Rules and Regulations

I. GENERAL RULES

G-1. Qualification: All registered Pack 95 Tiger, Cub, and Webelos Scouts may design, build and enter cars that are eligible to participate in the "Cub Scout Race" event.

G-2. Essential Materials: All cars entered shall be constructed from the "Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit"

G-3. Competitor Categories: All Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts that are registered within Pack 95 may enter this Pinewood Derby. Cub Scouts will compete with others of the same Cub Scout rank.

G-4. Attendance: The Cub Scout MUST enter their own car. This means that the Cub Scout must be present at "Inspection and Registration" to enter his car into competition.

G-5. "New Work": Construction of ALL entries MUST have begun AFTER last year's Pack 95 Pinewood Derby Races.

G-6. Single Entry per Person: Only one car may be registered by any person in the Pinewood Derby.

G-7. Inspection and Registration: Each car must pass a weigh-in and technical inspection before it may compete. Technical inspection and registration of cars will be at the times set out at the end of these rules. All cars must be weighed-in 30 minutes prior to racing.  Cars are impounded by the Weigh-In Committee upon approval.  Late arrivals will not be allowed to race. All cars must have the Pack 95 issued, official racing number easily visible on the top of the car. The maximum weight of a Pinewood Derby car is 5 ounces. Cubs (and Parents) should be prepared to adjust the car’s weight if it is over the 5 ounce limit. If a car is underweight, the Cub may choose to add weight. Decision of the Weigh-In Judges is final.

G-8. Failure to Pass Inspection: The Inspection Committee shall disqualify cars which do not meet the rules as described herein. If a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason their car did not pass. Cars which fail the initial inspection may be taken for modifications and brought back for re-inspection.

G-9. Impound: 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.

G-10. Car Design Rules Interpretation: Interpretation of the rules described in G1 through G-10, and T-1 thru T-9 are at the sole discretion of the Inspection Committee Judges present during the Registration and Inspection process.

G11. Race-Day Rules Interpretation: On Race-Day, the Cub Scout must make all questions of rules interpretations and procedures to the Pinewood Derby Chairman or Race Officials promptly. Decisions of Race Officials on questions of rules interpretations and procedure may be appealed to the Pinewood Derby Chairman. All decisions of the Pinewood Derby Chairman are final. Decisions of Race Officials on questions of fact (i.e. the result of a specific race) may not be appealed beyond the Trackmaster and/or Finish Line Judges. Note: Unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or spectator will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.

II. CUB SCOUT RACE CAR DESIGN STANDARDS

T-1. Material: 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 given out at the November meeting. Materials from the kit may be supplemented but not replaced.

T-2. Weight: Race cars may weigh no more than five (5) ounces (total weight) as determined on the official scales during the pre-race check-in.

T-3. Wheels and Axles: 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, and MUST be placed in the original 'axle grooves' in the supplied wooden block. It must be obvious to the judges that the grooves, wheels, and the nails from the kit are being used.

T-4. Size: Race cars may be no longer than 7 inches, nor wider than 2-3/4 (2.75) inches, as determined by the official gages during the Registration and Inspection. Underside clearance of at least 3/8 (0.375) inches and inside wheel to wheel clearance of at least 1-3/4 (1.75) inches is recommended, so that the car will run on the race track. Adequate clearance is the responsibility of the race car builder.

T-5. 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, but not by "sticky substances", e.g. tape, or tack spray. Weights shall be passive, i.e. non-moveable, non-magnetic, non-electric, non-sticky, etc.

T-6. Wheel Treatment: Wheel treatment (hub and tread smoothing and polishing) may not result in substantial removal of mass nor in reducing the wheel width from the original kit wheels. Some of the original "tread marks" on the wheel face must remain intact, i.e. apparent to the inspector. Wheels may not be machined to a beveled condition and the portion of the wheel surface that contacts the track must remain parallel to the axle.

T-7. Unacceptable Construction: The following may NOT be used in conjunction with the wheels or axles: hubcaps, washers, inserts, sleeves, bearings.

T-8. Gravity Powered: The race car may not be constructed or treated in such a way that the track's starting mechanism imparts momentum to the car. (For instance, this provision disqualifies cars with sticky substances on the front of the car and protrusions which may catch on the starting pin.)

T-9. Lubricants: Only dry lubricants such as graphite or powdered teflon "white lube" will be allowed for lubricating the wheels. Lubricants may not foul the track.

III. CONDUCT OF THE RACES

Track officials are responsible for the proper conduct of the races.

C-1. Inspection Gages: The race-day "Pit Stop" area will have the official scale and length box. That check-in equipment will be the official equipment for the race. (Cub scouts should be prepared to make adjustments to their cars if necessary. There will be a triage table for these adjustments)

C-2. Races: Each car will race 2 times in a randomly chosen lane, against randomly selected cars made by scouts either of the same rank or of another rank. The cars are placed against cars of the same den.

C-3. Car Leaves Lane : If, during a race heat, a car leaves its lane but proceeds down the track in a manner that does not interfere with its opponent, then the race will be called normally. If the car leaves it's lane and interferes with another car, the race will be re-staged and re-run. If the same car again leaves it's lane and interferes with another car, that car will be judged last place and the race will be re-staged and re-run without that car.

C-4. Car Leaves Track: If, during a race heat, a car leaves the track without interfering with its opponent, it shall be considered to have ended its heat at that point.

C-5. Car Repair (Without Fault): If, during the race, a wheel falls off or the car becomes otherwise damaged, then the SCOUT may, to the best of their ability perform repairs with the assistance of his adult partner or Pit Crewmember.

C-6 Car Repair (With Fault): If a car is damaged due to track fault, or damage caused by another car or person, then the Trackmaster, at their sole discretion, may allow additional repair assistance to the Cub.

C-7. No Finishers: If, during a race heat, no car reaches the finish line on the track, the car which went the farthest in its lane shall be declared as the heat winner.

C-8. Call to Race: Competitors will be staged prior to each heat.

C-9. Track Fault: If a car leaves its lane, at their sole discretion, the Trackmaster may inspect the track and, if a track fault is found which probably caused the initial violation, the Trackmaster may order the race heat to be rerun after the track is repaired.

C-10. The Race Area: Only race officials may enter the track area. This rule will be strictly enforced.

C-11. Rewards and Recognition: The most important values in Pinewood Derby competition are parent/scout participation, good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules. The Awards Committee is responsible for recognizing and encouraging these qualities in addition to traditional racing awards. Awards will be announced at the end of each racing division (Rank). The drivers will report to the stage for the awards as their names are called. Racers will be recognized as follows:

a.) Every participating Scout will receive a Pinewood Derby patch

b.) Every car will be awarded a certificate for winning its own unique appearance category (Most Creative, Most Humorous, Most Colorful, Best Paint Job, and so on).

c) Trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third-place finishers in each den – Webelos being counted as one rank.

C-12. The top three Racers in each final race will eligible to represent Pack 95 at the District Finals.

The Pinewood Derby is all about having fun & Sportsmanship!