Get ready for the Pinewood Derby - Save the date - it's Saturday, March 21st!

You should have received by now, or be receiving from Den leaders soon, your scout's Pinewood Derby car kits. Your den leader will either plan a meeting around carving/shaping your scout's car at a woodworker's organization or advise you on where to go.

Please make sure to comply with our Pack's very specific requirements laid out below for this event. There are many no-nos to avoid and car must-haves too. Also, check out the offical BSA website at http://pinewoodderby.org/#/. It is a great resource to guide you through the design and building of your scout's car.

  Pack 161- Pinewood Derby 2015 Rules and Regulations

 Each scout should experience the satisfaction of building his own car from the pinewood derby kit. Parental assistance is encouraged and safety is the first concern, but the car should be the product of the scout and not the adult. The cars should be built in concert with the skills of the participant. Good sportsmanship is expected from everyone involved.Only newly built cars are allowed (previously raced cars are excluded). They need to be built from the official, distributed scout kit.

   The wheels, axles and body from the official Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Kit must be used in the construction of the car. Wheels may not be modified beyond light sanding. The wheels may not be narrowed, grooved, crowned or significantly altered. They must be the wheels and axles (nails) provided in the kit. No steering, propulsion or guidance system is allowed. Gravity is the only propelling force allowed. No wheel bearings, bushings, washers, auxiliary suspension, springs or starting systems. Any weights used must be fixed to the car and may not flow in any way. Only dry lubricant is permitted (i.e. graphite powder).

   Overall dimensions (including decorations and weights) are not to exceed a length of 7”, height of 3 ½”, and the width of 2-3/4”. The wheel base must be 1-3/4” to fit over the guide strips in the track and the clearance should be 3/8”. Weight shall not exceed 5 oz. You can add weights to your car (coins, weights, etc.) so long as you don’t exceed 5 oz.

 Detailing of the car is permitted as long as they do not exceed the dimensions limitations listed above. All items should be tightly secured to the vehicle. Any item which falls off after the car is submitted will remain off the vehicle, and any damage that occurs may not be repaired. No modifications will be allowed after the car is submitted to race officials and may only be handled by race officials until conclusion of the race for that car.

   The race officials will only place the car on the track and will not engage any switches, mechanisms or electronic devices. Ensure the vehicle design is sturdy enough to race multiple times. Please be sure that the front of the car is easily identifiable.

                Good Turn Daily ~ Ongoing Service project                                 

A very MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy Hannukah to all Pack 161 Scouts!

Please stay tuned for more great events to be added soon for the Spring semester!

Some 25 Pack 161 Scouts and their families headed for the wilds of Redding, CT, on June 4-5 for the Family Campout, and in addition to all the S'mores we could eat, we enjoyed great weather, good times, and even a little sleep!