Cubscout Pack 214

Matthews, North Carolina

Boy Scouts of America ▪ Mecklenburg Council ▪ Etowah District

"Helping Scouts Do Their Best for over 35 years"

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Pinewood Derby

 

This is "Race Central" for Pack 214's Pinewood Derby. Held every year in late January, it is one of the most popular pack events. Car kits are distributed to all scouts at the December pack meeting. Check this page for current year race results, prior year statistics, race management technology how-to, and links to some of the more popular derby websites. Let's go racin'!

 

 

 

2005 Pinewood Derby Race Results

 

The 2007 Pack 214 Pinewood Derby will be held on Saturday January 20 and will be the best ever!  Work hard on the cars and have fun!  Prizes will be awarded for the best and weirdest designs.  See below for pictures of all the action.

 

Division

Champion Second Place Third Place Fourth Place
Derby Finals 1 2 3 4
Lightning        
Panthers        
Wolverines        
Scorpions        
Wolf Den 4        
Wolf Den 5        
Wolf Den 6        
Wolf Den 9        
Tigers        

 

(Click on a picture to enlarge)

 

View from the starting gate

View from the finish line

Anxiously awaiting the start

Car jockeys in place

Line up the cars perfectly

Waiting for their car

 

 

 

Race statistics from recent years

 

  2003 2004 2005
Race Date 1/25/03 1/24/04 1/22/05

Number of Divisions

10

10

9

Number of Scouts in Pack 87 101 88

Number of Scouts Racing

72

87

69

Number of Races

153

186

149

Race Start Time 2:12 2:18 2:22
Race End Time 5:05 5:31 5:06

Overall Race Length

2 hrs

53 mins

3 hrs

13 mins

2 hrs

44 mins

Race Summary File

Race Detail File

 

The Race Summary File and Race Detail File are tab-delimited text files that can be uploaded into Microsoft Excel. In keeping with BSA guidelines there are no cub scout names in the files. Contact the Racemaster if you want to know your car number for a particular year.

 

 

 

Race Technology and Documentation

 

We use the RaceView Pinewood Derby Manager software. We have it configured to display the elapsed times after each race, and to promote the top two finishers from each division (den) to the pack finals.
The DT8000 timer from Newbold Products uses a serial connection to interface with a laptop running the RaceView software. Can also be used as a standalone timer with tracks from one to eight lanes.
Our new four-lane aluminum track is great! Holes for the finish line sensors were accurately drilled by the company. The starting gate switch had to be fabricated and custom mounted by us. Our Flaming Arrow Webelos II den built a beautiful case using the plans on the Piantedosi website.

 

Pack 214's Race Management Technology How-To Guide. This document outlines how we plan, set up, and run a pinewood derby. Includes detailed information about setting up the laptop, timer, software, and the race itself (41 KB)

Pack 214's Pinewood Derby Rules. Can't run a fair race without a set of detailed rules! (42 KB)

 

 

 

Links to Pinewood Derby Websites

 

Pack 1421's Pinewood Derby Site   (great ideas!)

Pinewood Derby Links - NetCommish

Learn to Build a Winner

Maximum Velocity

Ultimate Pinewood Derby Site

Pinewood Derby Mania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Pack 214 - Etowah District - Mecklenburg Council

Matthews United Methodist Church

801 South Trade Street

Matthews, NC  28105