The pinewood derby is a tradition dating back to 1953 with the Boy Scouts of America.

The 5-ounce cars are built to exacting standards and are judged on speed and decoration.

Based on their scale, cars can top the equivalent of 200 mph, and are digitally tracked for speed.

Winners are judged based on average speed over a number of runs. 



For the participants in the race held at Fred P. Hall Elementary School in Portland on Wednesday, the five fastest scouts are invited to participate in the Pine Tree Council’s regional Pinewood Derby to be held in April.



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