PACK 130 Pinewood Derby Official Rules and Regulations

Please read the following carefully BEFORE your cub scout starts to build the car.

To continue what we did last year, we want to encourage the boys to do as much of the work on the cars themselves as they can safely manage.  It is clear that some of our younger Scouts will need more help than the older boys.  Obviously we can’t check on how much adult involvement there is in building each car but we rely on the cub scouts / parents to appropriately enter a car in one of the 2 categories listed below . . . and parents can build a car for the adult race if they’re interested.

There will be 2 categories of cars in this year’s race:

1.    CUB-ONLY.  Cars which are built by the boys entirely by themselves.  The only adult help allowed is during the cutting stage.  Adult assistance should be limited to HELPING the boys in guiding power tools or holding the wood and supervising while the boys use a hand saw. 

The boys should be encouraged to design a car which they are able to cut themselves.   The design, sanding, painting, applying weights, and decoration should be done EXCLUSIVELY by the boys.  Of course the boys will need encouragement throughout the project but should still make the car “entirely” themselves.

2.    CUB & PARENT.  The Scout and adult can make the car together as a project.  The adult can be more involved in this build but it is not the intent that the adult cuts and sands while the Scout watches.  Parents can shape with power tools and then direct the rest of the action while showing the boy each step in building the car.  The scout should still feel a real sense of achievement for what HE has built.

As in previous years we will run Adult and Sibling races but these races will only take place after the Derby for the boys has been completed. 

Awards will be given not only for the winners by Den, Year and Pack but also for design.  Each Scout will receive a certificate award.

All cars (including Adult and Sibling cars) MUST conform to the following specifications.  Any car found not to be within ANY of the following specifications or rules can and will be disqualified at ANY time during the race.  Last minute modifications to cars are permitted in order to meet the specifications but once a car has been officially registered, the Scouts will not be able to handle the car until the Derby has been completed.

Decisions by Derby Officials on race day are final and cannot be appealed.

1.    Cars are to be built only from the Official BSA Pinewood Derby kit, using the body, wheels, and axles provided in the kits.  Detailing such as Steering Wheel, Driver, Decals, Painting, Interior Details are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width and weight specifications.

2.    All four wheels and axles MUST be used on the car (three, two or one wheeled cars will not be entered into the race).

3.    Cars are to be built new for this year’s derby.  Cars raced in previous year events are not eligible to be raced.

4.    Car dimensions and weight shall not exceed the following: 
    Car width shall not exceed             2 ¾ inches    (69 mm)
    Car length shall not exceed             7 inches    (177 mm)
    Car weight shall not exceed             5.0 ounces    (141.75 grams)
    Bottom clearance between car and track        3/8 inches    (10 mm)
Note that the car will weighed and then placed in a box of the above dimensions prior to the race to determine if the car is within limits.  If a car does not meet the weight or dimension limits, the car MUST be adjusted by the owner to meet these limits before being entered into the race.

Any weights attached to the bottom must be installed such that the 3/8 inch clearance between the bottom of the car and the ground is maintained even if the weights do not interfere with the car’s ability to run on the track.
   
5.    The lateral distance between the wheels must be at least 1 ¾ inches (44 mm). There is no restriction on the wheel base length up to the 7 inch (177 mm) total length of the car.

6.    The car shall not ride on any type of spring or suspension system.

7.    The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting, launch, or drive mechanisms.

8.    No loose materials of any kind are allowed on or inside the car.  Any car losing an accessory such as a decorative item will be allowed to continue the race without the item attached. Any car losing a wheel will be allowed to be repaired, but then must be re-inspected.

9.    Wheel bearings, washers, covers, movable weights and bushings are strictly prohibited.

10.    Wheels cannot be wafered, beveled, ridged, crowned, drilled, or altered in any way.  Burrs that are present in the axle hole or on the outside may be removed with fine sandpaper.

11.    One piece axles are prohibited.

12.    The front edge of the car must be straight without any notches that would give a car an unfair advantage at the start. To clarify, the intent is to prevent car designs having a notch in the front of the car whereby the car starts a little further down the track than others. As long as their is no notch the front of the car can be a straight edge or a point.

13.    Axles may be lubricated with powdered graphite only.  This should be applied before final inspection and cars cannot be lubricated again during the races.

After final inspection and registration of each car, cars will be moved to a staging area off limits to all participants. Cars will be kept in this staging area between races.

During the course of a race, if a car jumps the track due to a misalignment of the track and NOT due to a design flaw in the car AND provided that the car was in either first, second or third place of the heat at the time it occurred the heat will be restarted.

If a car jumps the track due to a design flaw in the car or because of the loss of a loose part or else does so while in fourth or higher position during the heat regardless of the reason, the heat will continue without a restart and the car that jumped the track will be recorded to have finished in the final position. If the car in question interferes with any other car in the race, and the Race Judge thinks it fit, the race will be restarted. The Race Judges’ decision will be final in this matter at all times.