Pinewood Derby Rules

Wheels

Only official Boy Scout Grand Prix racing wheels are allowed.  All four wheels must be used.  Only the wheels of a pinewood car may touch the surface of the track and the associated lane guide.

ALLOWED: 

·         You can remove the burrs from the wheels. 

·         You can correct the wheel hubs and axle openings using hand tools and jigs. 

·         You can uses official colored wheels (Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue or the original Black) as long as they are official “BSA Pinewood Derby” wheels. 

·         You don’t have to have all 4 wheels touch the track.

·         You don’t have to use the pre-cut slots to install the axle and wheels.

NOT ALLOWED: 

·         Thinning the wheel.  Lathe-turning the wheel.  Reducing the weight.  Making holes.  Basically, machining the wheels in any way.

·         Altering the tread.

          EXAMPLES OF ILLEGAL WHEEL TREADS

Avoid buying expensive specialty wheels whose modifications are “imperceptible” because they will not qualify for the race.

At the San Diego 500, this is one of the most common causes of disqualification.  Please do not be overzealous in sanding the wheels because it may get your car inadvertently disqualified.

Axles

·         Only official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby metal “nail” type axles are permitted.

·         No wheel bearings, washers, bushings. 

·         Paper hubcaps may be used but the head ends of the axles must be available for inspection at the time of the check in.

·         They do not need to be put into the precut slots.

·         Axles may be polished.  They may not have a permanent coating.

Lubricants

·         Allowed:  Dry lubricants such as graphite or BSA “Axle Lube.”

·         Not allowed: Oil or wet lubricants.  (No NyOil, Krylox, etc)

Weights

Please do not bring in a car over the weight limit.  It is difficult to remove weight once the car is done.  Drilling holes into the wood to remove weight will result in sawdust getting into the wheels and a ruined paint job. 

Consider bringing in the car slightly underweight (4.9oz) with a pre-cut space to put additional weights.  Then when you weight the car, you can put additional weight onto the scale until you get to the number you need and then you can glue it in and then submit the car for inspection.  Please bring your own spare weights and glue. 

Other

·         No springs or other suspensions

·         The car must be freewheeling.  That means no propulsion to aid in the motion of the car. (No jets, rubber bands, magnets, hooks, adhesives, springs, motors, voodoo, etc.)

·         Decorative Details:  Go ahead and add decorative details to your car.  Just be sure that they are secured to the body or chassis and do not exceed the maximum sizes listed above.

·         Many tools, car parts, and processes are available to help the Cub Scouts create his derby car.  Most of these are legal and may be used.  However, please be aware that some tools or parts may create a car that is too heavy or wheels that are no longer legal. 

·         No projectiles.  No part of the car may interfere with another car.

·         No movable or liquid weights that shift the center of gravity.

·         It is okay to use electronics which do not propel the vehicle.  For example, LED lights, microprocessors, batteries, etc. 

·         No cars where the wheel rides on top of the center guide strip.

·         No loose pieces that are designed to intentionally fall off during a race.

Inspection

Each car will be weighed (must be 5 oz or less) and inspected by the official inspection team the day before the competition.  The inspection team may disqualify any car that cannot meet the racing specifications.  A work area with limited tools will be provided to make adjustments to cars to help them comply.  You may have to take it home if substantial changes are required. 

Once a car is checked in, it will be impounded.  No further lubrication, adjustment, or work may be performed afterward.  This includes the race day.

Race Day Rules

·         One car per scout.

·         Heats may be rerun at the discretion of race officials (ie. fouled track, broken car, etc.).  Wheel or axle repair may be done if the fix can be made in less than 5 min.  Any trim that falls off during the race may not be replaced. 

·         If a car jumps the lane once or fouls the track, the race will be rerun.  If that same car interferes a second time, then it is disqualified.

·         Unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant will be grounds for expulsion from the race area and elimination.

·         Any racer that re-lubricates his car, adds weights to his car, or otherwise alters his car on race day will be disqualified.

·         Any racer (or parent of a racer) may appeal to the race committee for an interpretation of these regulations.