Table of Contents I. PURPOSE:... 2 II. GENERAL RULES:... 2 III. CUB SCOUT RACE CAR DESIGN RULES... 3 IV. RACE FORMAT... 4 V. RACE PROCEDURES... 4 1 P age
I. PURPOSE: The rules in this document are meant to further clarify what may or may not be done to each Pinewood Derby Car to ensure each Scout has a fair chance to bring home the Checkered Flag. Remember the focus of this event is NOT to win at all cost, but for each CUB SCOUT to have FUN and to DO HIS / HER BEST while racing the car HE built (not his / her parents) from the materials in the Pinewood Derby Kit. Adults and others should ONLY GUIDE AND HELP. II. GENERAL RULES: (Applies to all Race Events) Qualifications: All youth currently registered in the Cub Scout program may design, build, and enter a car for the Carroll District Championship Pinewood Derby. Cub Scouts may only enter one car. Attendance and Attire: The Cub Scout MUST enter his/her own car. This means that the Cub Scout must be present at the Technical Inspection and Registration to enter his/her car into competition. The scout must also be present for the races as well as the award presentation. Scouts should wear their Class A uniform. "New Work": As a general rule, no previous year cars will be permitted to participate in the race. That means construction of ALL entries MUST have begun after July 1, 2017. Inspection and Registration: Before it may compete, each car must pass a technical inspection to ensure the design rules have been followed (Section II below). Failure to Pass Inspection: The inspectors shall disqualify cars that do not meet the rules as described herein. If a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason his / her car did not pass. The scout will have the opportunity to modify/alter the car (before the technical inspection phase of the race is finished) to meet the inspection requirements. Post Inspection and Registration: Car may not be altered in any way after it has been registered. After a car passes registration/technical inspection, the Cub Scout will place it at the Pinewood Derby Starters Table (the judging table). Note: Unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or spectator will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area. 2 P age
III. CUB SCOUT RACE CAR DESIGN RULES Materials: All race cars that compete in this event shall be constructed from the parts contained in the "Cub Scout Derby Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit" #17006. (referred to below as the Kit). The BSA officially licensed Pinewood Derby Kits by Revell are acceptable for the race but will not be qualified for the Unique Appearance Physical Design competition. Each scout must use the parts in the kit (block of pinewood, axles, and wheels) to build the basic car (this does not include additional weight see Weight and Weights section below). Decals and stickers are permitted (see Attachments and Details below). All car parts and materials must be firmly attached. The only moving parts permitted on the car are the wheels. The car must be freewheeling with no starting devices. Wheels and Axles: The car shall roll on the wheels from the kit. The wheels shall turn about the axle nails from the kit. The axle nails shall be firmly affixed to the wood of the car body. The scout may polish the axle nails if desired. The wheels can be lightly sanded to remove the molding seams on the tread or molding burrs. NO OTHER WHEEL CHANGES ARE ALLOWED. Wheels may not be machined to a beveled condition and the portion of the wheel surface that contacts the track must remain parallel to the axle. Bearings, inserts, sleeves, washers, bushings, or wet lubricants are not allowed. If desired, the scout may change the wheel base (distance between front and rear axles). Wheels CANNOT extend beyond either end of the car (front or rear). The four wheels placed so that the car will straddle the lane guide and maintain contact with the surface of the track. Size (length/width/height): The finished racecar may be no longer than 7 inches, as determined by the official gages during the Registration and Technical Inspection. Underside clearance of at least 3/8 (0.375) inches and inside wheel-to-wheel clearance of at least 1-3/4 (1.75) inches is recommended, so that the car will run on the racetrack. The car cannot be more that 2-3/4 (2.75) inches wide. Adequate clearance is the responsibility of the racecar builder. Weight: Finished racecars may weigh no more than five (5) ounces (total weight) as determined on the official scale during the technical inspection and registration. The weight shown on the official scale is FINAL. Weights: Weight may be added to the car and will be considered part of the car for purposes of ALL measurements. "Weight" is considered to be any material on the car that is not provided in the kit. All weight must be securely fastened to the car, e.g. by permanent glue, nails or screws, but not by "sticky substances", e.g. tape, or tack spray. Weights shall be passive, i.e. non-moveable, non-magnetic, non-electric, non-sticky, etc. Attachments and Details: All attachments and details must be securely fastened to the car, e.g. by permanent glue, nails or screws, but not by "sticky substances", e.g. tape, or tack spray. Attachments and details must be stationary (nonmoving). Details such as steering wheel, driver, decals, painting, and interior details are allowed. The finished car with details and attachments must meet the maximum length, height, width, and weight rules outlined above. Cars with wet paint will not be accepted. 3 P age
Gravity Powered: The racecar may not be constructed or treated in such a way that the track's starting mechanism imparts momentum to the car. (For instance, this provision disqualifies cars with sticky substances on the front of the car and protrusions, which may catch on the starting pin.) The car may not ride on any type of springs (springing). Lubricants: Use dry powdered graphite ONLY for lubricating the wheels/axles. You may not use any other type of lubricant, especially oils and silicone sprays. Lubricants may not foul the track. In the interest of fairness, NO lubrication is allowed once the car passes the technical inspection and registration. There will be no application of graphite inside the building. IV. RACE FORMAT Behavior: GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED OF EVERYONE. Race officials may ask anyone not following the rules to leave. Race format: The Pinewood competition will consist of best time heats and each car will race at least once on all lanes of the track. The fastest car is the one with the lowest total combined time (from the track timer) from racing on all lanes of the track. All cars will race on all the lanes on the track. Track officials are responsible for the proper conduct of the races. The Race Area: Only race officials may enter the track area. This rule will be strictly enforced. Scouts and spectators may not cross the marked off areas. V. RACE PROCEDURES Technical Inspection and Registration: Each scout must bring his/her car to the Inspection Table. If the car fails to meet any of the rules outlined above, the inspectors will inform the scout the exact problem(s). The scout will have the opportunity to modify/alter the car (before the technical inspection phase of the race is finished) to meet the inspection requirements. After inspection, official scorers register the car. Pre-race: Once the car has been inspected and registered, it will be impounded and placed in the Pit Area for judging of non-race awards. Call to Race: Competitors will be announced at the starting line. Car Handling Responsibility: Cub Scouts announced are responsible to present the cars at the starting line for staging and retrieving it from the finish line. The Starter Team will stage cars on the tracks. Car Leaves Lane: If, during a race heat, a car leaves its lane but proceeds down the track in a manner that does not interfere with its opponent, then the race will be called normally. If the car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the race will be re-staged and re-run. If the same car again leaves its lane and interferes with another car, that car will be judged last place (out of the race Den or Pack level), and the race will be re-staged and re-run without that car. 4 P age
Car Leaves Track: If, during a race heat, a car leaves the track without interfering with its opponent, it shall be judged last place (out of the race Den or Pack level). If the car leaves the track and interferes with another car, the race will be re-staged and re-run. If the same car again leaves the track and interferes with another car, that car will be judged last place (out of the race Den or Pack level), and the race will be re-staged and re-run without that car. Car Repair: If, during the race, a wheel falls off or the car becomes otherwise damaged, then the SCOUT may, to the best of his / her ability perform repairs with the assistance of his / her adult partner or Pit Crewmember. The car may not leave the racetrack area. The Scout has 5 minutes to fix the car, or the car shall be judged last place (out of the race Den or Pack level). No Finishers: If, during a race heat, no car reaches the finish line on the track, all the cars in that heat shall be judged last place (out of the race Den or Pack level). Rewards and Recognition: Winners will be recognized with honor, glory, and some GREAT prizes! Racers are recognized as follows: a.) Every participating Scout will receive a pit pass. b.) The car that receives the most votes for winning one of the unique appearance categories of Physical Design, Quality of Finishing, and Creative Theme, are awarded a medallion and/or a pin. c) Trophies will be awarded for the first, second, and third-place speed (based on time) finishers of the race. 5 P age