Pinewood Derby

Pack Pinewood Derby Event

Glendale Christian Church

Saturday, April TBD, 2025

Rank Registration Race

Webelos & AOL 9:30am 10:00am

Bear 10:00am 10:30am

Wolf 10:30am 11:00am

Tiger 11:00am 11:30am

Lion 11:30am 12:00pm

Pack Overall 12:00pm

Open Class – parents, siblings, friends, etc – following races and awards

Metals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for all Classes.

• Classes consist of Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, Arrow of Light and the Open race.

• Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for the Pack Over All Winners!

• Please review all rules and contact Sandy Walker at 602-413-8437 sandyscout276@yahoo.com

with questions.

• Pinewood Derby Car kits are free to our pack scouts, please contact Sandy ASAP if you were

not at the December pack meeting or still need a car.

• Extra cars for the open races can be purchased for $5 each, ask Sandy. (limited supply)

• If you do not have a scale, try the Post Office or the produce department at the grocery store.

• Pack scale is the official weight.

• Sandy will contact anyone who’s car is over 5.0 oz, so they can remove weight prior to the race.

Sign up under your den or open races: we need to know who and how many to expect, thank you!

Race Organization – All Scouting events are organized and run by volunteers. If you have comments or

want to help with the Pinewood Derby or any other Pack event, please contact the Pack’s Committee.

*** Important ***

• A small work area will be provided on race day for last-minute tune-ups and application of

lubricants (graphite). The application of graphite inside the church is strictly forbidden.

• ALL CARS WILL BE SEQUESTERED AFTER REGISTRATION. MODIFICATIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED AFTER

CARS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED!! • Please do not be late for your registration time.

PACK 276 PINEWOOD DERBY RULES 

The purpose of the rules is to provide a reasonable and level playing field for all contestants.

Eligibility of Contestants and Cars

• The Scout Competition is open to all Pack 276 Cub Scouts. In case of illness or a valid conflict, an absent scout may be represented by an authorized agent.

• The Open Competition is open to all Pack 276 Scouts, Scout leaders, family members of Scouts, and family members of Scout leaders.

• Cars in the Scout Competition must have been made for this race season. Cars or parts of cars such as wheels or axles, from previous years may not be used.

• Any car may race in the Open Competition. Cars from previous years and new cars built specifically for the Open Competition are eligible.

Length, Width & Clearance

• The car width at the wheels may not be modified; it must be the same as the original kit. maximum overall width (including wheels and axles) shall not exceed 2-3/4"

• Width between the wheels may not be modified. It must be the same as the official kit.

• Minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and track shall be 3/8" so the car will clear the center guide strip.

• Maximum length (including wheels) shall not exceed 7".

• Maximum height shall not exceed 2-3/4".

• Wheels and axles

• Only the wheels and axles from the official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit may be used.

• Axles may be lightly filed, sanded and polished. This light filing, sanding and polishing is the only axle modification allowed.

• Wheels may be lightly sanded and polished. This light sanding and polishing is the only wheel modification allowed.

Weight and Appearance

• Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces. The readings of the Official Race Scale will be considered final.

• The car may be carved, sculpted, and/or sanded in order to enhance performance and/or appearance.

• No loose materials of any kind are permitted on or inside the car.

• Additional materials may be added to the car for the following purposes only:

o Weights may be added to increase the weight and/or alter the weight distribution of a car.

o Paints/decals/decorations may be added to alter the appearance and/or aerodynamics of a car.

o Glue may be used to adhere the axles to the car body.

o Wood putty, or a similar wood-like substance, may be used to repair minor damage to a car.

• Indented noses are prohibited.

Lubrication

• Only dry powdered lubricants, such as graphite or white powder Pinewood Derby Car Lubricant, may be used. Oils and silicone sprays are prohibited.

• A car may be lubricated before inspection and, if it advances, prior to the Grand Finals. These are the only two times when lubrication is permissible. Specifically, cars may not be lubricated while competing in a set of heats.

Ground Rules

• If a car jumps off the track, the heat will be run again. If the same car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.

• If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again. If the same car leaves its lane a second time and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again without the interfering car. The interfering car will automatically lose the heat.

• If a car suffers a mechanical problem and a repair can be accomplished within 5 minutes, the heat will be run again. If not, the car will automatically lose the heat.

• If a heat results in a tie between two or more cars, then those cars/lanes will re-race until the tie is broken. Cars/lanes not involved in the tie will not be part of the re-race, and will keep their finish positions from the original heat.

Inspections and Disputes

• 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 the rules. Car owners will be informed of the violations and given an opportunity to modify the car to meet these rules.

• Ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or member of the audience will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or race area.

• Cars will be impounded when registered. After being impounded, repairs will be limited to replacement of axles/wheels that are broken/lost during the race.

Notes:

1. An authorized agent is defined as a sibling or a Cub Scout of similar age who is not already competing in the same set of heats.

2. We do not have control over the height of the finish lane gate used at the District races. And for some gates, this is the maximum height.

3. Wheels and axles not from the official kits are prohibited. Wheels and axles which have been modified by other parties also are prohibited, even if they are from the official kit.

4. Beveling, rounding, tapering, thinning, perforating, or any other significant altering of the shape or performance of the axles or axles heads is prohibited.

5. Beveling, rounding, tapering, thinning, perforating, or any other significant altering of the shape or performance of the wheels or wheel hubs is prohibited. Modification of the cylindrical inner wall of the wheel which contacts the axle is prohibited.

6. Wheel bearings, washers, or bushings are prohibited. This includes "wheel covers" which serve to keep the wheel hubs from contacting the car body. It also includes "hub caps", or anything else that might serve as a lubrication "well" or "tap". The car shall not ride on any type of springs. The car must be freewheeling with no starting device or other propulsion, such as adhesives, magnets, rubber bands, moors, jets, etc. Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting and interior details are allowed as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, height, and weight. Metal frames and metal axle supports are prohibited. Axles must be mounted into the wood.

Please review all rules and contact Sandy 602-413-8437 sandycout276@yahoo.com with questions.

Thank you!

Sandy Walker