Race Time

Cub Scouts · Adventure, Elective

Race Time is about building and racing together. You and your adult partner will make a Pinewood Derby car or Raingutter Regatta boat, learn the rules, and race with good sportsmanship. The memories last longer than the trophies.

Why it's worth it

Race day is loud, fast, and full of cheering. In Race Time you and your grown-up build a Pinewood Derby car or a Raingutter Regatta boat together, learn the rules, and race with your pack. You'll design it, help put it together, and show everyone what good sportsmanship looks like. Win or lose, you'll have something you built as a team.

Start this week

Ask your den leader whether your pack is racing cars or boats this year, and when race day is.
Get your pack's race rules and read them with your adult.
Sketch three designs for your car or boat and pick the one you like best.

Stay safe

Adults handle saws, drills, hot glue, and spray paint. Tigers design, sand, decorate, and test.

Requirements · 4

Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).

Requirement 1
With your adult partner, put together and decorate a car for the Pinewood Derby or a boat for the Raingutter Regatta
Tip: Plan your design together. Let the Tiger choose shapes and colors while the adult handles tools.
For example: You draw a shark-shaped car. Your adult does the cutting and drilling. You sand the edges, paint it gray with a white belly, add a fin sticker, and help press in the wheels.
Requirement 2
Learn the race rules for the car or boat you picked in requirement 1
Tip: Read your pack's race rules together and check your car or boat before race day.
For example: Go through the rules together: the weight limit, the length and width, what wheels you can use, and how check-in works. Measure your car or boat to make sure it fits.
Requirement 3
Before the race, talk with your adult partner about how you will show good sportsmanship
Tip: Talk about cheering for others and shaking hands, win or lose.
For example: Your plan: shake hands with the racer next to you, clap for every heat, say "good race" whether you win or lose, and help pick up after the event.
Requirement 4
Race in a Pinewood Derby or Raingutter Regatta with your adult partner
Tip: Race with your partner, cheer for everyone, and thank the volunteers.
For example: On race day, check in your racer, cheer for your den, watch your car zoom or blow your boat down the gutter, and thank the volunteers who ran the track.

Talk about it together

What part of your racer did you design or build yourself?
What would you change about your car or boat next time?
How did you feel when your racer won or lost a heat?
How did you show good sportsmanship, and did you see someone else do it too?

Helpful reads

Cub Scouts: a guide for families, How Cub Scout ranks and adventures work from kindergarten through fifth grade, what an adult partner does, and how to keep it fun at meetings and at home., Families · Leaders · 4 min read

For leaders & parents

Host a build night with shared tools and adult supervision.
Recognize every racer so the day is about fun and fair play.

People & places that can help

Your pack's race committee — Has the race rules and event details.
Local hardware store — Simple building supplies and advice.
Scouting America (opens in a new tab) — Official adventure requirements and program updates.
Race Time (Tiger) adventure page (opens in a new tab) — Den activities for building, rules, and sportsmanship.
Pinewood Derby (Scouting America) (opens in a new tab) — The history of the Pinewood Derby and tips for families.

Tiger, Rank · 7 requirements

Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.