Youth Derby Rules for 2024

Youth Compact Derby Rules for 2024

Ages 9-14 

November 4th At the Douglas County Demolition Derby, Livestock and Events. All Kids must have a Parent/Guardian sign the waiver and must have a Parent/Guardian riding shotgun! 

Driver and Rider must wear a Helmet, Jeans, Long Sleeve shirt and sturdy shoes. NO EXCEPTIONS  

MUST be 4cyl or 6cyl front wheel drive. Cars must be stripped of all interior and glass. The Dash may stay. Plastic bumpers must be removed. ALL airbags MUST be removed not just un hooked! MUST have working seat belts and if a booster seat is used it Must be secured to the seat itself by using a Ratchet strap. You can extend the pedals for easier reach if the kid needs help reaching them. 

Tires MUST be DOT approved. NO skids or forklift tires! Wheels must be stock. NO built wheels! 

Battery MUST be inside the cab and properly secured! 

Exhaust MUST be under the car and MUST be no further back than the front seats! 

Fuel Tank MUST stay in factory location IF ITS IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE! If it's behind the axle it must be moved inside the car. A fuel cell can be used must be properly mounted and secured! ALL fuel line must remain under the car NO EXCEPTIONS. Fuel line leaves the tank and goes straight down and under the car. MUST use proper fuel line and it MUST be high pressure fuel line. No half assing on the fuel systems period we will take this rule very serious. We don't want any bad experiences with these kids. 

Bumpers- NO bumper allowed other than Factory to the car (if it's metal), 3x3x3/16 piece of tubing no capping the ends, adding points or a rear vic bumper insert may be used. No other Bumpers will be allowed! 

Cage- MUST have at least a 4 pt cage and MUST be at least 2" in diameter but NOT to exceed 6" in diameter. No downtubes are to be attached to the floor. It can have a halo that attaches to the side bars only. 

Hood- MUST remain on the hinges and can be secured in 2 places using 9 wire or 3/8s chain, MUST have 2 windshield bars and must have at least a 8" hole for fire extinguishing.  

Doors- Drivers door can be welded 5" on 5" off. All other doors can be welded 8" total or 6 places of 9 wire or 3/8s chain. 

Trunk- Can Tuck 50% of the lid and or fasten in 4 places with 9 wire or 3/8s chain. 

This is basically a Gut N Go build with the exceptions of the rules above. NO Bolt ins NO Headers No aftermarket shifters NO aftermarket pedals and No aftermarket Steering! This is something new we are trying for this age group and we will be very particular on safety. We want this to be a great experience for the kids in hopes of keeping this sport alive. 

This will be a one and done. It will either be the 1st race of the night or it will be in between Bone stock and welded class.  

We are working on a payout and it will be determined a lot on sponsors. Car entry will be $25 

All drivers must sign the driver’s paperwork, or they will not drive in the event.

Drivers must be ages 15 or older (ages 15-17 must have parent/legal guardian sign the wavier)

No driver substitutions, only one driver per entered car.

Drivers must wear a seat belt, helmet, FIRE SUIT JACKET highly recommended.

All Drivers and Crew Members must attend the drivers meeting.

No hot rodding in the pits, keep it at an idle. This will be the quickest way to be DISQUALIFIED.

No drivers are allowed alcohol - period. If you are wearing a driver’s band and drinking any form of Alcohol you will not run -

Cars will be re-inspected before any prize money is paid out

Judge’s decisions are FINAL!!!

THIS IS NOT A SET OF RULES BUT A SET OF GUIDELINES OF HOW TO BUILD YOUR CAR. IF IT DOESN’T SAY YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY DO SOMETHING THEN YOU CAN’T.

1. You have 1 minute to make an aggressive hit. After 1 minute that car is disqualified. That is 1-minute total.

An aggressive hit is solely at the discretion of the officials.

2. For safety, DO NOT HIT THE DRIVERS DOOR!!

3. You are given 2 fires- 1st one we put out and the 2nd one you are done for that round.

4. Rollovers- you may keep going as long as the car is deemed safe.

5. Watch the officials. If they are trying to get your attention, there is a reason.

6. No holding or pinning, you must back up and show daylight.

Any year of car allowed (no Imperials, hearse, ambulance, trucks, vans, no sedagons fresh or preran).

Car needs to remain as close to stock as possible. If it doesn’t say you can do it in these rules DON’T! THIS IS NOT A LIMITED WELD CLASS, IT IS SEMI STOCK!

Cars must be fully stripped of all flammable material. Factory seats and factory dash are allowed. All glass, chrome, door handles, and any unsafe items must be removed from the inside and outside of the cars. All plastic, stainless and pot metal trim, fiberglass, and rubber must be removed from the outside of the car. The car floor, trunks, and inside of doors must be swept of glass, debris, and must be clean. Factory fuel tank(s) must be removed. Unused factory fuel lines must be blown free of gas. Removing unused fuel lines is recommended. The factory fuel tank may not be re-used. Battery must be re-located inside of the passenger compartment. The battery must be in a solid container and must be securely fastened and covered.

No steel gas “cans” or plastic gas “jugs” allowed. A steel boat tank is recommended, however any metal tank deemed safe by the officials is acceptable. The fuel tank must be securely fastened inside the passenger compartment. Fuel line must be secured and fastened properly. Keep away from exhaust. The

fuel cell must be mounted in the center of the car where the back seat used to be. No other source of gas inside the car at all. Official’s decision is final.

Cars must have some type of working brakes.

The only welding allowed is doors, cage, plates, bumpers, bumper brackets.

CAR MUST HAVE A DRIVER’S DOOR BAR

Oil coolers, engine and transmission, are allowed. IF air coolers (fans) are used, a shield must be located between the cooler and the driver. High-pressure hydraulic lines and fittings are recommended. No gas hose is allowed. It must be compatible with transmission oil. If oil hose is used, a minimum of two hose clamps per fitting. Non-high-pressure oil hose must be covered. Engine cooler hose and fittings must be high pressure.

Electric fuel pumps are allowed, must have a high pressure fuel line, all fuel hose must be covered and be safe!

Must have 2 bars welded or bolted in the windshield area.

Aftermarket gas/brake pedals ok

FOR 03:

· 03 and newer Factory rack and pinion must be ran, no added steering from other cars.

· A arms must remain 03-11 you can swap to stamped steel from cast but must be from that family of car.

· The bolt in metal assemblies used to mount the engine will be allowed nut cannot tie to frame in any way.

· You cannot wrap the factory aluminum cradle.

· Nothing excessive, inspectors’ decision will be upheld.

· Must be ½ gap between it and the frame, cannot touch frame.

· Mounting points can be factory engine mounts and the 2 rack mounting studs should only set on top and front of factory cradle. If you get excessive you will cut it or load it

· No carb or DP protectors of any kind

· Engine and Transmission swaps ok

· Lower engine cradle with front plate ½” max ok

· If you run pulley protector, you must take sway bar off. Your choice.

Engine

Engine/trans swaps ok.

NO carb/DP's or protectors of any kind!!

Radiator coolant overflow tubes must point straight down.

Mounting-

You can weld a factory lower frame mount for the engine you are running to the frame with no added metal. You may use 2 chains or 2 4x4x1/4" plates to keep your motor from "flopping around"; the plates can only be welded from factory motor clams to the frame. if you use the chain 1 link may be welded to the frame anywhere within the head area of the motor.

Engine Cradle

You may use a lower engine cradle, however if you do you must still use stock lower motor mounts that match the engine being ran. This cradle is only to protect your block. If the inspection crew deems that the cradle is being used to reinforce the car in any way you WILL NOT run!

Transmission

May use a trans mounted shifter. No Transmission Protectors of any kind. No aftermarket trans (crusher, jw trans etc.) Must be bolted to angle iron mounts. Angle iron mounts can be no bigger than 2x2x1/4 8 inches long.Ultra-bell allowed with at least 1 in gap around sheet metal. Can run a spacer in between the engine and transmission, but MUST NOT EXTEND FURTHER OUT THAN THE BELL HOUSING. If it does you have to cut it!

Rearend

14 bolt and under with one side braced. Bolt in watts links allowed, slider type drive shaft may be used.

2 chains only 1 per side, may go around axle housing and top of frame (chain cannot through frame or be welded or bolted to frame.

Simple back brace allowed (2”x4”x1/4”) Brace must start 4” from outer flange, back brace and top truss for welding upper mount on only. No top or bottom braces or axle savers allowed.

NO AXLE SAVERS ALLOWED. If we question if an axle saver is being hidden, we will pull wheels to check!

You may run a 14 Bot Rear-End.

Bumpers

You may weld on any bumper, (must appear automotive and no points beyond factory spec). WE WILL HAVE A TEMPLATE OF A STOCK POINTY BUMPER AT ALL SHOWS. IF YOUR BUMPER IS OUTSIDE OF THIS TEMPLATE, YOU WILL BE MADE TO CUT.

Mounting

You may weld a bumper bracket (IN FACTORY LOCATION) to frame 4” x 14” x ¼” from the back of the bumper. This plate must be flat, no teepee plates and on the wheel side of the frame.

In addition you may put (4) 1” welds on the back side of the bumper bracket or to weld shock inside the frame (example crown vic’s).

Front and rear bumpers may have 4 loops of wire from radiator support/trunk lid or deck (to sheet metal only do not go around core support bolts) to bumper (not frame). These cannot be placed in front of the radiator.

Cage:

Four-point cage, NO larger than 6” diameter. Must be 6” away from the firewall and must be a minimum of 4 inches above the trans tunnel. All cage material must be inside the driver’s compartment including gas tank protector. NOT INSIDE OF DOOR SKINS/BODY PANELS.

Cage material cannot extend past the halo or outside of the car. Gas tank protector and cage material must remain inside of the driver’s compartment.

Down Bars

Allowed one down bar per side to top of frame and must be completely behind front interior door seams (Front to back)

Halo

May have a Halo bar no further back than 10 inches behind drivers’ seat, may be welded to top of frame and must be vertical. Can attach halo to roof using 2 ½ inch bolts OR weld with 2- 2x2x1/4 6” long pieces of angle iron running along halo. Halo cannot have any other material (angle iron, strap, extra tubing) off of it to any sheet metal outside or inside of the car body.

Gas Tank Protector

Gas tank protector is allowed no wider than 24 inches. Must be at least 1 inch away from the rear package tray. Must run straight back from the center of the cage and must be a minimum of 4 inches off the trans tunnel. Can run 2 support bars off the halo to gas tank protector to support it. MUST BE INSIDE THE CAR

Doors:

You may weld doors 5 on 5 off with 3” X 1/8” strap max; Driver’s door may be welded solid. 3” x 1/8” strap max. Inside of driver’s door needs to be padded. Aftermarket door skin allowed must not extend 3” from door seams (drivers side only).

Trunk lid:

You may weld 5 on 5 off and you may use (2) 5/8” threaded rod if you change trunk body bolts, the nuts must be inside of the frame. Nothing beyond the trunk or in the taillight area. Must have a 10” hole for inspection.

Hood:

Hoods get one hood clip 3” long 2” x 2” x 3/16” with one ½” bolt and nut per side, or 1 ⅝ bolt per wheel well as a hood bolt. (2) 5/8” bolts total thru hood in firewall area and 2 core support rods any combination sheet metal to sheet metal only.

Suspension:

All suspension must remain stock no aftermarket parts

Front

You may change coil springs to a stiffer OEM passenger car spring no aftermarket. Front springs in the front, rear in the rear no swapping locations.

Spindles must be stock for a car that is legal in the class you are running, with no modifications.

Upper A-arms only may be welded down with 3”x2”x1/4” strap per side to hold it down. This strap cannot extend further than 2” past A-arm mount onto frame.

You may change upper A-arms to stamped steel from the cast arms on Fords, but ford upper arms and factory hardware must be used from the car being ran. This means cut the bar out of the arm and run individual bolts if the car you are running came that way.

REAR SUSPENSION

Rear control arms need to be stock you may shorten with up to 2” overlap. These must start from a factory set and cannot be homemade. NO REINFORCING OF CONTROL ARMS!

Leaf springs must be stock and made of stock spring material, with a 1” stagger and no springs can be as long as the main leaf. You can only have a total of 9 leaf springs per side no thicker than 3/8" thick and no wider than 2 ¾” wide. The main leaf must be the top spring in the spring pack and leaf springs must go down from longest to shortest with a minimum of 1” stagger. You can clamp springs, 6 homemade clamps per side. Homemade clamps can’t exceed 2x4x1/4”. Eyelets must be in the factory location of the car you are running. 2” arch one direction from center of eyelet to eyelet.

Steering

Tie rods must be factory! NO REINFORCED TIE RODS! Mechanical steering column from wheel to box. Hydro-Steering is allowed. ALL OTHER STEERING MUST BE 100% STOCK FOR THAT CAR.

Tires and Wheels

Any tire allowed as long as it is no bigger than 16" no studded tires. No built wheels. Small wheel centers fine.

No wheel weights or balance weights allowed on wheel rims.

Frame

A total of 14” of welding allowed behind the a-arms. All welds must be marked with orange paint. This will allow the FoMo Cars to cut and tip the box and reweld with 14” of weld and the old iron cars reweld the seams where the factory missed. Do not weld the front frame or box to the side rail.

Cold tilting allowed

You may weld the A-arms forward top frame seam only ½” wide maximum bead.

Humps

May be shaped a total of 24”, WHEEL SIDE ONLY!

Core Support

May use up to 1" core support bolts thru the hood but only thru the top of the frame. A spacer may be used between the core support and the frame. May use 3”x3”x1/4” plate top and bottom of the spacer but the spacer cannot be welded to the top of the frame.

Plate

Pre-ran and fresh cars may have 4 plates (4”x 6”x 1/4'’) per frame rail. Plates must not touch each other. This does not count as your bumper bracket.

Body

Wheel well openings may be trimmed and bolted with no more than 8- 3/8th bolts per opening with a max 1.5" fender washer

Body Bolts

May be changed to ¾”, may only go thru top layer of frame, must use factory steel stamp washers. You must have at least a 1” body spacer and they cannot be welded to the frame. Do not add body bolts.

Creasing

Body creasing is ok but rear quarter panels must remain upright.

#9 WIRE

You are allowed 2 spots of #9 wire, 4 loops per window opening (no cables). You may run wire from frame rail underneath back of car, behind rear end with 4 loops of wire or 1 loop of 3/8 chain or cable. This may go around the frame or it may go through a factory frame hole.

General Rules and Regulations:

1. Any American made car can run with the following exceptions. Full-Size cars with the wheelbase of at least 113” or more. No 4x4’s, Imperials, Vans, Ambulances, Hearses, Trucks or Limousines.

2. All driver’s must sign driver’s paperwork before being inspected or they will not run.

3. Driver’s must wear a seat belt, helmet, long sleeve shirt, pants (Fire Suit highly recommended).

4. All drivers must attend the pit meeting before the event.

5. No drivers are allowed any alcohol or drugs before the event, If found under the influence while wearing a drivers band you will be disqualified for the remainder of the event.

6. Any complaints that a driver has about another car prior to the start of your heat will need to be addressed in the drivers meeting in specifics. If nothing is said, we don’t want to hear about it after the show.

7. DO NOT paint anywhere on suspension, frame or interior of car.

8. No driver substitutions, only one driver per entered car.

9. Drivers must be ages 15 or older (ages 15-17 must have parent/legal guardian sign the wavier)

10. Judges decisions are final!!

Show Rules:

1. You have 1 minute to make an aggressive hit, After 1 minute that car is disqualified.

2. For safety, DO NOT HIT IN THE DRIVER’S DOOR!!

3. You will be given 2 fires 1st one we put out and the 2nd one you are done for that round.

4. Rollovers, you may keep going as long as car is deemed safe.

5. No holding or pinning, you must back up and show day light. You may not pin to win

Car Preparation: IF IT DOESN’T SAY YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY DO SOMETHING THEN YOU CAN’T

1. No fresh paint or undercoating on the frames at all. No buffing or grinding frames or bodies except where welding is specifically allowed in the rules.

2. All cars must be stock, unless modification is stated in the rules.

3. All glass, plastic, chrome, and interior must be removed from the car before arriving to the derby.

4. All trailer hitches and braces must be removed.

5. You MUST have a number in bright colors on each front door and may have a sign on the roof of your car with car number on it for recognition or car.

6. Batteries must be moved to passenger front floorboard. They must be properly secured and covered.

7. All cars must have working brakes, If the car is not able to exhibit the ability to stop, it will not be inspected.

8. NO welding other than what is mentioned in this set of rules. If your car is found with any weld other than what is allowed and you refuse to fix it to the judge’s satisfaction, you and your car will not run.

Body:

1. Remove all glass mirrors and plastic. Remove all decking in wagons, cars must be swept clean of all debris before you get to the derby.

2. No sedagons fresh or preran, zero crease enhancement, zero sheet metal or frame shaping, forming or folding.

3. Deck lids must be in stock location. You may tuck trunk with a single 90-degree bend. Fasten trunk or tailgate with 4 places 2 strands of #9 wire or 3/8” chain.

4. Anything can be removed, nothing can be added.

5. Hoods get one hood clip 3” long 2”x 2” x3/16” with one ½” bolt and nut per side. (2) 5/8” bolts total thru hood in firewall area and 2 core support bolts thru the hood to top of frame only with 4” washes.

6. You may weld doors total of 6 inches on each vertical seem only 2”x 1/8” strap. Drivers door may be welded solid.

7. Body mounts and spacers to remain stock and in place. If they are broken or rusted out, a single piece #9 wire may be substituted. No body bolt changing allowed.

8. #9 wire, chain or bar required in front windshield.

Frames

1. No welding on frames allowed.

2. No suspension modifications allowed, must remain strictly stock.

3. You may use 2 twist in spring spacers per side (store bought, no homemade).

4. You may use a single strand #9 wire to hold coil spring to rear end and leaf sprung cars may use 4 single strands #9 wire as leaf clamps.

Tires/wheels:

1. Tires no bigger than 16 inches, no split rims, no studded tire, Doubled tires are ok No foam filled.

Drivetrain: any drivetrain allowed with the following criteria

1. Only the lower engine mounts may be welded to the crossmember. You may use two ½” thick spacers to raise engine to clear steering components, may not exceed rubber mount area. You may extend off back of crossmember but nothing excessive, ½’ flat plate only (example sbc in Caddy, Mopar, Ford).

2. No tranny protectors, stock mounts only, stock crossmembers to car being ran only .

3. Rearend swaps allowed: No bracing, no welding, no re-enforcement. Max axle size 31 spline. Must be a direct bolt-in. gears maybe welded.

4. you may run 1 piece of 3/8” chain from rearend around frame OR 2 strands of #9 wire from rearend to frame, nothing thru the body, nothing thru the frame (#9 wire 2 loops, 4 strands together).

5. Floor shifters allowed, gas/brake pedals allowed, headers allowed. (none may strengthen the car).

6. You can run a lower cradle only. No pulley protector if you are running a sway bar. One or the other will have to go.

7. You may swap engines, example chevy in a ford.

8. Slider drive shafts are allowed.

9. Aftermarket steering column ok, no hydro steering, aftermarket pedal and shifter ok.

Driver’s Compartment:

1. 4-point square cage with one 2 x 3 down tube to sheet metal only per side. Halo bar allowed to back seat bar or floor sheet metal. Halo and door bar can attach to the sheet metal only.

2. Gas Tank Protector

Gas tank protector is allowed no wider than 24 inches. Must be at least 1 inch away from the rear package tray. Must run straight back from the center of the cage and must be a minimum of 4 inches off the trans tunnel. Can run 2 support bars off the halo to gas tank protector to support it. MUST BE INSIDE THE CAR

3. Driver’s door must be padded.

4. Gas tank must be removed cannot use factory tank. Battery must be moved and secured to passenger side floorboard.

5. Trans coolers allowed, must be mounted inside of cage are.

Bumpers:

1. You may weld on any OEM stock bumper, you can stuff OEM stock bumber, you may weld stock bumper bracket for the car or the bumper to the frame 4 inches from back of bumper, single pass only.

1a. In addition, you may put 4 one inch welds on back side of bracket or to weld shock inside frame. (example Crown Vics). All bumper material longer than 4 inches must be removed.

2. Shocks can be collapsed and welded, all shocks and brackets in stock location and extended one inch in front of frame.

Ø All bumper brackets and shocks must be in stock location.

OR

Ø You may shorten to one inch in front of the core support space and hard nose with no shocks or brackets on car.

OR

Ø You may chain, one piece of chain per side BOLTED from the mount to mount to hold on the bumper.

Pre Rans:

You may have (2) 4” x 4” x ¼’ plate per side where visibly bend (must show visibly bend) not just because its pre ran.

 MWFA

1. Any 1980 and newer 2 wheel drive passenger car/ mini-van/mini-truck/mid-size suv

2. All vehicles must be stripped of all plastic, glass, headlights, taillights, and anything else that could fall off onto the track during the show.

3. All vehicles must remain stock. ABSOULTY NO WELDING ANYWHERE.

4. Bumpers must remain stock, do not alter bumper in any way. Factory bumper shocks must remain in the factory location. You may remove rear bumpers and shocks. You may weld one single pass on bumper and shock.

5. Batteries may be left in stock location and spray foam may be added around battery. You may also move the battery to passenger floor or seat. Please make sure the battery is not moving.

6. If the factory gas tank is in front of axle you may leave it there. If it's behind the axle, you must move it to the rear seat area. Factory tanks may be moved inside but completely secured. After market tanks may be used.

All doors may be wired or chained in 6 places max per seam.

7. Trunks, hoods, tailgates, all may be wired or chained in 6 places total. Sheet metal to sheet metal only. Nothing to frame. Bumpers should have #9 wire 2 strands max holding the Bumper from falling off. If you remove trunk< or tailgate or you lose the trunk or tailgate wire or chain.

8. Rear seat bar may be added. It may be welded to post If you have to add something to get it away from seat please call. This is only to stop sides from coming in, not to help any other part of the vehicle.

9. Drivers’ doors only may have a plate welded to the outside or inside. This is for driver safety.

10. DOT tires only. Stock wheels only, All wheel weights must be removed. Only tubes and air are permitted inside of tires.

These rules are cut and dry, you should not have to call to ask many questions on this class. If it does not say you can do it, then that means YOU CANNOT do it. 

Quick and easy build.