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Pinewood derby: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Pinewood.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Official Pinewood Derby car kit.]] | [[Image:Pinewood.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Official Pinewood Derby car kit.]] | ||
The '''pinewood derby''' is an annual event of the [[Cub Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)|Cub Scouts]] (the young-age division of the [[Boy Scouts of America]]). It is the most popular event for many Scouts and is probably the best known Scouting event among non-Scouts. Other groups and organizations, such as | The '''pinewood derby''' is an annual event of the [[Cub Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)|Cub Scouts]] (the young-age division of the [[Boy Scouts of America]]). It is the most popular event for many Scouts and is probably the best known Scouting event among non-Scouts. Other groups and organizations, such as Awana, and civic clubs often host their own pinewood derby but since the name ''pinewood derby'' is a registered trademark<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=76447146 | title =Search of Trademark Application and Registration Retrieval system | format = | work = | publisher =US Patent and Trademark Office | accessdate =March 2 | accessyear =2007}}</ref> of Boy Scouts of America, they generally create their own names. | ||
The pinewood derby, for half a century "a celebrated rite of spring," has been named part of "America's 100 Best" by ''Reader's Digest'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=26667 | title =America's 100 Best: The 2006 List | format = | work = | publisher =Reader's Digest | accessdate =October 10 | accessyear =2006}}</ref> | The pinewood derby, for half a century "a celebrated rite of spring," has been named part of "America's 100 Best" by ''Reader's Digest'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=26667 | title =America's 100 Best: The 2006 List | format = | work = | publisher =Reader's Digest | accessdate =October 10 | accessyear =2006}}</ref> | ||
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== Description of the event == | == Description of the event == | ||
[[Image:pine_car_winner.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A happy Scout holds a winning pine car.]] | [[Image:pine_car_winner.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A happy Scout holds a winning pine car.]] | ||
The Scout is given a block of wood made of | The Scout is given a block of wood made of pine with two notches for [[wheel]]s, four plastic wheels and four [[nail (engineering)|nails]]. The finished car must use all nine pieces, must not exceed a certain weight (usually five ounces), must not exceed a certain length and must fit on the track used by that particular scout pack. | ||
Other than the previous basic design rules, the Cub Scout is able to carve and decorate the car as he chooses. Many Cub Scouts also add weights to the final design to bring the car to the maximum allowable weight. Cars typically vary from unfinished blocks to whimsical objects, to accurate replicas of actual cars. The fastest cars tend to resemble low doorstops, with weight at the rear. Graphite is usually the only lubricant allowed, as it often helps to polish the provided nails. | Other than the previous basic design rules, the Cub Scout is able to carve and decorate the car as he chooses. Many Cub Scouts also add weights to the final design to bring the car to the maximum allowable weight. Cars typically vary from unfinished blocks to whimsical objects, to accurate replicas of actual cars. The fastest cars tend to resemble low doorstops, with weight at the rear. Graphite is usually the only lubricant allowed, as it often helps to polish the provided nails. | ||
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[[Image:PineMatador.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Pinewood Derby Donahue 1972 AMC Matador]] | [[Image:PineMatador.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Pinewood Derby Donahue 1972 AMC Matador]] | ||
The first, second, and third place winners usually receive ribbons, medals or | The first, second, and third place winners usually receive ribbons, medals or trophies. Some packs also award on the basis of car design. The first place race winners get to go on to race first place race winners from the entire district, then each of the district-wide race winners get to race each other from across the entire council. | ||
The idea behind the pinewood derby is for the parent, usually the father, but occasionally the mother or grandparent, to spend time helping the child design, carve, paint, add weights, and tune the final car. However, it is often the case that the parent takes over the construction of the car, an aspect of the event that was lampooned in the 2005 film ''Down and Derby''. The quest for a fast car supports a cottage industry that supplies modified wheels, axles, and blocks as well as videos and instruction books. While a pinewood derby car kit costs around $4, a set of modified wheels and axles can sell for more than ten times that amount. These [[Aftermarket (automotive)|aftermarket]] items are legal under some Pack rules since the parts originally came from an official BSA kit. Complete cars can be purchased on [[eBay]] and elsewhere for around $100 to $200.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://reviews.ebay.com/Buying-Pinewood-Derby-Cars-Kits_W0QQugidZ10000000000122092 | title =Buying Pinewood Derby Cars/ Kits | format = | work = | publisher = eBay | accessdate =March 18 | accessyear =2007}}</ref> Although these cars violate the spirit of the event, if not the rules, enforcement can be difficult. | The idea behind the pinewood derby is for the parent, usually the father, but occasionally the mother or grandparent, to spend time helping the child design, carve, paint, add weights, and tune the final car. However, it is often the case that the parent takes over the construction of the car, an aspect of the event that was lampooned in the 2005 film ''Down and Derby''. The quest for a fast car supports a cottage industry that supplies modified wheels, axles, and blocks as well as videos and instruction books. While a pinewood derby car kit costs around $4, a set of modified wheels and axles can sell for more than ten times that amount. These [[Aftermarket (automotive)|aftermarket]] items are legal under some Pack rules since the parts originally came from an official BSA kit. Complete cars can be purchased on [[eBay]] and elsewhere for around $100 to $200.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://reviews.ebay.com/Buying-Pinewood-Derby-Cars-Kits_W0QQugidZ10000000000122092 | title =Buying Pinewood Derby Cars/ Kits | format = | work = | publisher = eBay | accessdate =March 18 | accessyear =2007}}</ref> Although these cars violate the spirit of the event, if not the rules, enforcement can be difficult. | ||
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* [[YMCA]] ran their pinewood derby soon after [[Don Murphy (Cubmaster)|Don Murphy]] ran the first pinewood derby. | * [[YMCA]] ran their pinewood derby soon after [[Don Murphy (Cubmaster)|Don Murphy]] ran the first pinewood derby. | ||
* | * Awana (a religious organization for young people, which is popular in many [[church]]es) organizes pine wood car races each year using the name ''Awana Grand Prix''. | ||
* [[Christian Service Brigade]] organizes pine car races using the name ''Shape N Race Derby''. | * [[Christian Service Brigade]] organizes pine car races using the name ''Shape N Race Derby''. | ||
* Other groups organizing similar races under a variety of names include [[Royal Rangers]] (an Assemblies of God organization), and [[Royal Ambassadors]] (a [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]] organization). | * Other groups organizing similar races under a variety of names include [[Royal Rangers]] (an Assemblies of God organization), and [[Royal Ambassadors]] (a [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]] organization). | ||
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* [[Woodcar Independent Racing League]] | * [[Woodcar Independent Racing League]] | ||
* | * Land Speed Record Assault Vehicles | ||
* [[Hot Wheels]] | * [[Hot Wheels]] | ||
* [[Valve cover racing]] | * [[Valve cover racing]] | ||