Pack 1509
Pinewood Derby Rules
General Rules – All cars must comply with the following:
1. Cars must be made from the items — block of wood, axles and wheels — in the official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit and/or official parts bought from BSA. Cars and performance parts offered by third parties are not allowed.
2. Cars must be made during the current Scouting year. Cars from previous years will not be allowed. 3. Only one car can be entered for each Scout.
Show Event Rules – Cars entered for Show must comply with the following rules:
1. Cars entered for Show do not need to comply with Speed event specifications; however, they may not be taller than 7”.
2. Cars entered for Show must still be able to perform the basic functions of a Derby car (i.e. have a body, wheels, and be able to fit on the track rails).
Speed Event Rules – Cars entered for Speed MUST comply with the following additional rules:
1. Car specifications are as follows:
- Width not to exceed 2-3/4” - Width between wheels must be 1-3/4” - Length not to exceed 7” - Height not to exceed 5” (7” is the height limit for District) - Weight not to exceed 5.0000 oz. - Wheelbase must be 4-3/8”
- Bottom clearance between bottom of car and track must be at least 3/8”
2. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
3. The car shall not ride on springs (i.e. spring suspension).
4. Wheel footprint (i.e. the portion of the wheel that contacts the track surface) may not be altered. Mold seams may be removed, but wheels may not be narrowed, ridged, rounded-over or otherwise changed.
5. All four wheels must touch the track surface. Some minor play will be allowed, e.g., due to unintentional placement of the axles in the grooves, but offsetting that in the opinion of the Derby Chair is intentional will be disqualified.
6. Wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles) may not be modified, but it may be shifted slightly (i.e. moved forward or backward along the length of the body) in the event the pre-made grooves are not properly aligned.
7. Axles may be polished. Machining of the axles is prohibited.
8. Only dry lubricants (i.e. graphite, Teflon) are permitted. Wet lubricants (i.e. oil) are prohibited. Excess graphite will be removed by Derby Officials during inspection.
9. No hubcaps or wheel coverings may be used to hold lubricant in.
10. All weights must be securely fastened to the car. No sliding or liquid based weights are allowed.
11. The car must be free-wheeling and gravity-driven, with no starting devices, springs, propellants, magnets, or the like.
12. If a car breaks down during a race, only the repair or replacement of that part is allowed, and only if it affects the basic performance of the car (i.e. a wheel or weight falls off). A car may be moved to a later race time or disqualified if the repairs will take a significant amount of time.
13. Any car that in the opinion of the Derby Chair has an unfair advantage over other cars — due to construction, materials, wheels, or rule violation — will be disqualified.
14. In case of close calls or questions, the decision of the Derby Chair is final.
Event Rules:
1. All cars must be checked-in by the scout by 8:00pm on Friday before the race (see Scoutbook and emails for schedule/location information).
2. Graphite will not be allowed at the tracks. Graphite may be used in the maintenance area; however, do not use excessive amounts. Derby staff will remove excessive graphite during inspection. Graphite can damage the church floor and can pose a safety hazard.
3. No Scout, parent or leader will be allowed into the race or show areas once cars have been registered, except to volunteer, or to make repairs, and in case of repair then only under the supervision of a Derby official.
4. During the Derby, all Scouts, leaders, and parents are expected to exhibit their best Scout behavior and manners, and exercise good sportsmanship. All Participants are required to have Fun! No running or disruptive behavior will be allowed at any time. Non-compliance may result in disqualification from the Derby.
5. Scouts must be present at the Derby to be eligible to win an award.
Awards:
Awards will be given to the fastest cars, the coolest cars, and the car voted most amazing by the scouts of Pack 1509.