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Written by Cameron Beattie   

Pack 972 Pinewood Derby Rules- January 2010

(adapted from the Boone Trails District PWD rules)

1. Purpose
Pinewood derby cars are wooden vehicles of specified dimensions, created, carved, and assembled by the boys, under the guidance of their parents or other family members.  The cars are gravity powered and run down a regulation track.
Among the goals of pinewood derby is for a scout and his parent/family to work together as a team to build and race a derby car.  The boy should be as involved as possible, providing help with the car design, construction, and decoration.  The amount of work the scout can perform will vary, but the purpose is to have fun and accomplish the project together.  The race itself is designed to be a fun event for the entire family.

2. General
a.    The official derby is open to all Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts registered in Pack 972.
b.    The exhibition races are open to all attendees of the derby, including adults and Boy Scout helpers.  Exhibition races to entertain the audience may be conducted as time permits, and the rules for exhibition vehicles are explained at the end of this document.
c.    Scouts and scouters who own uniforms are encouraged to wear them.
d.    All cars entered shall primarily be constructed from the BSA "Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit" (referred to below as the kit) as distributed at the December Pack meeting.  Additional materials can be used for more complicated designs and decorations, but the car must still be constructed from wood.
e.    It is expected that each scout submit a newly constructed car.  Cars from prior races/years may only be used in exhibition races.
f.    The Cub Scout MUST enter his own car. Cub Scout racers must be present at "Inspection and Registration" to enter his car into competition, must be present for the race heats, and must attend the awards ceremony to be awarded trophies or medals.
g.    Entries must have their assigned car number clearly displayed on the vehicle.  Number assignments can be obtained from your Den Leader, but are typically two digit numbers where the first digit is your Den number.
h.    Each car must pass inspection before it may compete.  The Inspection Committee may disqualify cars which do not comply with the rules. If a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason his car did not pass, will be permitted a chance to bring the car into compliance, and may have the car re-inspected.
i.    No car may be altered in any way after it has been registered.  After a car passes registration, it will be stored by the Pinewood Derby Race Committee until racing is completed.
j.    The cars will be electrically timed.  The car with the fastest time on the official timer shall be the winner of the heat.  Every car will run on every lane (6 lanes) and times will be summed to calculate rank winners as well as top cars for the pack finals race.
k.    In addition to Pack and Den speed trophies, the following trophies will be awarded:  Pack Favorite, Most Unusual, Fastest Looking, Most Scout Spirit, Best Fuel Economy,  Most Humorous, and Leader Favorite.  Medallion ribbons will be awarded to participants whose car is not awarded a trophy.

3. Inspection & Disputes
a.    Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection team before it may compete.  The inspection team has the right to disqualify those cars which do not meet these rules.  Car owners will be informed of the violations and given an opportunity to modify the car to meet these rules.
b.    Any participant (including the parent of the participant) has the right to appeal to the race committee (nominally consisting of the Cubmaster, Derby Chair, and Track Judge) for an interpretation of these rules.  The race committee, by majority vote, will be the final judge of these rules.  In case of a tie the decision of the Derby Chairperson will be final.
c.    Ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or member of the audience will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.

4. Length, Width & Clearance
a.    Maximum overall width (including wheels and axles) shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.
b.    Minimum width between wheels shall be 1 ¾ inches so the car will fit over the center guide strip.
c.    Minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and track shall be 3/8 inch so the car will clear the center guide strip.
d.    Maximum length shall not exceed 7 inches
e.    The car’s wheelbase of (distance between the front and rear axles) may NOT be changed.  That is, if you decide to move one axle forward or backward because of your design the other axle must also be moved to maintain the correct wheel base.
f.    The starting gate for the track consists of a ¼” pin protruding 1 ¼” from the center of each lane.  Cars must be designed so that they will be retained by this pin.  See Reference Diagram 1.  Note: the starting gate of the track is inclined at approximately 35°, and you don’t want the car to slip over the pin.

5. Weight & Appearance
a.    The weight of the car shall not exceed 5 ounces.  The readings of the official race scale will be used to determine official weight. The car may be hollowed out and/or built up to the maximum weight by the addition of wood, plastic, or metal only, provided it is built into the body and/or firmly affixed to it.  Use of glue, nails or screws is acceptable, but not "sticky adhesives" such as tape or tack spray, since it could come loose and interfere with another car during the race. Weights shall be passive, i.e. non-moveable, non-magnetic, non-electric, non-sticky, etc.  No loose or moving materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car.
b.    Mercury shall not be used for adding weight.  It is a potential health hazard.
c.    Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting, interior details, etc. are permitted and recommended, as long as these details do not cause the car to exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications.
d.    Cars must be primarily constructed from wood.  Cars primarily constructed of metal, plastic, or other non-wood materials may be entered in the exhibition races, but not in the official derby.
e.    Cars with wet paint will not be accepted.

6. Wheels & Axles
a.    Only official Scout Grand Prix wheels and axles can be used.
b.    The car shall roll on the wheels from the kit. The wheels shall turn about the axle nails from the kit. The axle nails shall be firmly affixed to the wood of the car body.  It must be obvious to the judges that the wheels and the nails from the BSA kit are being used.
c.    Axles may be deburred & polished.
d.    Wheels may be lightly sanded to remove the mold projections on the tread.  This light sanding is the only wheel modification allowed.  The portion of the wheel surface that contacts the track must remain parallel to the axle.  Wheel treatment may not result in substantial removal of mass nor in reducing the wheel width.  The original "tread marks" on the wheel face must remain intact and apparent to the inspector.
e.    Wheels with unacceptable modifications are subject to being disqualified.  Unacceptable wheels may be replaced with stock wheels, at the discretion of the Derby Chair, and if such wheels are available.
f.    Wheel bearings, washers or bushings are prohibited.
g.    The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
h.    The car must be free-wheeling with no starting device or other propulsion.
i.    Distance between the front and rear axles must be maintained at 4 3/8” spacing.  That is, if you decide to move one axle forward or backward because of your design, then the other axle must also be moved to maintain the correct wheel base.
j.    All four wheels must touch the track.
k.    If a car does not reach the end of the track, or a car is unable to stay in one lane, the Derby Committed may attempt to fix it between races to help insure that the car can properly finish the remaining heats.  However, cars that cannot be easily fixed may be disqualified or moved to the exhibition class.

7. Lubrication
a.    Only dry lubricants, such as powdered graphite, may be used.  Regular oils or silicone sprays may soften the plastic wheels or damage the track, and so they are prohibited.
b.    Powdered graphite will not be permitted inside the building.
c.    Cars may be lubricated (outside the race facility – preferably over a trash can) before inspection/check-in.  No further lubrication will be permitted.

8. Construction Tips
a.    Don’t attempt all the speed treatments you might find on the Internet- Some are worth considering, but many will get your car disqualified.
b.    You don’t need to buy pre-made parts from hobby shops.  Some that are made from official parts could be used, but items such as the lathed wheels will get your car disqualified.
c.    Paint all body parts before assembling them, to avoid getting paint on the axles.
d.    Try not to paint the area where the axle is inserted or where the wheel hub will touch/rub the car.
e.    Remove the burrs on the nail axles before adding wheels.  Use sandpaper or emery paper.  The axle burrs can also be removed by spinning the nail in an electric drill against sandpaper.
f.    If there is a mold seam or bubble on the wheels, remove it with light sanding.  
g.    Use dry lubricants.  If you use graphite, use the kind specifically for models/hobbyists.  There is an additive to help it coat the item being lubricated.
h.    It takes time for the graphite to get good and slick.  Apply a coat and have your boy spin the wheels for a minute or two.  Repeat this process several more times.
i.    Use glue to hold the axles in place, once your graphite treatment is finished.  Re-measure the distance between axles just to make sure it is correct, before gluing the axles.
j.    Weights may be inserted or attached to the body to add weight.  You may not exceed 5 ounces, but you want to get as close as possible.  Weight is a major factor in car performance.


9. Exhibition Cars & Races
a.    Racing exhibition cars provides additional entertainment to the crowd during periods when the official derby is not conducting races.
b.    Cub Scouts, Boy Scout helpers, and parents are encouraged to make exhibition cars that have unusual designs and would be fun for the crowd to watch.
c.    Unusual designs from prior years are also welcome as exhibition cars.
d.    Exhibition vehicles may be constructed of any material, have any axles, but they must use (at least) four official BSA Pinewood Derby wheels.
e.    Exhibition vehicles may weigh no more than 16 ounces, and must be no more than 16 inches long, and must be no more than 7 inches high (so that they fit under the finish line timer).
f.    Exhibition vehicles may use as many as three lanes of the track.  Lane centerlines are 3 ¾” apart, so plan wheel widths accordingly.
g.    Cars that do not pass inspection and that cannot be modified in time should be entered in the exhibition category.
h.    Exhibition cars MUST HAVE THE OWNERS NAME on the underside of the vehicle, as there is no number required for exhibition cars.
i.    Speed is an optional consideration for Exhibition cars.
j.    Prizes could be awarded for Exhibition cars, but don’t expect anything serious.
k.    The Derby Committee may alter the rules for Exhibition cars as needed to promote more fun for the crowd.
Last Updated ( Friday, 18 December 2009 15:53 )