Pack 383 Pinewood Derby Rules

Race Day is Saturday, January 30th

1. CAR KIT: An official BSA Pinewood Derby Car Kit must be used to build the participants competition car.  The official kits can be purchased from Pack 383 on January 12th and 19th, at the Scout store, online at Scoutshop.org, or at local craft stores.  Pre-made, pre-shaped and modified cars purchased online or at a store will not be permitted for entry into the official race.  A large part of this activity includes the design and building of the car by the Scout (with help by the parent as needed).  We will NOT have a car cutting session. It will be up to you to cut and sand the car. If you need some guidance you can ask your scout's den leader. 

https://www.scoutshop.org/catalog/product/view/id/100

2. WIDTH:  Car cannot be more than 2 3/4 inches wide.

3. LENGTH:  Car cannot be more than 7 inches long.

4. WEIGHT:  Finished car cannot weigh more than 5 ounces.  The weight shown on the Official Race Scale is final.  All car parts and materials must be firmly attached.  To increase the car's weight, add wood or metal only.  Don't use Mercury to add weight because it's not safe. Please add weights to the car before the official weigh in and be ready to make minor adjustments if you are over or under the 5 ounce limit.

5. WHEEL PLACEMENT:  The car body must be at least 1 3/4 inches wide at the axles and no wider then 2 3/4 in wide overall. It must clear the ground by at least 3/8 inch.  You may NOT change the wheelbase from 4 1/2 inches (distance between front and rear axles). Modifying wheel base or axle width from the BSA kit is not recommended because the car may not fit on the official track.

6. WHEELS AND AXLES:  Use only Official Scout Grand Prix wheels and axles.  You can polish the axles. You may lightly sand the wheels to remove the molding seam on the tread.  No other wheel changes are allowed.  You may not use bearings, washers or bushings. No solid axles allowed.  Wheels shall not be deliberately modified to run as a 3-wheeled car.  Axles shall be placed in the slots provided in the original car kit.  Axles provided with the car must be visible by inspecting the bottom of the car to ensure compliance with these rules. No bent axles allowed.

7. SPRINGING:  The car may not ride on any type of springs.

8. DETAILS:  Details such as Steering Wheel, Driver, Decals, Painting, Interior Details are okay.  The finished car with details must meet the maximum length, width and weight rules.  Cars with wet paint will not be accepted.                            

9. ATTACHMENTS:  The car must be free-wheeling with no starting devices.

10. LUBRICATION:  Use dry powdered graphite ONLY.  You may not use any other lubricant, especially oils and silicone sprays.  No graphite may be applied after car inspection.

11. INSPECTION:  Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Committee before it may compete.  The Inspectors will disqualify any car not meeting these rules.  Any adult or scout may appeal the findings of the Inspectors to the Race Committee Chair-person, whose decision is final. Scouts who do not register their cars at the weigh in may run them, but will not be eligible to win a trophy. All cars must have been made within the last 6 months.

12. Upon INSPECTION / Weigh in (scheduled for 1/xx/2022 7pm), the cars are collected by the committee and only race committee members can touch it.  If the car loses a wheel, or is otherwise damaged, the racer shall have 5 minutes to make repairs.  Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it will be allowed to compete.  The Inspection Committee has the responsibility to disqualify those cars that do not meet these rules.

a. The PWD committee will take all the cars into possession following inspection and then will bring them to the race.  For entry in the official races, cars MUST be presented and inspected at the weigh in on 1/xx/2022, not the day of the race.

b. Please write the Scouts name, the car name (think of something fun) and the Den (i.e. Bear Den 4) on a small piece of paper and tape it to the bottom of the car.  This will allow for quicker processing during the inspection/weigh in.

Race Ground Rules

1. GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED.  Race Officials may ask anyone not following this rule to leave.