Derby Rules & Information

The pinewood derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Pinewood derby cars are small wooden models that Cub Scouts make with help from their families. Then they race the cars in competition. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track. Every child can design and build their own "Grand Prix" car to enter in the race.

There will be two divisions this year due to the number of Scouts that will be participating in the race (sorry parents, you won't be racing this year):

• The Scout Derby- Only Cub Scouts (grades K-5th) will be racing in this event
• The Sibling Derby - Scout brothers and sisters through fifth grade can enter their own cars

The Derby is about doing one's best and having fun, so all child participants will be recognized; however, that doesn't mean our race winners won't take home some shiny hardware! Especially the leaders who battle and fudge and manipulate their way to the oh so awesome victory lane for that oh so elusive glass of milk.

The most important values in Pinewood Derby competition are parent/scout participation, good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules. Everyone is responsible for recognizing and encouraging these qualities in addition to traditional racing awards.

Every participating Scout will receive a Pinewood Derby patch or ribbon. Winners will be awarded for the following categories:

• Fastest Overall
• Most Realistic
• Most Creative
• Best Paint Job

The Pinewood Derby is a family project. Please feel free to give guidance and minimal assistance to your child as they build their Pinewood Derby car. This is a chance for your child to be part of a team (parent & child) and to enjoy the spirit of friendly competition with their peers. It's also a time for your Cub Scout to enjoy the satisfaction of building their own car from the kit provided.

A special note to all parents and scouts: Together, please read the following on sportsmanship with your child.

While everyone will be trying to win, it's always a good idea to start out by remembering the Cub Scout Motto, "Do Your Best," and some of the basic ideas behind good sportsmanship. There are two things the Pinewood Derby requires each participant to learn:

1. The craft skills necessary to build a car 
2. The rules that must be followed. 

Even more important, though, is how we act and behave while participating in the Pinewood Derby or any other group activity. This is called sportsmanship. The first thing to remember about sportsmanship is that everyone's skills are a little different. You may be good at something like singing or drawing, but not as good at something else like basketball or computers.

Parents have different skill levels too. This doesn't mean that you are a good person one time and not good another time. You can always be a good person whether or not you have good car-building skills. Remember, you and your friends are individuals first and racers second. This idea is often called having respect for others.
 
The second thing to remember is to follow the rules. Without rules, there would be no Pinewood Derby. You will never know if you are really good at doing something unless you follow the rules. This is often called being honest.
 
The third thing to remember about good sportsmanship, is that there are winners and losers in every competition. You accept this when you choose to compete. There may be times when you win and feel happy, and times when you lose and feel unhappy. Being a winner is easy, and losing is sometimes hard. If you win, you must not brag or gloat. If you lose, you must not feel jealous or bitter.
 
To be a good sportsman, you must be able to say "I did my best" and be satisfied with the results. You must also be able to appreciate and feel happy for someone else when they run a good race or build a neat car.

1. Each car must pass a technical inspection before it may compete. Technical inspection and registration of cars will begin one hour before race time and will end fifteen (15) minutes before race time. **Note: The Race Starter will place the car on the track according to axle location. The back axle is nearest to the end of the car. The front axle is furthest away from the end of the car. This determines the direction the car will race unless the contestant clearly marks "Front" on the car.
2. The Inspection Committee shall disqualify cars which do not meet these rules. If a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason his car did not pass (too long, too heavy, altered wheel base, or the like). Cars which fail the initial inspection may be modified for final inspection and registration. A fifteen minute grace period will be allotted for cars not passing inspection.
3. To enter the race, cars must have passed inspection and be registered by the Final Inspection Deadline of 15 minutes before race time.
4. Under no circumstances will cars be allowed to be altered in any way after it has been registered. Damage repair shall be allowed during the Derby only if it does not delay the race, but no modifications shall be allowed.
5. After passing inspection, no car shall be re-inspected unless repaired after damage in handling or in a race.
6. Unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or spectator will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.

1. Once a car is registered, only race committee personnel will handle the car and no further modification or lubrication to the car will be allowed.
2. Each Scout/sibling may enter only one car in the competition. Several cars may be constructed but only one may be registered and raced per person. Your sibling is not allowed to race your Scout's car. They must make their own (With your help!)
3. The car must have been built during the current year (the school year in which the Derby is held). Cars that have competed in a previous Derby are not permitted.
4. Competition will consist of a full track of cars for each race.  (We have a three lane track.)  The competition committee will determine how to race the cars in the fairest manner possible to determine the fastest cars.
5. 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 automatically lose that race.
6. 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 interfering car will automatically lose that race. A Third race will be run between the remaining two cars to determine the winner.

7. If a car becomes damaged and can be repaired in a reasonable amount of time (5 minutes), the race will be run again. If not, the damaged car will automatically lose that race.

8. Only race officials and scouts participating in the current race may enter the track area. This rule will be strictly enforced. Please help to keep the Scouts and siblings inside the marked areas.

Derby Car Dimension Rules

• The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.
• The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.
• The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.
• The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body so it does not rub on the track.

• Total weight of the car shall not exceed 5 ounces.
• The official race scale that is used at car check-in shall be considered final.
• The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the addition of wood or metal only, provided the material is securely built into the body or firmly affixed to it.

• The official pine wood block must be used. The block may be shaped in any way that is desired.
• Official BSA wheels and included axles must be used. The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded. However you may remove the seams and imperfections from the wheels. The axles may be burred, polished and lubricated.

• Once a car passes inspection and is entered into the race, only race committee members can touch it.
• If the car loses a wheel, or is otherwise damaged, the racer shall have 5 minutes to make repairs.
• 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 rules.
• If you have a question about rules, be sure to ask the Grand-master running the race because they have the final say about what is and isn't legal for that race.

• Axles and wheels shall be only as provided in the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit.
• You MUST use the block of wood provided. Purchasing manufactured "ready to race" bodies is NOT ALLOWED.
• Wheels may be lightly sanded to smooth out molding imperfections on the tread area. This light sanding is the only modification allowed. Beveling, tapering, thin sanding, wafering or lathe turning of the wheels is prohibited.
• Axles may not be altered in any way except for polishing.
• Wheel bearings, washers, bushings, and hub caps are prohibited.
• The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
• The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting device or other type of propulsion.

• No liquids or loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car.
• 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.
• Cars with wet paint will not be accepted.

• Have extra axles and wheels on hand. You never know when your car may be the one dropped by your child as they shows off their handiwork.
• Have a derby tool kit handy. It should include superglue, sandpaper, a drill, extra screws for your weights, extra weights, a small screwdriver. You may not use it, but it will make you the most popular person at the event.
• Transport your car in a shoe box. Dropped cars are unfortunately a too common experience.
• Add LOTS of graphite right before check in.
• Explain to your child that running the car along the floor prior to the race will cause it to lose!