Young Ladies and Gentlemen, “Start Your Engines”

It is time for the Pinewood Derby a storied tradition of the Scouting community. The Pinewood Derby is a small wooden car race conducted by Scouts across the world since 1953 when the first event was held in Hunnington Beach, CA. Millions of cars have been constructed and raced since the inception of the event 70 years ago. The Pinewood Derby competition allows scouts and their parents to work together and to foster STEM processes (design, physics, graphics) as well as problem solving esprit-de-corps amongst scouts across the program. The Pinewood Derby is a competition that begins at the local level and progresses to District and ultimately the Council level.

On February 27, 2024, our local Cub Scout Pack 504 hosted its local competition. Cars were designed and constructed in accordance with the Pinewood Derby rules:
• Width shall not exceed 2-3/4 inches.
• Length shall not exceed 7 inches.
• Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces.
• Axles, wheels, and body shall be from the materials provided in the kit. Additional wheels can be purchased separately.
• Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
• No lubricating oil may be used. Axles may be lubricated with powdered graphite or silicone.
• The car shall not ride on any kind of spring.
• The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.
• No loose materials of any kind are allowed in the car.

Destin Chamber member and Destin American Legion Scouting Charter Organization Rep. Jim Wood served as Race Commissioner. The District competition is on 2 March 2024 at Beachside Community Church in Fort Walton Beach at 200 Racetrack Road NW at 6 p.m.