed to create wonderful memories for everyone involved. To stock up on supplies, make sure to visit Midwest Model Supply to explore the vast collections of hobby materials available.
