On Saturday, Feb. 4, Piedmont Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts gathered to race their custom-designed cars in the annual Pinewood Derby at the Piedmont Community Church gymnasium.
The Pinewood Derby is a Scouting tradition that dates back to the 1950s when a parent in a Southern California Cub Scout troop was looking for an activity that fathers could do with their sons, according to Scouting Magazine. Since that time, millions of Scouts — which now include girls — have tried their hand at building carefully calibrated model cars made out of soft pinewood, decorating them in creative and colorful ways. In Piedmont, Girl Scouts also partake; their event on the same day was hosted by their Scouting peers.
In an email to the Exedra, Girl Scout parent and event organizer Beth Wiesbrock provided more detail: “Girl Scout troop #31765, a Piedmont High School 12th grade troop, hosted the Girl Scout Pinewood Derby for the fifth year. Over 100 Girl Scouts, sibling and friends competed in five race categories. Prizes were awarded to the top three finishers and a judge’s favorite at each level as well as certificates recognizing creativity, workmanship and design.
Unique and creative cars in every color raced at Saturday’s event including a bunny driven carrot, a slice of pizza car, a beaver, many other animal cars, a Hershey bar car, a pencil car, a tennis shoe car, a gold brick Lego and many race cars.”
Daisy Girl Scout Allegra Sewandono poses with her dad, holding her car and awards 
A Pinewood Derby car is decorated as a carrot with a bunny driving 
Two Cub Scout Bears hold up their cars and awards 
A happy entrant holds up his Pinewood Derby medal for a photo 
A Daisy with a winning car is congratulated by two friends 
A father helps his son add graphite and other finishing touches prior to the race 
A Webelo looks on as her “Flower Power” car is weighed to make sure it is in compliance 
One of the Pinewood Derby cars is decorated with a dragon 
The room at the church was full as 40 plus Daisys came to race their cars 
Ginger Gardner, a senior with Girl Scout troop 31765, emcees the Pinewood Derby 
A pirate-themed car 
Ambassador Girl Scouts Tyler Knapp and Eleanor Lavin sell baked goods and other snacks during the Pinewood Derby 
Pinewood Derby organizer for Scouts BSA, David Cole, lines up the cars and starts the race for the 3rd grade Bears 
Winning racers received medals, patches, and a certificate