All racers, regardless of race or division, must comply with the following racing specifications which are excerpted from the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit Instructions. Vehicles will be inspected to ensure compliance with these requirements during the Registration process.
Table of Contents
Car Design
The Scout should select and produce a sketch of the car design.
- Very pointed noses are highly discouraged. Cars with pointed front ends are difficult to stage and may not trip the electronic finish line at the point of crossing. This may result in a disadvantage to the racer.
- Indented noses are prohibited. Cars like the one pictured below will “stage” further down the track, and thus are not traversing the same course as other cars.
Car Construction
Essential Materials
All cars entered shall be constructed from the “Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit” (referred to below as the ‘kit’). Each Scout will receive one free kit at a Pack or Den meeting. Participants in the Open Invitational are responsible for purchasing their own kits.
Additional kits, weights, templates, graphite, decals, and paint may be purchased from the Scout Service Center in Butler, Pittsburgh or online. (Kits may be purchased elsewhere if they are of the exact type manufactured by the BSA as specified above. Hobby Express in Cranberry carries a lot of Pinewood Derby Supplies.)
Pre-formed cars
The design and building of a Pinewood Derby car is intended to be a fun activity for adults and a Scout to interact with one another and have a learning experience. Pack 457 STRONGLY ENCOURAGES our members and their families to design and build their cars using the kits provided by the Pack rather than using pre-formed cars purchased from local hobby shops and Internet websites. However, pre-formed cars are considered legal as long as they meet the requirements outlined in this document.
Scout Involvement
The building of a Pinewood Derby car is an adult-Scout endeavor. Scouts are expected to do the majority of the work on the car (depending on their age) but may receive help from a father, mother, older brother/sister, uncle, grandparent, or other adult.
ALL sanding, painting, decal application, or other detailing of the car body shall be done by the Scout. Once the shape of the car body is established it is the Scout’s sole responsibility to finish the car. Guidance by the adult is encouraged, but the actual performance of the work falls to the Scout. Once again, use this opportunity to instruct the Scout on sanding technique, painting skills, etc., but don’t forget to let the Scout do the work!!!
Vehicle Size
The following size and weight requirements must be met to ensure vehicles will travel smoothly down the track without damaging the track, timing system, or other vehicles.
- Width:
- Overall width shall not exceed 2-3/4″.
- Wheels must be a minimum of 1 3/4″ apart (inside measurement).
- Length: Overall length shall not exceed 7″.
- Height: Maximum height shall not exceed 3″.
- Ground Clearance: Vehicles must have at least 3/8″ ground clearance.
Weights and Attachment
- “Weight” is considered to be any material on the car regardless of whether the material is provided in the kit.
- Weights may be added to increase the weight and/or alter the weight distribution of a car as long as the total weight does not exceed the maximum of 5 oz. for the completed car and still fit in the maximum size limits.
- The car may be hollowed out and built up to a maximum weight by the addition of wood or metal only, provided it is securely built into the body.
- 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.
- The car must be free-wheeling with no starting or propulsion devices.
Wheels & Bearings
- The car must have four operational wheels with “Made in USA – BSA” stamped on the inside and usually “BSA – Pinewood Derby” stamped on the outside. Replacement wheels are prohibited unless they meet the official wheel requirements.
- Each wheel MUST turn freely.
- Adults should take the lead in preparing the wheels and axles.
- As noted in the instructions that come with the racer, remove the wheel seams using a drill (electric or hand), a sixpenny finishing nail, and a piece of fine sandpaper glued to a flat block. Let the Scout assist by having him hold the sandpaper (all ages) or the drill (recommended for Webelos only).
- Wheels may be lightly sanded on the wheel seam but do not remove so much material that it slides through the 1.180 OD wheel gauge used at inspection.
- The official BSA wheels have a ring of nubs on the outside sidewall. These nubs MUST BE VISIBLE and ARE NOT TO BE REMOVED. Any cars that have any portion of the nubs removed such that they do not form a continuous ring around the entire wheel will be disqualified.
- Washers, hubcaps, and bushings are prohibited.
- Wheels must have a full surface touching the ground – no grinding the wheels to a point.
Axles
- The axle grooves should be a perfect 90-degree angle to the car body. (Cars with untrue axles tend to steer to one side or the other, causing it to rub up against the side of the lane strip, slowing it down.)
- The wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles, center to center) may not be changed from the kit body distance of 4-3/8″.
- Axles can only be the simple nails that come with the kit or polished aftermarket versions thereof.
- No single, one-piece straight axles are permitted.
- Axles may be lightly filed, sanded and polished to remove imperfections. This light filing, sanding and polishing is the only axle modification allowed. Significant altering of the axles is prohibited.
Axles cannot be bent. - The axles shall be glued into the car so that wheels do not come off during the race
- The axle nails shall be firmly affixed to the wood of the car body in the original ‘axle grooves’ in the supplied wooden block.
- Insert the axles (without the wheels) into the car body to within 1/4″ of the head of the axle. Make sure that the axles are inserted perpendicular to the car body. Gently remove the axles with a pair of pliers by slowly twisting and pulling on each axle.
- Axles must be completely visible from underside of the car.
- It must be obvious to the judges that the grooves, wheels, and the nails from the kit are being used. They cannot be embedded higher in the body. Since the slots must be used,
- Note: If the block slots are distorted, these slots may be corrected before they are used (as described in the booklet that comes with the kit), but a wheelbase of 4-3/8″ (+/- .25 either way) center to center must be maintained.
- Inserts, sleeves, bearings, and springs are prohibited.
Details
Details such as steering wheel, driver, decals, painting, or interior detail are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and height specifications.
Lubrication
- Only dry powdered lubricants, such as graphite or white powder Pinewood Derby Car Lubricant, may be used.
- Wet lubricants, liquids, oils and silicone sprays are prohibited.
- A car may be lubricated before the pre-race inspection and must be lubricated prior to the final weigh-in such that the total weight of the car including lube does not exceed 5 ounces.
- No lubrication is allowed after vehicles are impounded or on Race Day.
Race Day
Rule Enforcement Responsibilities
Race officials are responsible for the proper conduct of the races and strictly enforcing the rules.
The Race Area
The Race Area is the area six feet around the Race Track. Only Race Officials and Participants racing in the current race may enter the track area.
Inspection Gauges
The race-day “Pit Stop” area will have the official scale and length box. That equipment will be the official equipment for the race and used to settle any questions.
Attendance/Uniforms
- Participants must be present at the event to compete unless the individual is sick or actively quarantining due to COVID-19.
- Participants in the Scout-Only Race MUST wear their Class A Uniforms on Race Day to participate. The Class-A uniform includes:
- Lion Scouts: The Lion Scout t-shirt
- All Other Scouts: the Scout shirt, rank appropriate neckerchief, and slide
Competition Tree Placement
- The Scout-Only Race will be conducted in 2 Rounds.
- Round 1: Den Races
- Includes multiple heats where Scouts race against the members of their Den to determine the fastest cars.
- Scouts will race a minimum of four races during Round 1.
- Heats will only contain racers from the same Den.
- Depending on the number of Participants from each Den,
- Den heats will be interspersed.
- Round 2:Grand Finals
- The first, second, and third fastest cars in each Den will race to determine the fastest cars in the Pack
- Round 1: Den Races
- The Open Invitational will be conducted in one Round with multiple heats.
- Each racer will race a minimum of 4 races.
The racing schedule will be determine automatically by the racing software.
Car Handling Responsibility
No one other than the Participant may handle a car after the car has been accepted during Registration.
- In the event that the Participant is sick or actively quarantining due to COVID-19 OR they have physical limitations which prevent them from fully complying with this requirement, the Participant may nominate an designee of approximately the same age who may handle the car on the Participant’s behalf.
- In any case, the Participant shall participate up to his limitations. For example:
- Participating in the race via the live stream while quarantining.
- Accompanying their car from Impound to Race Starter
Lane Assignment
Lane assignments will be made automatically by the automated Racing Software. To equalize differences among track lanes, Participants will race in at least 4 heats to allow their car to race in each lane of the track.
Participants must race their cars in their assigned lanes.
Call to Race
Each heat will begin with the racing Participants being called by name to the Impound to pick up their car. A Participant will have three (3) minutes to report before being disqualified. After retrieving their cars from impound, the participants:
- Take their car to the designated staging area indicated by the colored dot on the floor corresponding to the color of their assigned lane.
- When called up by the Race Starter, the Participant will take their car to the top of the Race Track and will be given time to position it in the lane themselves.
- After positioning their car, the Participant will proceed to the Finish Line and stand on the spot indicated by the colored dot on the floor corresponding to the color of their assigned lane.
- Once all Participants are situated at the Finish Line, they shake hands with their competitors before the race begins.
Participants must return their cars to the Impound between races. Cars that are eliminated may be taken away by their owners.
Conducting a Race Heat
Once all cars are placed and the racing software is ready, a Race Official will trigger the start gate to begin the race. The following rules will be applied for any issues that occur during the race.
- 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 it’s lane and interferes with another car, the race will be re-staged and re-run. If the same car again leaves it’s lane and interferes with another car, that car will be judged to have lost that race, and the race will be re-staged and rerun without that car.
- Track Fault: If a car leaves its lane, the Cubmaster may inspect the track and, if a track fault is found which probably caused the initial violation, the Cubmaster may order the race heat to be rerun after the track is repaired.
- Car Leaves Track: If, during a race heat, a car leaves the track without interfering with its opponent, it shall be considered to have ended its heat at that point.
- Car Repair (Without Fault): If, during the race, a wheel falls off or the car becomes otherwise damaged, then the PARTICIPANT may, to the best of his ability perform repairs without assistance. Application of lubricant (graphite) is not permitted during the day of the race.
- Car Repair (With Fault): If a car is damaged due to track fault, or damage caused by another car or person, then the Cubmaster, at his sole discretion, may allow additional repair assistance to the Participant.
- No Finishers: If no car reaches the finish line on the track during a race heat, the heat will be re-run once. If no cars reach the finish line on the second run of the heat, each car will receive the DNF time assigned by the Race Software and that time will factor into their average time.
Determining Winners
Participants will be racing for the fastest average time in the Round. Participants will race their cars in multiple heats in each Round with the opportunity to race in each of the 4 lanes. The Participant’s times will be automatically averaged by the Race Software with the slowest time being omitted. The Participant’s average finish time in comparison to the other participants will be used to determine the Participant’s final ranking and awards.
Rule Interpretation
Car Design Rules Interpretation
Interpretation of the rules described in this document are at the sole discretion of the Inspector present during the Registration process. (See also Challenging Race Rules Interpretation below).
Challenging Race Rules Interpretation
The Participant must make all questions of rules interpretations and procedures to the Cubmaster or Race Officials promptly (especially on Race Day). Decisions of Race Officials on questions of rules interpretations and procedure may be appealed to the Cubmaster. All decisions of the Cubmaster are final. Decisions of Race Officials on questions of fact (i.e. the result of a specific race) may not be appealed beyond the Cubmaster.