La Grange
9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. · December 13, 2025, and January 10, 2026
Pack 86 Pinewood Derby
Build resources
Find a design that feels like yours, learn the basics, and let your Scout turn an official kit into something memorable.
Start with an awesome idea
A Pinewood Derby car can be a race car, creature, favorite food, spacecraft, Scout adventure, or something nobody has imagined yet.
Pinewood Derby HQScout Life’s starting point for build guidance, speed science, frequently asked questions, and design ideas.Design photo galleriesBrowse annual halls of fame and themed collections featuring hundreds of cars made by Scouts.Free design templatesPrintable starting points for sketching a profile before anyone reaches for a saw.
Watch and learn
These are useful starting points—not replacements for the Pack 86 rules or a Scout’s own work.
Beginner body preparation
DerbyWorx walks first-time builders through basic car-body prep in a clear sequence.
Explore the science
Scout Life explains gravity, friction, weight placement, and aerodynamics with former NASA engineer Mark Rober.
Mark Rober’s speed video
Entertaining science inspiration, with important Pack-rules caveats explained below.
Pack 86 rules come first
Some popular speed advice uses bent axles, lightweight or reshaped wheels, altered axle slots, or a three-wheel setup. Those techniques may not pass Pack 86 inspection. Check the current rules before making any modification, and keep the project Scout-led.
Review the Pack 86 rulesScout Cut Days
The most recently published build-help schedule included live demonstrations, test-track time, templates, volunteer cutting, and first-timer guidance.
Arlington Heights
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. · December 20, 2025, and January 3 and 17, 2026
What was available
More than 100 templates, volunteer cutting help, and guidance especially useful for first-time builders.