Pinewood Derby

[T_Chapin 10]

We have 2 Dens, 4 Wolves and 5 Bears. 1 Wolf and 1 Bear will not be able to come to the pinewood derby so a committee member said she would race their cars for them. The only thing is, if they win some of us don't think it is fair that they go on to District's because they were not present.

Has anyone had this situation come up before? What are the rules about being present when your car races?

Thanks! We are a new Pack in Bend, OR and are still learning all the in's and out's!

[Gold Winger 9]

There are no rules. :-) PWD is largely a unit and district event.

 

Why can't the boys be there? Is it something important like a funeral or just a chance to see a new movie?

 

In any case, since the boy doesn't really have anything to do with the race, what does it matter if he's there? The cars are put on the track and gravity does the rest.

 

I know that our district PWD always had a few cars that ran without the boys being there.

[pixiewife 10]

The rules are completely up to you!

In our pack, the rules clearly state that if you are not present, and in uniform, that your car will not race. This has been a rule for a very long time, but is not the case for every pack.

Also, going to the district PWD, at least in our district, is totally optional, and has nothing to do with your participation in or placement in your pack derby. Which means, that you may have been first in your pack derby, last in your pack derby, or never even raced in your pack derby, and you can still go to the district derby.

Hope this Helps,

~Pixie

[SSScout 1616]

Hear hear...

 

Make sure you have "Classes" for racing, such as:

*Cub made

*Siblings

*Adult Unlimited

*Experimental

 

All should be well defined as to Formula Limitations (dimensions, weight, axle and wheel origin and treatment, etc. ). Check the instructions in the box and/or check with District so the boys can qualify in your Pack and in District.

 

Also,make sure you have "extra" awards (not just fast, faster, fastest) and judges thereby, such as:

 

*most colorful

*Most Scouty

*Realistic

*Funny

 

etc. , the goal being that every boy can come away with a prize, especially in a small Pack like yours. These can even be made up as the opportunity presents itself on the day of the race.

Let the Adults duke it out in the parking lot (nah, just kidding).

 

Then, when you get the BatMobile, or an Adult made block of wood with a bolt glued to it, you can deal with them fairly...

 

KiS MiF YiS

[msnowman 10]

About a month before Pinewood we have a mandatory Pinewood Derby Meeting. This is the only times cars are handed out and each boy and a parent/guarding/partner is expected to attend. One of the things we spell out in short, little words is that if the scout does not attend, his car does not race in the Cub Scout class. Mom/Dad/Granpa/Auntie can race it in the open class, but it will not qualify for the District race.

 

As others have said, those parts of the rules will vary by Pack and what works for us may not work for you. If you haven't had a specific rule dictating that a boy has to be present for his car to race in the PWD than I don't see it as fair to keep that car from racing at the District level if it qualifies. And, this should give your committee something to chew on for next year...it will come up again.

 

YiS

Michelle

[T_Chapin 10]

You're all awesome, thank you so much for your input!

[Pack212Scouter 10]

Our Pack has the rule "Once checked in, only the Scout can handle his car." Our District and Council races have the same rule. Obviously this precludes anyone but the Scout racing his car. Every Pack has their own rules, but the key is to make sure that any rules that you have don't conflict with the rules for your District or Council race. You'd hate to have a boy with a really fast car that can't race it at those events because it was too long, or too tall, or too whatever.

[kbandit 10]

What we used to do for the cubs (Boy Scouts now) is we would start early and collect old bowling trophies and buy new tops for them and every cub got one for participating in the derby. We had a large 4 ft trophy the pack champ got to take home for a year. (moms were ready to pass it on after a year LOL) The cubs loved it. To put new tops on is just a screw and we bought (or had donated) little car ones. Face plates usually come off real easy and new ones aren't much are here for 1st, 2nd third. You'd be suprised how many you get. Boxes and boxes of them.