98 of the Most Awesome Pinewood Derby Award Ideas
Check out this list of 98 fun Pinewood Derby award ideas! You’ll find ideas to recognize cars that are unique, but may not be the fastest.
The Pinewood Derby is one of most highly anticipated events of your Cub Scout year, so we want to make it fun for all of our Cub Scouts!
Our Cub Scouts can earn the Race Time adventure for participating in the Pinewood Derby. The requirements are the same for:
- Lion Race Time
- Tiger Race Time
- Wolf Race Time
- Bear Race Time
- Webelos Race Time
- Arrow of Light Race Time
We can serve Pinewood Derby-themed food like these rice krispies treats, these race cars made out of snack cakes, or even healthy snacks made with fruit or celery!
Play some cool tunes from this Pinewood Derby music playlist. Have the Scouts (and their younger siblings) make Raisin Racers.
Another way to jazz up is by handing out awards for categories other than winning the race. In fact, one of my readers, Jace, asked for some Pinewood Derby award ideas, so I put together this list for you. It’s been shared over 1500 times on social media!
Looking for DIY Pinewood Derby awards? You have to check out these that were made from old car parts!
Pinewood Derby Award Ideas
Want a printable copy of the list? Just enter your email address in the box at the bottom of the page.
These suggestions were compiled from a forum discussion on the Scouter Network. There may be duplicates in the list.
If you are looking for printable Pinewood Derby certificates, check out this list of free ones!
- Fastest-Looking Car
- Wildest Looking Car
- Best Car with a Driver (like a Lego guy)
- Best Animal Car
- Best Snack Car (one year a Scout did a watermelon car)
- Best Use of Stickers or Decals
- Most Patriotic
- Looks Most Like an Animal
- Most Colorful
- Best Paint Job
- Spirit of BSA Award (used BSA logos, etc.)
- Good Sport Award (car crashed, etc.)
- Looks Most Like a Real Car
- Most Cub Scouting
- Most Original
- Fan’s Choice
- Cubmaster’s Choice
- Den Chief’s Choice
- Scouter’s Choice
- Most Realistic
- Funniest
- Wildest Design
- Special Guest’s choice (teacher, principal, mayor, etc.)
- Blue Streak (cars that have some blue streaks on them)
- The Patriots (Patriotic theme)
- Firebirds (Firebird decals)
- Silver Lining
- Best Movie Theme (Batman, Sponge Bob, etc)
- Spoiler Galore
- Racer X (cars that look like a racing car)
- Slim Jim’s
- Wedgies
- 4x4s
- Trucker’s Special
- Boy Oh Boy! (Boy’s Built)
- Beginner’s Luck
- Speed Demons
- Retro
- Most Realistic Car
- Best Use of Legos
- Best Use of Figurines
- Best Use of Colors
- Cartoon Specials
- Baloo’s Favorite (chosen by Cubmaster)
- Akela’s Favorite (chosen by Assistant Cubmaster)
- Pit Crew Favorite
- Best Fixer-Upper
- Judge’s Favorite
- Best Non-car (things like pencils and spaceships)
- Best Accessories
- Best Antique Design
- Best Detail
- Best Flames
- Best Funny Car
- Best Public Safety Car
- Best Scout Theme
- Best Shape
- Best Use of Imagination
- Best Workmanship
- Bluest Car
- Brightest Car
- Coolest Car
- Coolest Design
- Coolest Paint Job
- Finest Craftsmanship
- Flattest Car
- Funniest Car
- Greenest Car
- Judge’s Favorite
- Most Aero-Dynamic Car
- Most Artistic Car
- Most Classic-Looking Car
- Most Colorful Paint Job
- Most Creative Car
- Most Creative Use of Materials
- Most Decals Car
- Most Futuristic Car
- Most Humorous Car
- Most Original Car
- Most Original Design
- Most Realistic-Looking Car
- Most Realistic Paint Job
- Most Unusual Car
- Narrowest Car
- Orangest Car
- Raciest-Looking Car
- Racemaster’s Favorite
- Reddest car
- Scariest-Looking Car
- Shiniest Car
- Sleekest Car
- Smoothest Finish
- Sportiest Car
- Sportiest Looking Car
- Strangest Shape
- Tallest Car
- Thinnest Car
- Yellowiest Car
What are some of the Pinewood Derby awards you present?
Yours in Scouting,
Sherry
P.S. Need the Pinewood Derby rules? Check out this post.
12 responses
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Coln
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I like the certificate, but the link says it is no longer available. Is there a new link?
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Hi there,
I’ve emailed you the printable, enjoy!
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[…] Check out these fun Pinewood Derby award ideas! […]
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[…] told me that when he became Cubmaster, he found out that the pack had spent $120 on prizes for their Pinewood Derby, and that only paid for a first place trophy, a second place medal, and a third place […]
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[…] up your Derby with fun awards, cool pit passes and neat neckerchief […]
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Thanks for the fun ideas! We added a “Best Brakes” medal for the slowest car this year and it went over very well with the first-timers.
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“Best Brakes” is an awesome award!!! Love it!
Thanks for reading!
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We have the “Best Fuel Efficiency” or “Most Fuel Efficient” category for the last place car!
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@Athena C., In all my years in Scouting, it has been my observation that every Cub Scout shows up on race day with high expectations believing that their PWD vehicle is going to win. Therefore, I think that it is best to give out awards with a positive theme that builds up the Cub’s esteem and acknowledges their efforts.
Ask yourself this: Do “awards” such as these reflect the values in the Scout Law? (Courteous? Kind?) Some people may fail to see the humor in “awards” like these after working hard to create their PWD vehicles. Personally, I find it in very poor taste to ridicule anyone who has done their best, especially when it involves a child. -
Ours is the “Golden Turtle” award. 🙂 It’s actually become something of a challenge in itself, kids trying to see if they can have the slowest time while still crossing the finish line. It’s just as entertaining as the faster cars – will they make it all the way?!
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Fantastic that’s exactly what I’m looking for. We appreciate the extra award ideas. Thanks for all you do for scouting.
Jace
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