Pack
379 2011 Pinewood Derby
Rules and Specifications
The car shall be newly built for the current
Cub Scouting year. Previous years cars are not allowed.
Your Cub Scout, with some adult
guidance, should build their car in accordance with the basic BSA rules and
those of Pack 379 below.
Car Body: The body of the car should be made
from wood provided in the official B.S.A. Pinewood Derby Kit. Pre carved bodies are discouraged.
Width: Overall width shall not exceed 2.75 inches. The minimum width between
the wheels is 1.75 inches.
This will allow the car to fit on a center
guide track.
Length: Overall length shall not exceed 7.00
inches.
Wheelbase: The Wheelbase must be 4.3” (4 5/16) inches which is as
supplied with the kit.
Ground Clearance: The minimum ground
clearance is 3/8 inches.
No weights are to be suspended beneath the
car unless in a hollowed out section.
(This prevents contact between the car
body and the track during the transition and allows it to compete on a center
guide track.)
Weight:
Weight shall not exceed 5.00 ounces (.3125 lbs) / 141.72 grams. (The Post Office or supermarket will weigh
your car.)
Weights:
Shape: The car may be carved to any desired shape
provided it meets the above specifications. The car can be built up using
additional wood plastic or metal.
Details: Details such as steering wheel,
driver, decals, painting, and adding of material are encouraged as long as
these details are securely attached to the car, and do not exceed the maximum
length, width or weight specification.
Design: Scouts are encouraged to design their
car not only for speed but creativity.
The car can be shaped to look like an animal, army tank, fire engine,
pickup truck etc. Design category awards
are posted. Judging will be on Tech night & announced on race day.
Wheels & Axles: These components are the heart of fair play in this contest. The materials in the kit conform to the basic
specification.
BSA
wheels & axles must be used. No
Exceptions.
Axles: The axles of the car must be from the
official B.S.A. Pinewood Derby Kit or an official Pinewood Derby wheel
replacement kit (Cat. No. P1622A). or BSA high
performance kit. Axles must be firmly
attached to the car. No suspension system of any other type is permitted.
Wheels: The wheels of the car must be from the
official B.S.A. Pinewood Derby Kit or an official Pinewood Derby wheel
replacement kit. Wheels may not be altered except as noted.
- Mold
projection defects on wheel treads may be removed by sanding lightly.
- May not be
crowned, they must be flat, and cannot be narrowed.
- The official
wheel width is 0.415 inches and they must have a flat tread surface of
at least .310”. (5/16”)
- The decorative
dots on the wheel sidewall, or the words
"B.S.A. Pinewood Derby" may not be removed.
- No added
bearings, washers, bushings, or spacers are to be used as part of the
wheel assembly or within the wheel cavities.
- No Wheel
covers are allowed on the inside or outside of the wheel.
- No graphite or
Teflon or other coating is permitted on the exterior flat tread portion
of the wheel.
- All 4 wheels must make full contact
with the track
Lubrication: Only graphite powder
or the BSA dry white lubricant with Teflon may be used to lubricate wheels.
(Warning - other lubricants may damage the plastic wheels and keep them
from turning freely and possibly damage the track.)
Technical
Inspection (Tech Night):
- Each car must
pass inspection by the Official Race Committee on Tech Night before it
may compete.
- Tech Night is
January 7, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Fort Salonga. This is not a Pack Night.
- Bring extra
materiel such as weights and screws or glue so that fine tuning with the
official scale can be made
- The scale used
at the race is the official scale, and all cars must pass weigh-in on the
official scale.
- If, a car does
not pass inspection, the racer will be informed of the problem &
given time to fix it.
- After
Technical inspection the car will be impounded until race day
Race
Conduct: Good sportsmanship
& fair play is expected. The Race will be either double elimination or
Stearns method.
- Cheer for all Scouts.
With your help, they have all worked hard to do their best.
- Any
un-sportsmanlike conduct by the Scout (or parent) will be grounds for
immediate disqualification.
- The race fans-Parents,
Scouts, Siblings, Relatives & Friends
shall not interfere in any way with the conduct of the race or scoring.
- Encroachment
into the race zone marked off by the checkered flags can result in
disqualification.
- There shall be
no interference with the timers or timing table & timing cables
during the race.
- Race officials
will place cars on the track
- Winning
cars will be collected & reinspected at a
later date for the District Derby to be held in April.
- If a person
cannot or does not want to attend the District derby, the next car by
place will be entered.
- Scouts or
siblings of that Scout roaming in the
- The Cubmaster, Assistant Cubmaster
or Derby Committee Chair, may disqualify any car that in their
determination, the car or racer siblings or parents are not in compliance
with the spirit of the Pinewood Derby race.
Decisions Of The Judges Are Final
- Special
Considerations:
Any car that cannot pass inspection and / or is disqualified prior to the
race may be allowed to participate in the events, but will not be eligible
for timed / elimination race awards.
The car may still receive a category award. Do Your Best & Have
Fun
A Sampling of Disqualifying / Altered Wheels
Do Your Best & Have Fun