Pinewood Derby History
A Little Derby History
Almost 60 Years Old
-The Pinewood Derby is one of the most popular events in Organization Cub Scouting. The first Pinewood Derby was held in 1953 by Cub Scout Pack 280C of Manhattan Beach, California.
-The Pinewood Derby was referenced in a Scout publication "Royal Rangers Pinewood Derby" for the first time in the October, 1954 issue of Boy's Life Magazine. The Cub Scout Program Quarterly gave instructions for running a Pack Meeting Derby.
-The first Pinewood Derby Kits were available from the Supply Division's catalogs - a package of 8 kits sold for $2.75! Over 15 million kits were sold during the next 20 years.
-Today, over 81 million Pinewood Derby car kits have been sold.
-The races still operate by rolling the freewheeling cars down a sloped track.
-The Pinewood Derby event is also known as the "Shape 'n Race Derby" in the Christian Service Brigade, and the "Kub Kar Rally" in Canada's Scouting organization.
