2018 Lincoln Trail District. Pinewood Derby RACE GUIDE. 65 Years of Pinewood Derby

Transcription

1 2018 Lincoln Trail District Pinewood Derby RACE GUIDE 65 Years of Pinewood Derby Saturday April 21, 2018 Towne Mall 1704 Dixie Highway Elizabethtown, KY 42701

2 The Pinewood Derby and Its History in Cub Scouting Like many popular Scouting programs, the Pinewood Derby began at one unit and spread nationwide like wildfire. The grassroots program because of its very nature, its inherent merit, and the fact that it is just plain fun went from one father s idea at a California Cub Scout Pack to sweeping the nation in the early 1950s. Cubmaster Don Murphy of Pack 280C, Manhattan Beach, California, had a son who was unable to compete in a local gravity-powered car competition. Murphy came up with a way for their youth and their pack to make and race miniature gravity-powered cars on a small indoor track, and the Pinewood Derby was born. That first Derby was held May 15, By 1955, the Pinewood Derby was part of the official Cub Scouting program and, while always optional, has become a key part of many Cub Scout packs annual programs. Variations of the Pinewood Derby have been developed over the years, including the raingutter regatta and the space Derby, both of which demonstrate the worth (and the fun) of the Pinewood Derby in a slightly different form. The basic elements of this course can be used in any of these variations. The Why of the Pinewood Derby: What Scouting Goals Are Accomplished? In general, the Scouting program tries to avoid events with a single winner or even class winners. The Cub Scout standard is, after all, that a youth should do their best. We do not, for example, tie advancement to whether a Cub Scout beats the other members of their den in a foot race, but rather to whether they better their previous standards. The primary methods of the Cub Scouting program including the goal of personal achievement are based on individual achievement and accomplishment, rather than individual victory at the expense of another s defeat. The goals of Cub Scouting are not often extended to include competition or competitive sports, although the goals of character development, sportsmanship and fitness, and respectful relationships can easily be seen to give a special perspective on our very competitive world. While, in some ways the Pinewood Derby is a special case (principally because it is so much fun), we can use the Pinewood Derby to further the goals of Cub Scouting. We can broaden the Derby s simple one-winner perspective to a program all participants can feel good about. At the same time, we need to be alert to the possibility of problems that can spoil the youths fun and discourage Cub Scouts and parents. Sometimes these problems have actually caused youth to drop out of Cub Scouting.

3 Sportsmanship and good citizenship is taught by following the Derby rules and cheering on friends and den partners as they race against others in the pack. Personal achievement comes to any youth who picks up a woodworking tool and shapes raw wood into a sleek design. And, by learning woodworking, he prepares himself to more easily serve in the Cub Scouting's service projects. Family understanding is enhanced because building a Pinewood Derby car puts the youth and their mom, dad, or other adult partner into a close and sometimes intense learning experience over, potentially, many hours. It is very clear that any youth who can cheer on a friend in a Derby race, when their own car has been previously eliminated, must be said to have had their character developed, if not their carbuilding skills. But finally, and probably most convincingly, participating in the Derby is fun. This is especially true if participation is stressed, and personal achievement is very broadly defined and rewarded. The Pinewood Derby Competition versus Recognition A key element of Cub Scouting is recognition of personal achievement rather than simple victory. We do this by providing a way of recognizing the achievement of each youth rather than simply celebrating the car that was fastest down the track. Every youth in Lincoln Trail District can participate this day, regardless of their placement in their Pack s individual Pinewood Derby. We will have an adult/sibling heat following the day s competition. Every youth will receive a LIMITED EDITION Lincoln Trail District Pinewood Derby Patch for participation. The top 4 winners in the following classes will receive medals and will qualify to race for the overall finals: Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos. The top 4 winners of the finals will receive a trophy. The important thing is to promote the goals of Cub Scouting: character development, spiritual growth, good citizenship, sportsmanship and fitness, family understanding, respect for relationships, personal achievement, friendly service, fun and adventure, and preparation for Boy Scouts.

4 What to Expect on the Day of the Race: If you have pre-registered, you will be able to check in and immediately get in the car inspection line. If you are walking in that day, you will need to pay at the door and then get into the car inspection line. The cost to preregister is $5 and must be submitted no later than 4/10/18. Walk on fee or late payment is $10! The online/paper registration cut off will be noon on Wednesday, April 18, To ensure a fair race, all cars will be inspected by a team of volunteers and weighed to confirm all cars meet the Official Rules found later in this guide. If there is any question of a Cub s car meeting the Official Rules, you will be asked to make modifications to your car before the race begins and will need to repeat the inspection process. All decisions made by the volunteer inspection team are final. If the Scout decides not to modify the car then the car won t race on race day. We will be having siblings and Akela adults race. They must follow the same rules as all Cub participants. Cubs will be the only ones racing for awards. We are asking all participating Packs to bring their Pack Flag and stand. We also ask that youths be proud and wear their Uniform on this day! What an amazing opportunity to show off their accomplishments! Rank Qualifiers (Ranks) Each car races six (6) times; twice (2) in each lane. Winners are determined by the sum of their five (5) fastest elapsed times. Their slowest time is dropped. Times are calculated to the thousandth of a second. The top four (4) cars in each rank (Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos) advance to the Finals. Medals will be awarded to these racers. Final Championships (Finals) Each qualifying car races three (3) times; once (1) in each lane. Winners are determined by the sum of the elapsed times of all three (3) of their races. ALL times will count; their slowest time is NOT dropped. Times are calculated to the thousandth of a second. The top four (4) racers will receive trophies. Pinewood Derby Event Schedule SUBJECT TO CHANGE 12:00pm 12:45pm* 1:15pm Registration Opens Registration Ends Races Begin *We won t be taking any cars after 12:45 PM

5 Honest Abe s Lincoln Trail District Pinewood Derby Rules Car must not exceed 5.0 ounces. The official race scale is considered final. The overall length of the car cannot exceed 7 inches. The overall width of the car cannot exceed 2 ¾ inches. The car must have a minimum of 3/8 inch clearance underneath the body. The car must have 1 ¾ inch minimum clearance between the inside of the wheels. The wood provided in the kit must be used. The wheels must be Official BSA wheels. The wheel may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded. Removal of a burr/seam from the wheel is allowed. The axles supplied in the kit must be used. They may be polished or lubricated. Only dry lubricants may be used. Wheel bearings, washers or bushings are prohibited. The car must not ride on any type of springs or flexible suspension system. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices. No loose material of any kind, such as free moving lead shot, may be used. All weights and accessories must be securely attached. No part of the car may extend beyond the front bumper which rests against the starting pin. U and V shaped front ends are only allowed if there is a minimum ½ inch wide flat area along the centerline of the car to rest against the starting pin. No part of the car may extend beyond this flat area. The maximum height of the car at any point is 4 inches to prevent hitting the timer. Any car that pits for repair during the race will be re-inspected, including a weight check, prior to being allowed back into competition. All cars must have four wheels. Canted wheels are acceptable. What to expect at check-in: The car will be weighed and the following dimensions verified: o Length, Overall Width, Width between wheels, undercar clearance Wheels checked (BSA Approved) A label will be placed on the car with the Scout s name and a unique number to identify it Lubricant check (dry only) No loose parts Inspected for all other design considerations listed above ***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 specifications.***

6 Lincoln Trail District District Pinewood Derby Race Saturday, April 21, 2018 Registration Early Bird: April 10, 2018 The cost to preregister is $5 and must be submitted no later than 4/10/18. Walk on fee or late payment is $10! The online/paper registration cut off will be noon on Wednesday, April 18, Registration: 12:00pm-12:45pm Races Start: 1:15 PM Pack # District Pack Pinewood Derby Coordinator Name: Phone Address City State Zip Cost: $ 5.00 per participating Cub Scout or persons wanting patches A. # Cub Scouts B. # extra patches A + B x $5.00 = Have Questions? Contact: Johnathon F. Boles Lincoln Trail District Executive joboles@bsamail.org Submit Form: Lincoln Trail District Pinewood Derby 2018 Lincoln Heritage Council Boy Scouts of America Sycamore Station Place, Louisville, KY Pack Registration (Youth Participants Only) First & Last Name For Office use only Cub Rank