GSEM District 14 Neighborhood 6 Powder Puff Derby - 2017 Official Rules The Powder Puff Derby is modeled after Boy Scouts of America s Pinewood Derby. What is a Powder Puff Derby? A bunch of fun! At the end it is a group of Girl Scouts racing little wooden cars of various shapes and colors on little plastic wheels down a 32 track. But that is only a small part of it. Each Girl Scout gets a kit with a block of wood, four nails for axles, and four plastic wheels. Then, based on the rules, she shapes and paints her block or wood into a form to race down the track. The Track's start line is approximately 5' high and the track slopes down to the floor and levels off for the final 16' or so. An electronic timing device is used to record the times of each car on the track. As with all Girl Scout activities, the construction of a Powder Puff Derby car should be girl-led, following the principles of The Girl Scout Law. Honest & Fair girls and their families follow the rules outlined in this packet, making an original car where the scout is an active participant. Friendly & Helpful girls and their families are courteous toward other participants, race officials and volunteers. Considerate & Caring girls and their families remember their manners. Courageous & Strong girls and their families are brave enough to try new things, and learn new skills. Responsible for What I Say & Do girls and their families educate themselves on the rules, and comply with them. Respect for Myself & Others girls and their families demonstrate good sportsmanship. Respect Authority girls and their families accept the decisions of the officials and judges at the event. Use Resources Wisely girls and their families consider the environment when designing their car. Make the World a Better Place girls and their families leave no trace, and take only memories. Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout girls and their families cheer for other Powder Puff Derby participants.
AWARDS The Powder Puff Derby Committee will recognize the fastest car in each of the following divisions: Medals for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Fastest in each level of scouting (Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador). In the event that there are fewer than three scouts registered in any particular level, those scouts will be grouped with the closest level available. Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Overall In addition to this, awards will be given for winners of the following aesthetic categories: Most realistic Most imaginative Most colorful Most unusual Most futuristic Most patriotic Most glitterific Best paint job Best craftsmanship Best use of animal theme Best use of animal theme Best use of food theme Best use of sports theme Best use of pop culture theme Best use of famous character theme Funniest The Uses Resources Wisely Car Scoutiest Winners of speed categories will be withdrawn from the aesthetic competition. All rulings from the judges are final and not subject to dispute.
2017 Powder Puff Derby Rules General 1. The race is open to all District 14 Neighborhood 6 Girl Scouts registered for the 2016-17 school year. 2. Cars must have been made specifically for this race. No car from the previous year, or from another Scout (boy or girl), is permitted in this competition. It must be made by the scout, with help from her family as necessary, and conform to all the current rules and specifications. 3. Registration costs include the derby car kit (wood block, axles, and wheels). 4. Unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or member of the audience could be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area. 5. Any participant (including parents of the participant) has the right to appeal to the race committee for an interpretation of the rules. The race committee (by majority vote) will be the final judge of these rules. 6. A Girl Scout cannot participate in the Powder Puff Derby by proxy. 7. Follow the rules. If you can't pass inspection, your car can't race to win. Cars that do not pass inspection but do not pose a danger to the track or other cars may be permitted to run, but not to participate in the competition. Determinations on this will be made by the race committee, and decisions are final. Length, Width, and Clearance 1. Cars must be built using the materials in the Official Pinewood Derby Kit, which will be distributed to your leader after registration forms have been received. This kit includes the pinewood block, axles, and wheels. Decorative and construction items (weights, glue, lubricants, finishing materials, decals, ornaments) may be used, but any decoration must be permanently affixed to the car. 2. Maximum overall width (including wheels and axles) must not exceed 2 3/4". 3. Minimum width between wheels shall be 1-3/4" so the car will clear the center guide strip. 4. Minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and the bottom of the wheels shall be 3/8" so the car will clear the center guide strip. It is recommended that weights on the bottom of the car be inset so they are flush with the bottom of the wood block. 5. Maximum length of the car shall not exceed 7". 6. Maximum height of the car shall not exceed 5" to clear the finish timing gate. 7. The wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles) may not be changed from the original kit placement. 8. Cars may not protrude beyond the starting post. 9. All four wheels must touch the track and roll freely during inspection. 10. Avoid car designs with a wide nose instead of a narrow nose to ensure consistent timing. The sensor is in the center of each lane, and is triggered when the car blocks the light from reaching the sensor.
Weight and Appearance 1. Weight of the car shall be a minimum of 4.5 ounces (127.5 grams), but must not exceed 5 ounces (141.7 grams). The readings of the Official Race Scale will be considered final. The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the addition of wood or metal only, provided it is securely built into the body or firmly affixed to it. No loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car. 2. Mercury shall not be used for adding weight. It is a potential health hazard. 3. Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, exhaust, decals, painting, and interior details are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications. 4. Cars with wet paint will not be accepted. Wheels and Axles 1. Only the official Scout Grand Prix wheels and axles can be used. Axles may be polished. Solid axles are strictly prohibited. 2. Wheels may be lightly sanded to remove the mold projection on the tread. This light sanding is the only wheel modification allowed. Beveling, tapering, excessive sanding, wafering, rounding, lathe turning, etc., of the wheels is prohibited. 3. Wheel bearings, washers, or bushings are prohibited. 4. Car shall not ride on any type of springs. 5. Cars must be freewheeling with no starting device or other propulsion. Lubrication 1. Only dry powdered lubricants, such as powdered graphite, may be used. Krytox, XOil, Nyoil, and similar liquid lubricants are NOT allowed. Regular oils and silicon sprays may soften the plastic wheels, and/or may damage the track, and are therefore prohibited. 2. Cars may be lubricated only before inspection.
1. Cars will be inspected during registration on race day. Car Check-In 2. Scouts must bring their car in a shoe box or similar container so that they can be safely stored and handled between check in and race time. It is recommended that the scout use a towel, bubble wrap, or other packaging material inside the box to cushion the vehicle and minimize movement. Do not wrap the vehicle in any kind of protective covering. 3. Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Team before it may compete. The Inspection Team has the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet these rules. Car owners will be informed of any violations and given an opportunity to modify the car to meet these rules. Cars that fail initial inspection may be modified and checked-in again before the close of Check-In. 4. After passing inspection, cars will be turned over to the race committee until after all races are final. 5. Each car will be given a number. No names that could indicate who built the car will be allowed on the visible areas of the car. The Race 1. Only race officials and designated volunteers will be permitted in the track area. This rule will be strictly enforced. 2. All cars will be randomly raced in heats. All cars will run once in each of all six lanes. Lowest total time will be the winner. 3. If a car suffers a mechanical problem during a heat (loses an axle, breaks wheel, etc.), the participant or a designated adult will have up to five minutes to fix the car. The heat will be rerun. The Race Judges will inspect the car before the heat is rerun to ensure it still meets technical requirements. 4. If a car suffers a mechanical problem after a heat, the participant or a designated adult will have five minutes or until its next scheduled heat to fix the car. The heat will not be rerun. The Race Judges will inspect the car before the heat is rerun to ensure it still meets technical requirements. 5. If a car jumps off the track and enters the other lane interfering with the competitor s car, but not leaving the track, the heat will be rerun. If the car does not interfere with the competition or leaves the track completely, the car will automatically move to the losers box. If a car jumps off the track twice the car will be automatically disqualified. A note to our Girl Scout participants: This is your Powder Puff Derby - HAVE FUN! You gain experience as you design and build your car. (You might have to remind your parents that this is your car and you want it done your way. The Judges will be able to tell your work from theirs. Your parents are to help you build it, not build it themselves.) Remember to be a good sport. You are a winner just for entering the Powder Puff Derby!