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Cub Scout Pack 501
(Greenfield, Wisconsin)
 
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Pinewood Derby rules


OFFICIAL

 

PACK  501

 

PINEWOOD  DERBY

 

EVENT  RULES

 

AND  PROCEDURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                  Table of Contents:

 

                         I.      GENERAL: (Applies to all Race Events)

 

        Rules about entering your car.

 

 

 

II.     RACE CAR DESIGN STANDARDS

 

        Rules about building your car.

 

III. CONDUCT OF THE RACES

 

        Rules that will be used during the races

 

IV.   SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL CONCERNED

 

        Some notes on Sportsmanship!


 

 

I. GENERAL RULES: (Applies to all Race Events)

G-1. Qualification: All registered Pack 501 Scouts may design, build and enter cars that are eligible to participate in the event.  We highly encourage the kids to do most of the work whenever possible.

 

 G-2. Essential Materials:  All cars entered shall be constructed from the "Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit" as distributed at the December Pack meeting.  Additional supplies, i.e:  paints, decals, lubricants... may be purchased from such stores as Greenfield News & Hobby (68th and Layton.  Phone:  281-1800) and Michael’s Arts & Crafts (28th & Loomis.  Phone 647-1711)

 

 G-3. Fee:  There will be no fee to register a car.

G-4. Inspection and Registration:  Each car must pass a technical inspection before it may compete. Technical inspection and registration of cars takes place prior to the race.

G-5. Failure to Pass Inspection:  The Inspection Committee shall disqualify cars which do not meet the rules as described herein. If a car does not pass inspection, it may be repaired on-site prior to the scheduled race that evening.

G-6. Impound:  No car may be altered in any way after it has been registered.  After a car passes registration, it will be held by the Pinewood Derby Holding Area until the race.  To avoid any potential damage, the cars can only be handled when a Scout’s heat has been called.  It must be returned immediately after each heat.

G-7. Race-Day Rules Interpretation:  On Race-Day, the Scout must take all questions of rules interpretations and procedures to Race Officials promptly.  Once awards are handed out, it is final.  All decisions of the Pinewood Derby Chairman are final.

 

 II. RACE CAR DESIGN STANDARDS

 

 T-1. Material:  Race cars shall be constructed for this event from the parts contained in the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit.

 

 T-2. Weight:  Race cars may weigh no more than five (5) ounces (total weight) as determined on the official scales during the pre-race check-in.  TIP:  If during construction, you want to get a sense for how much your car weighs, you can take it to any area Post Office.  They are usually quite accommodating.

 

 T-3. Wheels and Axles:  The car shall roll on the wheels from the kit or BSA approved wheels. (colored) The wheels shall turn about the axle nails from the kit. The axle nails shall be firmly affixed to the wood of the car body.  A note about the “axle grooves:”  If the pre-cut axle grooves are not square, you may cut new grooves, BUT they must be spaced the same distance apart and in the same position on the body as the original grooves.

 

 T-4. Size:  Race cars may be no longer than 7 inches, nor wider than 2-3/4 inches, as determined by the official gages during the Registration and Inspection. Underside clearance of at least 3/8 inches and inside wheel to wheel clearance of at least 1-3/4 inches is recommended, so that the car will run on the race track.  Adequate clearance is the responsibility of the race car builder.

 

 T-5. Weights and Attachment:  Weight may be added to the car and will be considered part of the car for purposes of all measurements. "Weight" is considered to be any material on the car that is not provided in the kit.

T-6. Wheel Treatment:  Wheel treatment (hub and tread smoothing and polishing) may not result in substantial removal of mass nor in reducing the wheel width from the original kit wheels.  Some of the original "tread marks" on the wheel face must remain intact, i.e. apparent to the inspector. Wheels may not be machined to a beveled condition and the portion of the wheel surface that contacts the track must remain parallel to the axle.

 

 T-7. Unacceptable Construction:  The following may NOT be used in conjunction with the wheels or axles:  hubcaps, washers, inserts, sleeves, bearings.

 

T-8. Gravity Powered:  The race car may not be constructed or treated in such a way that the track's starting mechanism imparts momentum to the car. (For instance, this provision disqualifies cars with sticky substances on the front of the car and protrusions which may catch on the starting pin, or protrusions which extend in front of the starting pin.

 

 T-9. Lubricants:  Only dry lubricants such as graphite or powdered Teflon "white lube" will be allowed for lubricating the wheels.

 

 III. CONDUCT OF THE RACES

 

 Competition will consist of heat races within the Pack, and a series of final heats at the end of the evening.  Track officials are responsible for the proper conduct of the races.

 

 1.  Each boy brings his car to the inspection table to have it inspected and numbered.  The race-day “Pit Stop” area will have the official scale and length box.  That check-in equipment will be the official equipment for the race.

 

 

NOTE:  IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS, ONLY ONE LUBRICATION IS ALLOWED BEFORE REGISTRATION.

 

 2.   After inspection, the boy goes to the registration table where his name and car are entered on the heat schedule.

 

 3.  As each heat is announced, Scouts place their own cars at the starting gate.  Starter will release the gate.

 

 4.  The track has electronics called “Finish Line Sensors” which shall be in alignment with the corresponding starting line pin and be approximately centered in its lane.  The equipment will display results of the race.  Results are final.

 

 5.  At the end of the heat, each racer needs to return his car to the pit area immediately.  Remember, no modifications may be made and additional lubrication is prohibited.

 

6.  If a car leaves the track, runs out of its lane, interferes with another car or loses an axle or other part, it needs to be repaired quickly and will be allowed to re-run the heat.  If it occurs a second time, the car will be considered a third place finisher in that heat.

 

 

SOME “WHAT IFS”

 

 Car Repair (Without Fault):  If during the race, a wheel falls off or the car becomes otherwise damaged, then the SCOUT may, to the best of his ability, perform repairs with the assistance of his adult partner or Pit Crewmember.  Car will be subject to being re-weighed.

 

 Car Repair (With Fault):  If a car is damaged due to track fault or damage is caused by another car or person, then the Chairman, at his sole discretion, may allow additional repair assistance to the Scout.

 

 IV. SPECIAL NOTES TO THE SCOUTS

This project is a parent and son event, and is recommended as such by the National Boy Scouts of America. The Pinewood Derby Committee STRONGLY SUGGESTS that each parent emphasize this idea with their son. In all of the events, we require that the cars be built this year.

 

 Sportsmanship:

 

Two things the Pinewood Derby requires each scout to learn are 1) the craft skills necessary to build a car, and 2) the rules which 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 cool car.

AWARDS:

 

§ 1st, 2nd, 3rd for fastest car in each den

 

§ 1st, 2nd, 3rd, for fastest cars overall in entire Pack!

 

§ Fastest looking car

 

§ Most original design

 

§ Best Scout built car

 

 

 

**Scouts can only win in 1 category.  If a Scout wins in more than 1 category, the Pack committee will determine which category the Scout will receive his award. **