Pack 846 Pinewood Derby
Official Rules - 2007
Rules
- The Pinewood Derby is open to all registered
Scouts of Pack 846.
- Each Scout may enter one (1) car and must be
present to be included in the competition.
- Each car must pass a Pre-Race Technical
Inspection before it may compete. Technical
inspection and registration of cars occurs on
Thursday, March 6th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
For Scouts - Car construction must reflect the
age and building skills of the Cub Scout entering
the car. Cars obviously built by an adult will not
be permitted to compete. Scouts and cars missing
Pre-Race Technical Inspection will not be permitted
to race. Cars will be quarantined and held by the
Pinewood Pit Crew until the evening of the race.
- If a car does not pass inspection, the owner
will be informed of the reason his car did not pass.
Cars, which fail the initial inspection, may be
modified and resubmitted as long as it is within the
8:00 p.m. deadline.
Inspection Procedure
-
Weight
check using District electronic scale.
-
Cars will be jigged, using the Official Pack 846
Pinewood Derby Car Jig, measuring overall length, width
and height of the car; location of original axle slots.
-
Wheels measured for compliance and allowed tolerance.
-
All axles coated with graphite, per Section 3 Item 9
below.
-
Loose materials on cars will be removed.
Pinewood Car Specifications
- Materials: Race cars shall be constructed for this
event from the parts contained in the Official Grand
Prix Pinewood Derby Kit (referred to below as the kit)
as sold by the Dan Beard Council Scout Store. Materials
from the kit may be supplemented but not replaced.
- Weight: Racecars may weigh no more than five (5.000)
ounces (total weight) as determined on the official
scales during the pre-race check-in.
- Axles: Axles (nails) must be as supplied in the
Official BSA Pinewood Derby Kit. No aftermarket axles
permitted. Axles may be sanded, polished or smoothed.
The axle nails shall be firmly affixed to the wood of
the car body, and MUST be placed in the original 'axle
grooves' in the supplied wooden block. No wheelbase
alteration is permitted.
- Size: Racecars maximum body length - 7 inches,
maximum body height - 3 inches, maximum body width with
wheels - 2-3/4 inches and maximum body width 1-3/4
inches less wheels as determined by the official gages
during the inspection. Bottom of car to track clearance
- 3/8 inches. Shaving material from the bottom of the
body is prohibited.
- Weights and Attachment: Weight may be added to the
car and will be considered part of the car for purposes
of all measurements. "Weight" is considered to be any
material on the car that is not provided in the kit. All
weight must be securely fastened to the car, e.g. by
permanent glue, nails or screws. Weights shall be
passive, i.e. non-moveable, non-magnetic, non-electric,
non-sticky, non-liquid etc.
- Wheels: Only the wheels supplied in the Official BSA
Pinewood Derby Kit are permitted. No aftermarket wheels.
Wheel treatment (hub and tread smoothing and polishing)
may consist of smoothing or deburring, but not the
removal of substantial material from the original wheels
or axles supplied with the kit. The following may NOT be
used in conjunction with the wheels or axles: hubcaps,
washers, inserts, sleeves or bearings. Cars must
maintain positive four- (4) wheel contact with the track
during each race. Cars designed for three- (3) wheel
contact will be disqualified.
- Lubricants: Only dry, fine ground powdered graphite
is permitted. Graphite with any type of additive(s) is
prohibited. Cars may only be lubricated prior to or
during inspection and not afterwards or during the race.
Aftermarket lubricants, such as Hob-E-Lube, are
prohibited. Oil, grease, silicon spar or any other
lubricating products or compounds are not permitted.
- Car Finishes: Only paint or wax is permitted. No
plating or plastic finishes are permitted.
Racing Procedures
- Prior to each heat, car numbers and lane assignments
(chosen randomly) will be announced. Drivers are to take
their car from the pit area and give them to "The Pit
Crew" to place on the track and then take their position
at the finish line. Upon completion of the race, "The
Pit Crew" will give the car back to the driver to place
back in the designated pit area.
- Once the car is submitted for entry, no further
adjustments can be made except in the case of mechanical
failure (see 3d).
- The race will be double elimination. A car must lose
twice before it is eliminated. Dens will race among
themselves and then among other Dens of the same rank to
determine the rank champion. The rank champions will
race in the finals to determine the grand champion.
- Any entry that experiences a mechanical failure will
be allowed to re-race if it can be repaired during the
same heat. It will count as a heat loss if it cannot be
repaired prior to the beginning of the next heat. All
repairs of this type must be done with a member of "The
Pit Crew" observing and certifying as to its raceability.
- In the event that all cars don’t reach the finish
line, the one that goes the furthest is declared the
winner.
- All rulings by "The Pit Crew" are FINAL.
Last updated January 9, 2008