SAMOSET COUNCIL

MUSHKODANY DISTRICT

OFFICIAL PINEWOOD DERBY RULES

MISSION STATEMENT
It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and in other ways
prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential.
In an effort to provide uniformity among the Cub Scout Packs of the Mushkodany District holding Pinewood Derby Races, the
following set of guidelines and specifications have been adopted. Since these rules and specifications will be enforced at the
District Pinewood Derby Race, it is strongly suggested that they be implemented and adhered to at the pack Pinewood Derby
Races. The Inspection Committee holds the right to disqualify any car not meeting these rules and specifications. THE
DECISION OF THE INSPECTION COMMITTEE IS FINAL. Since this race is a fun event, the Cub Scout should be
given the satisfaction of building his own car from the kit with guidance and minimal assistance from the parent or other
responsible party.
CAUTION: Please read over all of the attached instructions and rules before you begin. The rules will be uniformly enforced
regardless of knowledge of them.
EVENT CHAIRMAN'S NOTE: The purpose of this event is to provide our Cub Scouts with an opportunity to do three
things: to design their own racing vehicle to meet certain specifications; to build that same race vehicle from the resources
provided in the standard kit; and to race that vehicle against other Cub Scouts who have followed the same rules. Any abuse of
these basic rules is considered unworthy of a Cub Scout with regards to fairness and honesty. Please participate in this spirit.
1. DISTRICT QUALIFYING SPECIFICATIONS
A. There are no restrictions as to how many Scouts may represent their Pack.
B. Participants should wear the official Cub Scout shirt and neckerchief or Tiger Cub shirt in order to participate. Each pack
is asked to help Scouts in meeting this uniform requirement.
C. Each Cub Scout must register his own car in person. Parents will not be allowed to register any cars.
D. A Cub Scout may race his car and only his car. Cars must be a newly constructed car for this year. Pinewood cars
constructed in previous years or raced in other years are not allowed in this race.
2. BUILDING SPECIFICATIONS
A. Protests: ONLY CUB SCOUTS MAY PROTEST AN INSPECTION COMMITTEE DECISION. ANY PROTEST
MUST BE TO THE CHAIRMAN PRIOR TO THE START OF THE FIRST RACE. PROTESTS WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED AFTER RACING STARTS.
B. Car Components: Only the official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit and parts in it may be used with the
exception of the wheels. This includes: the wood block and the nails. BSA approved color wheels are acceptable.
C. Width: Overall width of the car, including wheels, shall not exceed 2 3/4 Inches.
D. Length: Overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 Inches. (It may be necessary to remove some wood from the stock).
E. Special: The front end of the car needs to be flat at least 1/4" wide in the center of the vehicle to accommodate the track
starter mechanism.
F. Weight: Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces. No loose material or liquid of any kind is permitted in the car. The car may be
hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the addition of wood or metal provided it is securely built into the
body (not taped on). NO WEIGHT may be added after the car is registered. DO NOT ADD WEIGHT PLATES
BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE WOOD BLOCK AS THEY WILL CATCH ON THE TRACK.
G. Wheel Bearings: Wheel bearings, washers, bushings and hub caps are prohibited. THESE WILL BE INSPECTED
PRIOR TO RACE.
H. Springs: The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
I. Details: Details such as steering wheels, driver, decals, painting and interior design are permissible as long as these details
do not exceed the maximum weight, length and width of the car and are permanently attached.
J. Attachments: The car must be free-wheeling with no starting devices [magnets, motors, etc.]

K. Wheels: Do not turn down or machine the wheels narrower than they are now. Wheels may be lightly sanded to remove
the glaze and the thin ring around the outside of the wheel. The basic appearance of the face of the wheel may not be
changed. The raised letters "BSA PINEWOOD DERBY" must be seen. The contact area of the wheel must be at least
5/16 wide and flat. Do not turn down or machine the inside of wheels including hub and sidewall area. The letters BSA
must be seen on the inside of wheels. Excessive wobble of the wheels is not acceptable if it changes racing contact area.
No lathed wheels.
L. Axles: Use only the nails in the official kits for the axles. Axles must not be canted. (No Rail-Rider speed axles.)
THEY MUST BE LEVEL. In order to fit the wheel on the nail and have it spin smoothly, all burrs must be removed from
the nail. Sandpaper, emery cloth or a small file will do this. Dry graphite is the only type of lubrication allowed between
the nails and the wheels.
M. Wheelbase: You may use the grooves in the wood block as received in the OFFICIAL GRAND PRIX PINEWOOD
DERBY CAR KIT or you may drill your own axle holes so they are within the maximum and minimum wheelbase
dimensions. It is not required that all 4 wheels be touching the racing surface. Wheelbase dimension is 4 -1/8" minimum
to 4 7/8" maximum.
N. Height (track clearance): The construction of a Pinewood Derby Track is made so that the cars are kept in lanes by a lane
strip which measures 1/4 Inch high and 1 5/8 inches wide. Using the wood axle guides on the wood block as they are
furnished should give your car the proper 3/8 inch clearance. If drilling your own axel holes, please make sure that your
car will meet the clearance requirement. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES WILL CAUSE THE CAR
TO DRAG OR STOP ON THE LANE STRIPS.
3. RACING SPECIFICATIONS
A. Lube 'N Shine: Any and all repairs, alterations, graphite application, etc., must be completed in the designated area
identified as "Lube 'N Shine ". Any cars needing repairs after the race has started (wheel replacement) must use this same
area. An adult must accompany the Scout to this area and help with the repairs. NOTE: ADDING GRAPHITE TO
WHEELS CAN ONLY BE DONE IN THIS AREA.
B. Inspection: Each car will be inspected by the Official Rules Committee before it may qualify. The inspection will include
weigh-in, measurement of length of car and axle spacing and an overall look at the car. The Rules Committee has the right
to disqualify any car that falls to meet the building specifications. Cars that have problems can correct the situation so they
can register.
C. Lubrication: Lubrication will not be allowed after inspection or during the races.
D. Pit Area: Cars will go directly from the registration to the pit area and be held there until the race begins. After each race,
the Cub Scout must return his car to the pit area until called to race again. Failure to do so will disqualify him from the
race.
E. Derby Race: Only those Cub Scouts who have been called to race and race officials will be allowed in the race area
during the race. When a Cub Scout has finished a heat he is to return to the finish area until he is called again.
F. Track Jumping: If a car jumps the track during a race it will be rerun one time. If the car jumps the track a second time in
the same lane, the race order will be adjusted to put the cars in different lanes. If cars continue to jump the track from a
specific lane, that lane will be removed from competition.
G. Lost Wheel: If a car loses a wheel during the races, the Cub Scout will be accompanied by one responsible adult and a
member of the Rules Committee to the repair area to replace the wheel for later races.
4. DERBY RACING FORMAT
The derby will be run on a cumulative time format. Each derby contestant will race two times in each lane having their times
recorded by the computer. After racing is complete, the top 4 (four) overall finishers will compete in the finals. The final race
will be run in the same manner.
Awards will be given to the top finisher in each den as well as the Grand Champion.