Episode 440
March 19, 2024
Pinewood Derby Humble Beginning
With help from writer Brian Wendell’s January 21, 2019 article “Fascinating look at the history of the Pinewood Derby” published in Scouting Magazine, I discovered the story of the Derby. The program is one of the longest running Boy Scouts of America (now Scouts BSA) programs for Cub Scouts.
The idea came from Cubmaster Don Murphy, Manhattan Beach, California, when his son desired to race in the soapbox derby run by the Management Club at North American Aviation where Don worked. Unfortunately, Donn, the son, was too young to compete in the soapbox derby since he was only 10 years of age and rules required you be at 12 or older.