Boy Scouts Host Pinewood Derby at Lexus of Stevens Creek

3...2...1... RACE! The Boy Scouts of America in the Pioneer District of the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council held their annual Pinewood Derby at Lexus of Stevens Creek on Saturday, February 7th. All eyes were on the track as the cub scouts raced their miniature, hand-crafted cars.

“The race for 2015 was very successful with more than 100 excited racers and their pit crews, also known as parents!” says Co-Organizer Earl Jensen of Troop 74.

The Pinewood Derby is an annual event for Cub Scouts throughout the United States. The Pinewood Derby was invented in 1953 by Don Murphy in Manhattan Beach, California. As the Cub Master for Pack 280C, Murphy wanted to create an activity for his 10 year-old son who was too young to race in the Soap Box Derby which requires boys to drive home-made cars down a hill. Along with other adult members of the Cub Scout Pack, Murphy built a two lane 31 foot long track complete with a lighted finish line to indicate the winner of each heat. The first race was held on March 15, 1953, for three classes of boys ages 8, 9, and 10.

Most of the rules for the Pinewood Derby are unchanged from the originals written by Don Murphy. The original car kits were composed of a pine block 7 3/8” long, skinny plastic wheels, and finishing nails for axles. Modern kits are 7” long pine blocks, wider plastic wheels, and still use nails for axles. The other dimensions of the cars are unchanged and finished cars still must weigh less than 5 ounces.  

This was the first time a Pinewood Derby race was held at Lexus of Stevens Creek.

"The excitement of the event was enhanced by the placement of the race track beside some gleaming new Lexus sports cars," says Co-Organizer Doyle Bennett. "At the end of each race, trophies were given for 1^st-3^rdplace finishers in the speed category and also for 4 other design categories."

"It was so wonderful to have the Boy Scouts here at Lexus of Stevens Creek, and the Pinewood Derby was such an exciting and fun event for all!" says Jessica Fragoso, Community Relations Manager at Lexus of Stevens Creek.