CUB SCOUT PACK 218

OFFICIAL PINEWOOOD DERBY RULES

1)     Length, Width, and Clearance

a.       The maximum overall width (including wheels and axles) shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.

b.      The minimum width between the wheels shall be 1 ¾ inches so the car will clear the center guide strip on the track.

c.       The minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and the track surface shall be 3/8 inch so the car will clear the center guide strip on the track.

d.      The maximum overall length shall not exceed 7 inches.

e.       The wheels may be placed anywhere on the car provided the overall dimension requirements are met.  Wheels may not be designed to ride on the guide strip of the track.

Note:  Some competitions require that the wheel base (the distance between the front and rear axels) not be altered from the kit.  If you think you might enter your car in a counsel sponsored event you may want to leave the wheel base un-altered. 

2)     Weight and Appearance

a.       Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces.  The reading of the official scale will be considered final.  The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the addition of other material, provided the material is securely built into the body or firmly affixed to it.

b.      Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting and interior details are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width or weight specifications.

c.       Cars with wet paint will not be accepted.

3)     Wheels and Axles

a.       Axles and wheels shall be only as provided in the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit.

b.      Wheels may be lightly sanded to smooth out molding imperfections in the tread area.  This light sanding is the only modification allowed.  Beveling, tapering, thin sanding, wafering or lathe turning of the wheels is prohibited.

c.       Axes may not be altered in any way except for polishing.

d.      Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.

e.       Hubcaps may only be installed after the vehicle has been inspected by the inspection committee and before final weigh-in.

f.        The car shall not ride on any type of springs.

g.       The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting device or other type of propulsion.

4)     Lubrication

a.       Only graphite or powdered Teflon “white lube” will be allowed for lubricating the wheels.

b.      There will be a lubrication table set up at the race.

5)     Ground Rules and Competition

a.       The race is open to all scouts registered in this pack, Tiger Cubs to Webelos 2.

b.      Each scout may enter only one car in the Pack 218 competition.  There will be a separate Open Class competition run at the same time; this competition is open to anyone (parents, siblings, etc.).  The Open Class competition is subject to the same rules as the Pack 218 rules.

c.       The car must have been built during the current school year.  Cars that have competed in a previous year are not permitted.

d.      The race will consist of 4 heats.  To equalize the differences among track lanes, each car will race once in each of the four lanes.  The cars will be timed to 1/1000 of a second.  The car with the lowest total time after the four heats will be the winner.

e.       If a car jumps the track, the race will be run again.  If the same car jumps the track a second time, that car will not be allowed to run that race and will be given a 10 second default time.

f.        If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the race will be run again.  If the same car leaves its lane a second time and interferes with another car, the race will be run without the interfering car.  The interfering car will be given a 10 second default time.

g.       If a car becomes damaged and can be repaired in a reasonable amount of time (a few minutes), the race will be run again.  If the car cannot be repaired in a reasonable amount of time then the damaged car will not be allowed to run and it will be given a 10 second default time.

h.       Only Race Officials may enter the track area.  This rule will be strictly enforced.

6)     Inspection and Registration

a.       Each car must pass a technical inspection before it may compete.

b.      The Inspection Committee shall disqualify cars that do not meet these rules.  If a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason the car did not pass (too long, too heavy, altered wheels, etc.).  Cars that fail the initial inspection may be modified to pass the inspection.

c.       To enter the race, the cars must have passed inspection and be registered by the Final Inspection Deadline.

d.      All registered cars will be confiscated by the derby committee until after the races.  No car may be altered in any way after it has been registered (this includes lubrication of the wheels).  Damage repair shall be allowed during the Derby only if it does not delay the race, but no modifications shall be allowed (except lubrication of a damaged wheel only).

e.       After passing inspection, no car shall be re-inspected unless repaired after damage in handling or in a race.

f.        Any participant (including parents of participants) may appeal to the Race Committee for an interpretation of these rules.  By a majority vote, the Race Committee will be the final judge of these rules.  In case of a tie vote, the decision of the Race Committee Chairperson shall be final.

g.       Ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or spectator will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.

7)     Rewards and Recognition

a.       Every participating scout will receive a participation ribbon and a display plaque.

b.      Trophies will be awarded for the first, second, third, and fourth place finishers overall in the Pack 218 competition.

c.       There will also be a trophy for Artistic Design.