{"id":138,"date":"2026-04-12T16:09:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T04:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/?page_id=138"},"modified":"2026-05-12T20:18:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T08:18:31","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scouts Greater Christchurch Zone sources materials and assembles Pinewood Derby car kits and wheels for use by Scout groups across New Zealand.  Our aim in making the kits available is to make holding a Pinewood Derby easier for leaders so that more youth can learn and have fun at a derby.  The kits are designed for maximum accessibility. By pre-drilling the axle holes, the&nbsp;wheels can be pressed in without without needing a drill or special sized drill bits, and we include templates and instructions to guide the building process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pinewood Derby wheels are imported from the USA and pine blocks are dressed and cut to order by a local timber yard.  Putting the kits together takes two large working bees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-9ba724a\" data-block-id=\"9ba724a\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-b6ec805\" data-block-id=\"b6ec805\"><style>.stk-b6ec805-column{--stk-columns-spacing:0px !important;--stk-column-gap:50px !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-b6ec805-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-a9d3aee\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"a9d3aee\"><style>.stk-a9d3aee {margin-left:0px !important;}@media screen and (min-width:690px){.stk-a9d3aee {flex:var(--stk-flex-grow, 1) 1 66.7% !important;}}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-a9d3aee-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-a9d3aee-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-image stk-block-image stk-block stk-d90ab6c\" data-block-id=\"d90ab6c\"><figure><span class=\"stk-img-wrapper stk-image--shape-stretch\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"stk-img wp-image-286\" src=\"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20250525_103754-small.jpg\" width=\"2016\" height=\"980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20250525_103754-small.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20250525_103754-small-300x146.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20250525_103754-small-1024x498.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20250525_103754-small-768x373.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20250525_103754-small-1536x747.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20250525_103754-small-600x292.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/span><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-8fb15e0\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"8fb15e0\"><style>.stk-8fb15e0 {align-items:center !important;display:flex !important;}@media screen and (min-width:690px){.stk-8fb15e0 {flex:var(--stk-flex-grow, 1) 1 33.3% !important;}}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-8fb15e0-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-8fb15e0-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-3008a6b\" id=\"block-drilling\" data-block-id=\"3008a6b\"><style>.stk-3008a6b {margin-bottom:0px !important;}<\/style><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\">Block Drilling<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We hold the first work day at a local Menz Shed where we set up 8 drill presses to create two production lines for drilling axle holes in the wooden blocks. In 2025 we made about 3000 blocks &#8211; that was 12,000 holes to be drilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Standard pinewood car axles holes are not symmetrical end to end, so we have different jigs for each corner of the block.  Setup takes a while to get the jigs all aligned and testing done to ensure we get consistently accurate hole positioning.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once setup the drilling takes about 3 to 4 hours (averaging 1 block done every 4 seconds!).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-768cf1d\" data-block-id=\"768cf1d\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-46f03fd\" data-block-id=\"46f03fd\"><style>.stk-46f03fd-column{--stk-columns-spacing:0px !important;--stk-column-gap:50px !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-46f03fd-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-f9592da\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"f9592da\"><style>.stk-f9592da {margin-left:0px !important;}@media screen and (min-width:690px){.stk-f9592da {flex:var(--stk-flex-grow, 1) 1 calc(33.333% - var(--stk-column-gap, 0px) * 1 \/ 2 ) !important;}}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-f9592da-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-f9592da-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-20417cc\" id=\"kit-bagging\" data-block-id=\"20417cc\"><style>.stk-20417cc {margin-bottom:0px !important;}<\/style><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\">Kit Bagging<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the blocks are drilled, the next working bee is to bag up the kits.  This task takes 20 to 25 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In order to keep the price as low as possible we source a portion of the wheels and axles in bulk packs and these need to be counted out and bagged up in sets of 4.  Lead weights also need to be counted and bagged up with the safety labels.  Labels are applied to the blocks.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then all the components are stuffed into the zip lock bags along with the rules and template pages.  Kits are then sorted and boxed up storage until we need to ship them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-ae89ec6\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"ae89ec6\"><style>@media screen and (min-width:690px){.stk-ae89ec6 {flex:var(--stk-flex-grow, 1) 1 calc(66.667% - var(--stk-column-gap, 0px) * 1 \/ 2 ) !important;}}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-ae89ec6-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-ae89ec6-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-image stk-block-image stk-block stk-257be12\" data-block-id=\"257be12\"><figure><span class=\"stk-img-wrapper stk-image--shape-stretch\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"stk-img wp-image-139\" src=\"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20210702_204027-small.jpg\" width=\"2016\" height=\"980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20210702_204027-small.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20210702_204027-small-300x146.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20210702_204027-small-1024x498.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20210702_204027-small-768x373.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20210702_204027-small-1536x747.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/20210702_204027-small-600x292.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/span><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To motivate the many volunteers required to assemble the kits the zone makes a small margin on each kit as a fundraiser to offset the cost of zone events including the Christchurch derby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-1de3f19\" id=\"2026-numbers\" data-block-id=\"1de3f19\"><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text has-text-align-center\">2026 Numbers<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-52e4299 stk-block-background stk--has-background-overlay\" data-block-id=\"52e4299\"><style>.stk-52e4299 {background-image:url(https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/wheel-tile.png) !important;background-repeat:repeat !important;background-size:10% !important;}.stk-52e4299-column{--stk-column-gap:30px !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-52e4299-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-d12deba stk-block-background\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"d12deba\"><style>.stk-d12deba {background-color:#ffffff69 !important;border-top-left-radius:10px !important;border-top-right-radius:10px !important;border-bottom-right-radius:10px !important;border-bottom-left-radius:10px !important;overflow:hidden !important;}.stk-d12deba:before{background-color:#ffffff69 !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-d12deba-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-d12deba-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-count-up stk-block-count-up stk-block stk-72bea6a\" data-block-id=\"72bea6a\"><style>.stk-72bea6a {margin-bottom:0px !important;}.stk-72bea6a .stk-block-count-up__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-block-count-up__text has-text-color\">3,100<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-0064257\" id=\"blocks-drilled\" data-block-id=\"0064257\"><style>.stk-0064257 .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}<\/style><h4 class=\"stk-block-heading__text has-text-color\">Blocks Drilled<\/h4><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-96c3a50 stk-block-background\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"96c3a50\"><style>.stk-96c3a50 {background-color:#ffffff69 !important;border-top-left-radius:10px !important;border-top-right-radius:10px !important;border-bottom-right-radius:10px !important;border-bottom-left-radius:10px !important;overflow:hidden !important;}.stk-96c3a50:before{background-color:#ffffff69 !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-96c3a50-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-96c3a50-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-count-up stk-block-count-up stk-block stk-281fc7b\" data-block-id=\"281fc7b\"><style>.stk-281fc7b {margin-bottom:0px !important;}.stk-281fc7b .stk-block-count-up__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-block-count-up__text has-text-color\">14,800<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-d74f370\" id=\"wheels-amp-axles\" data-block-id=\"d74f370\"><style>.stk-d74f370 .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}<\/style><h4 class=\"stk-block-heading__text has-text-color\">Wheels &amp; Axles<\/h4><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-e903781 stk-block-background\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"e903781\"><style>.stk-e903781 {background-color:#ffffff69 !important;border-top-left-radius:10px !important;border-top-right-radius:10px !important;border-bottom-right-radius:10px !important;border-bottom-left-radius:10px !important;overflow:hidden !important;}.stk-e903781:before{background-color:#ffffff69 !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-e903781-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-e903781-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-count-up stk-block-count-up stk-block stk-49b6188\" data-block-id=\"49b6188\"><style>.stk-49b6188 {margin-bottom:0px !important;}.stk-49b6188 .stk-block-count-up__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-block-count-up__text has-text-color\">27,000<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-c27285d\" id=\"sinkers-counted\" data-block-id=\"c27285d\"><style>.stk-c27285d .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}<\/style><h4 class=\"stk-block-heading__text has-text-color\">Sinkers Counted<\/h4><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-9fc57fd stk-block-background\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"9fc57fd\"><style>.stk-9fc57fd {background-color:#ffffff69 !important;border-top-left-radius:10px !important;border-top-right-radius:10px !important;border-bottom-right-radius:10px !important;border-bottom-left-radius:10px !important;overflow:hidden !important;}.stk-9fc57fd:before{background-color:#ffffff69 !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-9fc57fd-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-9fc57fd-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-count-up stk-block-count-up stk-block stk-540c99d\" data-block-id=\"540c99d\"><style>.stk-540c99d {margin-bottom:0px !important;}.stk-540c99d .stk-block-count-up__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-block-count-up__text has-text-color\">18,600<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-56478e5\" id=\"pages-printed\" data-block-id=\"56478e5\"><style>.stk-56478e5 .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}<\/style><h4 class=\"stk-block-heading__text has-text-color\">Pages Printed<\/h4><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scouts Greater Christchurch Zone sources materials and assembles Pinewood Derby car kits and wheels for use by Scout groups across New Zealand. Our aim in making the kits available is to make holding a Pinewood Derby easier for leaders so that more youth can learn and have fun at a derby. The kits are designed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"iawp_total_views":30,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-138","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":386,"href":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/138\/revisions\/386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gcz.nz\/pinewood-hq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}