2009

“Rules Of The Road”

Eligibility: All registered Cub Scouts, from Tiger Cub to Webelos II

All cars must be newly built after September 1, 2009 using the materials in the Official Pinewood Derby Racing Car Kit (part# 17006) or the Official Wheel/Axle Kit (part# 17007).

Cars must be built by the Scout and his adult partner. With the exception of decorative and construction items (weights, glue, lubricants, etc.) only materials from the official kit may be used.

Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it will be allowed to compete. The Inspection Committee has the responsibility to disqualify those cars that do not meet these specifications, please do not put us in a position of having to disqualify a car

Any dispute of these rules with regard to a specific car’s eligibility to race in the race will be decided upon by no less then three members of the Pack 191 Pinewood Derby Committee. The Committee’s decision will be final.

The official race scale is considered the final say on the car weight

If a car leaves its lane, at his sole discretion, the track chairman may inspect the track and, if a track fault is found to have caused the initial violation, the track chairman may order the race to be rerun after the track is repaired.

If, during a race, no car reaches the finish line on the track, the car which went the farthest in its lane shall be declared as the heat winner.

If, during a race, a car leaves its lane and, in so doing, interferes with another racer, the race will be rerun

If a car suffers any mechanical problem, the racer will be given a chance to repair the car, on location, prior to racing, the car will be re-weighed

Speed Competition Car Specifications

The maximum length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.

The maximum width (including wheels and axles) shall not exceed 2-3/4 inches.

The maximum height shall not exceed 3 inches.

The maximum weight of the car shall not exceed 141.7 grams; this is the same as 5 ounces. The official weight of the car will be determined by using the official scale and will be measured in tenths of a gram.

The minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and the bottom of the wheels shall be at least 3/8 of an inch; this will ensure that the car will clear the center guide strip.

The minimum width between the inside surfaces of the wheels shall be 1-3/4 inches, this will ensure that the car will clear the center guide strip.

Items such as steering wheels, model drivers, spoilers, decals, painting and other details are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, height and weight specifications.

Loose materials of any kind are not permitted on the car.

The car or any part of the car may not extend beyond the starting pin.

Only dry lubricants such as graphite or powdered Teflon "white lube" will be allowed for lubricating the wheels and must be applied prior to weigh in. Lubricants may not foul the track.

Examples of modifications that Are Allowed

Extending the wheelbase of the car by drilling new axle’s holes.

Truing the wheels round by sanding or lathing. Be careful not to reduce the wheel diameter or round the tread face. The tread must remain flat.

Removal of material from the inside of the wheel that does not effect the outside diameter or reduce the original width of the tread.

Removing the pinch marks and mold ridges on the axles by sanding and polishing the axles.

Example of Modifications Not Allowed

Hobby Shop parts such as Pinecar precut car bodies, Pinecar axles, Pinecar wheels, axle tubes, bearings and springs are strictly prohibited.

Axles that are not supplied by BSA in the original car kit or BSA wheel/axle kit.

Axles may not be angled in the car body slots/holes that would cause the wheel not to run flat to the surface of the track.

Axles may not be modified to the point that breakage could occur during the race.

The Axle head diameter may not be reduced.

No part of the car, including wheels, may extend past the front or rear of the car body.

The body of the car, the wheels or any attachment must not extend beyond the starting gate. The front of the car must not be smaller then 3/8 inch in width or a cutout notch. Attachments must not have the effect of a starting or accelerating device

At least three (3) wheels must remain in contact with the track at all times.

The car shall not ride on any type of springs and the car must be free wheeling with no starting device or other propulsion.

Wet lubricants such as oils, silicones or waxes are prohibited. Use only a Graphite or Graphite/Moly Lubricant.

Old Style BSA wheels are no longer allowed. These wheels are not in the current Official BSA kits and are no longer approved by BSA.

The wheel diameter cannot be reduced past the ridge (rippled) edge and the ridge (rippled) edge must remain intact on the entire wheel.

Wheel treads may not be rounded, tapered, grooved, shaped or positioned at any angle.

Wheel treads must run flat against the track surface.

Beveling, tapering, grooving or reducing the tread width of the wheels is strictly prohibited. Wheel bearings, washers or bushings are also prohibited.

Removal of any material from the wheel sidewalls or face is not allowed, you may not drill out your wheels, spokes or hole for axles

The front outside wheel sidewalls & face must remain intact. All Wheels must have the “BSA” “Pinewood Derby” on the sidewall completely intact. Anything else will result in disqualification.

Additional items such as wheels bearings, washers, bushings, Wheel and Hub covers are also prohibited.

Design Competition Car Specifications

Cars entering the Design Competition must be newly built (after September 1st, 2009). The car must meet all of the requirements stated in the Rules of the Road for the Speed Competition with the exceptions of the length, height and weight requirements.

Helpful Websites on Building Derby Cars

Non-Commercial Sites

Scouting the Net

http://www.scoutingthenet.com/derby

Scout-o-Rama

http://www.scoutorama.com/derby

USScouts.org Project

http://usscouts.org/usscouts/pinewood.asp

Pinewood Derby Mania

http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/pinewood.html

Ol’ Buffalo Pinewood Derby Car Page

http://www.three-peaks.net/pinecar.htm