2026 Districts Pinewood Derby

Date/Time:

Location:

Racer Registration

• Unit Registrations requested - individual families are asked to coordinate their registration through their Pack leadership.
• All cars are required to register and pay online by the Thursday before the race, April 9th.
• Registration extended unitil April 10th 5 PM
• NO registrations will be accepted on race day under any circumstances.
• Unit leaders may enter and pay for all their Pack's cars on one registration (strongly preferred) or have individuals register and pay themselves.
• For units who held a qualifying race: If one of your qualified cars is unable to participate, an alternate can register to represent the unit in that category.

Racer Recognition

• Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 finishing cars in each District at each Cub Scout Den level, and qualify to advance to the Council Pinewood Derby.
• Patches will be awarded to all participants but sent to Cubmasters once they arrive late Spring.

Racing Check-in and Times

Metacomet and Appalachian Trail PWD 

• 9-9:45 AM Car Check-in
• 10:00 AM -12:00 PM Racing  (Intermission around 11 for 20 min)
• 12:00 PM Awards

General Knox Distric PWD

• 1:00 PM- 1:45 PM Car Check-in
• 2:00-4:00 PM Racing ( Intermission around 3 for 20 min)
• 4:00 PM Awards

How It Works

All cars from each eligible Scout rank (Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos) and cars from the Open Class from each Pack will be scored head-to-head against those of the other Packs. The Open Class category is for cars entered by friends, family, older Scouts (including Arrow of Light Scouts), or community members. 

Each car will race on each lane of the racetrack. The lowest cumulative time will be the winner. The top three winners will be recognized in each category and qualify to race in the Council Pinewood Derby.

Rules

You can find the car building rules in the file download area below. Please follow them closely and ask questions of your leader. There will be a check-in table at drop-off and every car will go through an inspection at that time. The rules and inspection ensure that the car will both fit on the track and that there is a level playing field. 

The rules pdf do not been updated for 2026.

What does your Pack do?

Build the cars, check-in the cars (w/ optional Car Repair Waiver if you won't be present) before the race and pick them up afterwards.

If you are running your own unit race before the District Derby, you can forward your three (3) fastest cars from each category (Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Open Class).

If you are not running your own unit race, you can send your entire membership's cars and we will race them for you. 

Car Check-in Specifics

At check-in, if a car is rejected for any reason (the most likely being over the 5oz weight limit), we will have a space available for alterations. Bring your own tools and supplies. Every family entering a car who will not be present should fill out a Car Repair Waiver from the file download area below - one half page per car. If permission to alter a car is not given and the family is not present to adjust, then non-compliant cars or one that breaks during the race will have to be disqualified.