"Rules Of The Road" -- General Rules (Den cars and Cub Scout cars)

GENERAL: (Applies to all classes)

G-1. Essential Materials: All cars entered shall be constructed from the Official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit (referred to below as the kit) as sold by the Scout Service Center. (Kits may be purchased elsewhere if they are of the exact type specified above.)

G-2. Competitor Categories: Competitors will compete with others in the same class.

G-3. Attendance: Only the Cub Scout may enter his car or cars. This means that the Cub Scout must be present to enter his car into competition.

G-4. "New Work": Construction of entries must not have begun before the previous year's Pinewood Derby Races.

G-5. "Inspection and Entry": The inspection judges at race-day check-in are responsible to evaluate each car's adherence to the technical standards and eligibility. Cars will be turned in for weighing and inspection before competition begins. Once turned in, the car must stay on the staging table until competition is complete. No more car preparation of any kind is allowed after car is weighed, inspected, and accepted.

G-6. "Construction": Accessories, body finish, decoration, etc are allowed. Creativity is encouraged. Cars shall be prepared as a boy/parent project (ideally together). The boy should be allowed to do as much of the preparation work that he is able to do. When working with tools, parents must approve what the boy can safely handle.

G-7. "Emergency Repairs": Emergency repairs will be allowed if approved by the committee. Generally a 5 minute limit will be placed on such repairs.

Qualification: All registered Cub Scouts (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos I and Weblos II)

Entry Fee: None (Derby kits are provided by the Pack)

S-1. Material: Race cars shall be constructed for this event from the parts contained in the Official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit (referred to below as the kit) as sold by the Scout Service Center. Materials from the kit may be supplemented but not replaced.

S-2. Weight: Race cars may weigh no more than five (5) ounces (total weight) as determined on the official scales during race day inspection.

S-4. Size: Race cars may be no longer than 7 inches, nor wider than 2 3/4 (2.75) inches, nor taller than 3 inches, as determined by the official gages during race day 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. Adequate clearance is the responsibility of the race car builder.)

S-5. Weights and Attachment: Weight may be added to the car and will be considered part of the car for purposes of all measurements. "Weights" are considered to be any material or decorations 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.

S-6. Wheels: Wheel treatment (hub and tread smoothing and polishing) is allowed but the words "Official B.S.A. Made in U.S.A." and other lettering on the wheels shall remain intact and clearly visible to the inspector.

S-7. Gravity Powered: The race car 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.)

S-8. Lubricants: Only dry powdered graphite is to be used as a lubricant on the car.

S-90. Staging: The entire car must stage behind the starting line.

S-10. Body: The car body may have no moving parts.

S-11. Unacceptable Construction: The following may NOT be used in conjunction with the wheels or axles: washers, inserts, sleeves, bearings. Furthermore, The following car enhancements are PROHIBITED: A. Springs B. Starting devices or propellants C. Liquids, wet paint, oil, sticky substance, or powders of any kind (other than axle lubrication) D. Glass or excessively fragile parts E. Wheel bearings F. Loose objects on car G. Magnets.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT LUBRICATE YOUR CAR INSIDE THE RACING FACILITY. DO THIS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING PRIOR TO CHECKING IN AT REGISTRATION. THE GRAPHITE WILL STAIN THE FLOORS AND CARPETS.

Disqualifying Rules

The Pack 466 Pinewood Derby Officials will disqualify any car that does not comply with ALL of these rules. If a car is disqualified, the Scout will be allowed to race the car during the "Elimination" phase of the races, but an official time will not be kept and the Scout will not be able to advance to the "Championship" phase of the races.

During any race, if a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car or suffers any mechanical problems, the racer will be given a chance to repair the car, no times will be recorded and the race will be re-run. If the same car causes interference or breaks down again, the race will be re-run but without the offending car.

Any dispute of these rules with regard to a specific car’s eligibility to race in the Pack 466 will be decided upon by no less than three members of the Pinewood Derby Committee. The Committee’s decision will be final.

RACE Rules for Open Modified Class

Qualification: Parents, Leaders, Den Chiefs, and Alumni of Pack 466

Entry Fee: None (cars are available at scout shop) PWD Crew may have extras at $5/each

M-1. Material: Race cars shall be constructed for this event based on the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit (referred to below as the kit) as sold by the Scout Service Center. Materials from the kit may be substituted or replaced. No metal should contact with the track at any time.

M-2. Weight: Race cars may weigh no more than nine (9) ounces (total weight) as determined on the official scales during race day inspection.

M-3. Wheels and Axles: There must be at least four wheels on the car, however, it is not required that all four wheels make contact with the track surface. Wheels must be constructed of plastic, rubber, polyurethane or other non-metal material. Wheel hubs may be made of metal, but may never come in direct surface contact with the track.

M-4. Size: Race cars may not interfere with cars in the other lanes. (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. Adequate clearance is the responsibility of the race car builder.) The wheel base (axel to axel distance) can be modified.

M-5. Weights and Attachment: Weight may be added to the car and will be considered part of the car for purposes of all measurements. 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.

M-6. Wheels: Wheel modification of any kind is allowed. Wheels do not have to be from the kit.

M-7. Lubricants: Lubricants must be dry at the time of inspection and racing.

M-8. Staging: The entire car must stage behind the starting line.

M-9. Body: Any moving parts on the body of the car must be securely fastened so they do not come off during the race.

M-10. Prohibited Items: The following items are PROHIBITED:

A. Liquids, wet paint, oil, sticky substance, or powders of any kind (other than axle lubrication) B. Flammable propellants (No flames!). C. Glass or excessively fragile parts. D. Anything deemed unsafe or potentially damaging to the track.

Commercial Sites

Where to Buy PWD Building Supplies note: PWD items not listed on websites. You must visit brick and mortar store

Other Resources (FREE)

Pinewood Derby speed secrets by David Meade ; with illustrations by Troy Thorne.

Pinewood Derby designs & patterns by Troy Thorne.

These websites are for informational purposes only. No endorsement of products or building tips is implied

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