50th anniv. of Pinewood Derby

[pack330]

Is there anyone out there who knows the story of how the Pinewood Derby idea came from? I had heard that it is the 50th anniv. of this great fun. I would like to share any info about it with our Pack at our Pinewwod Derby Races. HELP??

[OneHour]

http://www.lucernevalley.net/scouts/pinehist.htm

 

"The first Cub Scouts to participate in a pinewood derby were from Cub Scout Pack 280c of Manhattan Beach, Calif. The event was originated by Cubmaster, Donald Murphy, and was run in the Manhattan Beach Clubhouse on May 15, 1953 (Thanks to Gary D. Mcaulay, Cubmaster of Pack 713c, Manhattan Beach, for this information).

 

This even was later publicized in the October 1954 issue of Boys' Life,with the magazine offering plans for the track and car (which featured four wheels, four nails, and three blocks of wood).

 

Since then, an estimated 40 million fathers and sons have participated in races. Millions more-parents, den leaders, Cubmasters, committee members-have been involved in various ways. The rules of the very first race stated:

 

The derby is run in heats-two to four cars starting by gravity from a standstill on a track and run down a ramp to a finish line unaided. The track is an inclined ramp with wood strips down the center to guide the cars...."