Cub Scout Derbies

Racing in a Cub Scout derby is great fun. You’ll get to design your racing vehicle, work with a parent to build it, and see it perform on race day. Win or lose, you’ll take pride in having done your best. When you race in a Cub Scout derby, you learn craft skills, the rules of fair play, and good sportsmanship—things you will remember all your life.

Types of Derbies

The main types of derbies are the pinewood derby, raingutter regatta, and space derby.

Pinewood DerbyPinewood Derby Patch

The pinewood derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Pinewood derby cars are small wooden models that Cub Scouts make with help from their families. Then they race the cars in competition. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track. Most packs have a pinewood derby every year. It can be run indoors or outdoors. Every scout can design and build their own “grand prix” car to enter in the race.

  • Description: Cub Scouts will be given a pinewood derby car to assemble and race. Dens typically have a Den meeting for the Scouts to work on their cars.
  • Pack 442 Event
  • Location: The Derby generally occurs at Friendswood UMC
  • Duration: 4 hours on Saturday morning + setup time Friday night
  • Cost: Free
  • Attendance: Cub Scouts and Families, be sure to have siblings build a car to race in the Pack Sibling race held on Friday night before the derby.
  • What to Bring: 1 pinewood derby car that will pass inspection, the specific rules set for a particular will be sent to the parents via Den leaders and Pack email list.
  • Pinewood Derby Rules and Tips

Raingutter RegattaRain Gutter Regatta Image

In the raingutter regatta, boats race down a narrow channel. There are two versions. The wind-powered version uses sailboat designs, and the boats are blown down the channel. The propeller-powered version uses motorboats driven by propeller.

  • Description: Similar to the Pinewood or Space Derby except that the models are miniature sail boats, the seas are 10 foot lengths of raingutter filled with water. As with the other 2 derbies, each Cub Scout will be given a boat to assemble for the race.
  • Pack 442 Event
  • Location: This event occurs during the Spring Family Camp Out
  • Duration:
  • Cost: Free
  • Attendance: Cub Scout and families
  • What to Bring: Completed boat ready to race
  • The boat can be carved and shaped if desired, but you must use the wood provided.

Space DerbySpace Derby Patch

Another popular scout project is the space derby. It’s like the pinewood derby except the models are miniature rockets. The rockets “fly” along a heavy line that hangs in the air. They’re driven by propellers powered by rubber bands.

  • Description: Cub Scouts will be given a Space Derby rocket to assemble. The Pack will hold a Space Derby (or race) to determine the winners.
  • Pack 442 Event
  • Location: The Derby generally occurs at Friendswood UMC
  • Duration: 4 hours on Saturday morning + setup time Friday night
  • Cost: Free, the scouts are provided with a Space Derby kit
  • Attendance: Cub Scout and families
  • What to Bring: Space Derby rocket that passes inspection. Parents are frequently asked to bring cordless drills and batteries to help wind the rubber band that powers the rocket.
  • For the Bake Sale, we need individually wrapped baked goods, such as cookies, brownies, cupcakes, or similar small baked treats.  Please drop these off in the kitchen on Saturday morning.

Rules and Hints:

  • You DO NOT have to be present to race.  However, the flyer does need to be checked in by 9:30am on Saturday.  If you do have a conflict, please let someone in your den know so that they can register/race your flyer for you.  When you check in, please let the registrar know that you may have a conflict.
  • Only use the rubber bands that are provided in the kit.  For more speed, attach three rubber bands, not one.  Using more than three rubber bands is not allowed.  It is also a good idea to lubricate the rubber bands (Google ‘Space Derby’ to see what to lubricate with).
  • Insert the brass ring into the recess in the body.  This ring reduces friction.
  • The propeller mounts with the round end facing towards the body – otherwise you will go backwards.
  • Space Derby Instructions (PDF)

 

 

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