Pinewood Derby® History
In Part 3 of our blog series to help get you ready for the Pinewood Derby, we wanted to post some of the finer points of the Derby’s history.
The Pinewood Derby was approved as an official Cub Scout Activity in 1955, but the first derby took place a few years earlier when an Art Director and long-time model builder by the name of Don Murphy got the idea for “a wholesome, constructive activity that would foster a closer father-son relationship and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship through competition.” Murphy’s son was ten years old at the time.
Under Murphy’s advice and leadership, 55 Cub Scouts from Pack 280C met at the Manhattan Beach Scout House in California to participate in what would be the first ever Pinewood Derby. The boys raced their cars (consisting of a block of pine, two wooden axles, four nails, and wheels) down a 31-foot racetrack while their excited parents and fellow Cub Scouts looked on.
News of the success of this simple idea, reminiscent of the life-sized Soap Box Derby’s that were already sponsored by The Management Club at the Aviation company where Murphy worked, quickly spread to other nearby Packs. Soon, Pinewood Derby’s were taking place all over Los Angeles. In 1954 Boys’ Life ran a story that described Pack 208C’s first Pinewood Derby, along with pictures and the plans Murphy had used to construct the cars.
Murphy wrote up a rule book and sent it to the BSA. After approval, the Pinewood Derby became an exciting highlight to a Cub Scout’s year. The BSA commissioned a model airplane builder, named Art Hasselbach, to design the first official kit that could be sold to Packs across the country and the wooden racers have been rolling ever since. Today Revell® makes the kits officially licensed by the Boy Scouts of America.
Merchandise related to the derby has expanded to include tools for constructing better cars, awards for fastest car and best design, as well as, custom patches and t-shirts denoting a Pinewood Derby participant.
Throughout the years, many other clubs and organizations have adopted the practice and principles of pinewood derby racing as millions of parents and children enjoy the bond of working together on a common goal year after year. In a letter sent to Scouting magazine in 1996, Murphy called the launch of the Pinewood Derby his “most outstanding accomplishment.” Murphy’s contribution to the Cub Scouts has been commended by President George W. Bush, as well as, National Director of Cub Scouting Alan Westberg.
From one Cubmaster, looking for an activity he and his ten-year old son could participate in together, came an example of cooperation, construction, and sportsmanship that will continue to thrill Cub Scouts for years to come.
For more information on the Pinewood Derby’s history, check out these resources:
Boy Scouts of America: A Centennial History, by Chuck Wills, DK Publishing; First American edition ©2009
Pinewood! The Story of the Pinewood Derby, by Don Murphy, Murphy Enterprises; 1st edition ©2001
“The Pinewood Derby” National Scouting Museum. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
Used by permission. Boy Scouts of America® All Rights Reserved.
The Pinewood Derby was approved as an official Cub Scout Activity in 1955, but the first derby took place a few years earlier when an Art Director and long-time model builder by the name of Don Murphy got the idea for “a wholesome, constructive activity that would foster a closer father-son relationship and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship through competition.” Murphy’s son was ten years old at the time.
Under Murphy’s advice and leadership, 55 Cub Scouts from Pack 280C met at the Manhattan Beach Scout House in California to participate in what would be the first ever Pinewood Derby. The boys raced their cars (consisting of a block of pine, two wooden axles, four nails, and wheels) down a 31-foot racetrack while their excited parents and fellow Cub Scouts looked on.
News of the success of this simple idea, reminiscent of the life-sized Soap Box Derby’s that were already sponsored by The Management Club at the Aviation company where Murphy worked, quickly spread to other nearby Packs. Soon, Pinewood Derby’s were taking place all over Los Angeles. In 1954 Boys’ Life ran a story that described Pack 208C’s first Pinewood Derby, along with pictures and the plans Murphy had used to construct the cars.
Murphy wrote up a rule book and sent it to the BSA. After approval, the Pinewood Derby became an exciting highlight to a Cub Scout’s year. The BSA commissioned a model airplane builder, named Art Hasselbach, to design the first official kit that could be sold to Packs across the country and the wooden racers have been rolling ever since. Today Revell® makes the kits officially licensed by the Boy Scouts of America.
Pinewood Derby Cars via Wikipedia Commons
Merchandise related to the derby has expanded to include tools for constructing better cars, awards for fastest car and best design, as well as, custom patches and t-shirts denoting a Pinewood Derby participant.
Throughout the years, many other clubs and organizations have adopted the practice and principles of pinewood derby racing as millions of parents and children enjoy the bond of working together on a common goal year after year. In a letter sent to Scouting magazine in 1996, Murphy called the launch of the Pinewood Derby his “most outstanding accomplishment.” Murphy’s contribution to the Cub Scouts has been commended by President George W. Bush, as well as, National Director of Cub Scouting Alan Westberg.
From one Cubmaster, looking for an activity he and his ten-year old son could participate in together, came an example of cooperation, construction, and sportsmanship that will continue to thrill Cub Scouts for years to come.
Modern Pinewood Derby via Wikipedia Commons
For more information on the Pinewood Derby’s history, check out these resources:
Boy Scouts of America: A Centennial History, by Chuck Wills, DK Publishing; First American edition ©2009
Pinewood! The Story of the Pinewood Derby, by Don Murphy, Murphy Enterprises; 1st edition ©2001
“The Pinewood Derby” National Scouting Museum. Retrieved 2011-01-18.