Pinewood Derby Rules

The car must have been made during the current year (the scouting year (AUG-JUL) in which the derby is held) with the kit that is provided at the November Pack meeting. Car must be made from the Official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit (Official BSA wheels and axles may be used as well) using the following specifications.

LENGTH, WIDTH, & CLEARANCE

• Car cannot be more than 2 ¾” wide (including wheels and axles) or 7” long
• Overall car height shall not exceed 3” from the ground
• In order to clear the center guide strip of the track the minimum width between wheels shall be 1 ¾” and minimum clearance between bottom of car and track shall be 3/8”
• If desired, you may change the wheel base (the distance between the front and rear axles)
• WEIGHT AND APPEARANCE
• Weight shall not exceed five (5) ounces
• The reading of the official race scale will be considered final
• The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the addition of wood or metal only
• All items must be securely built into the body or firmly affixed to the car
• No liquids or loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car
• All weights shall be passive – non-moveable, non-magnetic, non-electric, etc.
• The forward most edge of the car must be ¾” (.75 inch) wide in order to rest against the rear of the starting gate pin (in center of its lane). If the front of the car is pointed and doesn’t meet this measurement, the car will race with the rear end becoming the front. If the rear end is also less ¾” of an inch, the car will not race.
• The forward most edge of the car must be the one piece wood block from the Official BSA Pinewood Derby Kit. No devices which allow a faster start are permitted.
• Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting and interior details are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the above mentioned specifications
• The car body must not have any moving parts
• Cars with wet paint will not be accepted

WHEELS AND AXLES

• Official BSA axles and wheels must be used
• All 4 wheels must touch the ground
• Wheels may be lightly sanded to smooth out molding imperfections in the tread area only
• Beveling, tapering, thin sanding, wafering, or lathe turning of the wheels is prohibited
• No reduction in the width, diameter, or shape is allowed
• Axles may not be altered in any way except for filing of the nub at the head of the nail and polishing
• The front edge of the wheels must be behind the nose of the car (100% of the car behind starting peg)
• Wheel bearings, washers, bushings and hubcaps 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

LUBRICATION

• Use dry powered lubricants ONLY
• You may not use any other lubricant, especially oils and silicone sprays since they may soften the plastic parts and/or damage the surface of the track
• No graphite may be applied once the car has been registered. Scouts will be allowed to lubricate their cars before the championship round.

THE PINEWOOD DERBY RACE RULES AND PROCEDURES 

• Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Team before it may compete. The inspection team has the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet these rules. Car owners will be informed of violations and may modify the car to meet these rules provided that the car can pass all the rules before the closing time for registration.
• No one is allowed to touch any car on the “pit” table once the car is registered, inspected and weighed.
• Scouts may only handle their car again if there is a need to make repairs to the car as allowed in the rules.
• If a car jumps off the track, the heat will be run again. If the same car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.
• If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again. If the same car leaves its lane a second time and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again without the interfering car. The interfering car will automatically lose the heat. 
• If a car suffers a mechanical problem, loses an axle, breaks a wheel, etc., and a repair can be accomplished (if it is still in the race) it will be allowed to be repaired and continue. Damage repair shall be allowed during the Derby only if it does not delay the race for more than five (5) minutes. No modifications shall be allowed. The Official Inspection Team reserves the right to inspect and/or reweigh the car before proceeding. Damage must be evident to race officials. Repair is one-time only.
• Only race officials may enter the track area.
• Ungentlemanly and unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or member of the audience will be grounds for dismissal from the competition and/or race area.
•  The top three (3) winners from each bracket/rank are eligible to race in the finals. The final championship race will be the last race of the day unless there is an exhibition event.
• Awards will be presented at the completion of all races. Additional recognition will be awarded based on creativity, workmanship and funniest.
• Any participant has the right of appeal to the Pinewood Derby Committee for an interpretation of these rules. The Pinewood Derby Committee, by majority vote, will be the final judge of these rules and their interpretation. In case of a tie vote, the decision of the Pinewood Derby Committee Chairperson will be final.

Please remember that the scouts, not the parents, should be making the most significant contribution to the creation of their pinewood derby car. The most important values in Pinewood Derby competition are parent/scout participation, good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules.

 

ALL RULES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED

 

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!