First United Methodist Church of Mechanicsburg
135 West Simpson Street
Saturday, January 11, 2004
PRELIMINARY CAR INSPECTION
An optional preliminary inspection will be available Friday evening, January 9,
from 7:00 to 8:30 PM for any scout wishing to ensure that his car meets
specifications. We highly recommend this. Each scout will be
allowed one trial run Friday evening. Official race weigh-in and inspection
will be Saturday morning. AThere is no alternative snow date. We
will race snow or shine. If there is a major story we will cancel. Please check with the Den Leaders
and the local radio stations for cancellation information if necessary.
RACE DAY SCHEDULE
| Tigers | Registration Race Time |
8:00 - 8:25 8:30 - 9:30 |
| Wolves | Registration Race Time |
8:30 - 9:30 9:35 - 10:35 |
| Bears | Registration Race Time |
9:35 - 10:45 10:40 - 12:10 |
| Webelos 1 | Registration Race Time |
10:50 - 11:30 12:15 - 12:45 |
| Webelos 2 | Registration Race Time |
11:35 - 12:35 12:40 - 1:05 |
| Championship | Race Time | 1:15 - 1:30 |
| Parents and Den Chiefs | Registration Race Time |
12:30 - 1:30 1:40 |
All contestants must be present and weigh in by the close of registration time for their group. Cars must have been made by the scout who is racing; that is, scouts must race their own cars. Certain exceptions may be approved by the Race Committee prior to the race for legitimate extenuating circumstances. There will also be trophies for the Best Looking Car and the Most Unusual Car for each den level as well as an overall winner of the entire pack with consideration to work DONE BY THE SCOUT. These winners will be selected by the Boy Scouts and announced at 12:30.
Scouts should wear their Pinewood Derby t-shirts.
* Only length, width, clearance and weight rules apply for parents and den chiefs. Any modifications that, in the judgment of the Race Committee may damage the track, will not be allowed. Cars must have been made by the parent or den chief who is racing. Parent and den chief cars may be from prior years.
LENGTH, WIDTH & CLEARANCE
a. Overall width (including wheels and axles) shall not exceed 2 3/4 inches.
b. Width between wheels shall be at least 1 3/4 inches, to clear the track's center
guide strip.
c. Clearance to the car bottom shall be at least 3/8 inch, to clear the track's
center guide strip. NOTE: screws or other items extending below the car body
will not clear the track's center guide strip.
d. Maximum length shall not exceed 7 inches. Maximum height shall not exceed
4 inches.
e. Front of cars may be notched but must be at least 1/2 inch wide to qualify the
car for the district race. No "V" or "W" shapes allowed.
WEIGHT & APPEARANCE
a. Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces. The readings 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, provided these additions are securely
affixed to the car. Scouts can find scales at most post offices to weigh their
cars prior to the preliminary inspection. No loose materials of any kind are
permitted in or on the car.
b. Mercury shall not be used for adding weight because of its potential as a
health hazard.
c. Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting and interior
design are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length,
width and weight specifications.
d. Cars with wet paint will not be accepted.
WHEELS & AXLES
a. Wheels and axles must be those in the kit supplied by the Pack.
Axles may be polished. Wheels may be lightly sanded to remove the mold
projection. This light sanding is the only wheel modification allowed.
Beveling, tapering, thin sanding, wafering or lathe turning of the wheels is
prohibited. The head of the axle pin must be visible.
Wheel centers may not be filled in.
b. Wheel bearings, one piece full length axles, washers or bushings are prohibited.
c. The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
d. The car must be free-wheeling with no starting device or other propulsion.
e. Axles must be inserted into the grooves provided on the block of wood in the
kit. The wheelbase may not be changed from the kit body distance which may vary
between 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 inches.
LUBRICATION
a. Only dry powdered lubricants, such as graphite may be used. Regular
oils and silicone sprays may soften the plastic wheels. Paper hub caps must be
removed before entry.
b. Cars may be lubricated before inspection. No further lubrication will
be permitted.
GROUND RULES
a. The race is open to all registered Cub Scouts of Pack 190.
b. Cars must have been made for this race. Cars made for a previous
derby are not permitted. Cars must be built from the official Pinewood Derby
kits distributed by the Pack. Replacement kits are available at cost from the
Race Committee Chairperson.
c. The race will be double elimination within each scout rank: Tigers, Wolves,
Bears, Webelos Is and Webelos 2s. Byes will be run. First place winners
will compete for the overall Pack championship.
d. Each heat will consist of at least 2 runs, one in each lane. If the
same car wins both runs, that car is the winner of the heat. If each car wins
one run, a 3rd run will be made with lane selection determined by chance.
e. If a car jumps off the track, that run will be restarted. If the same
car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.
f. If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, that run will be
restarted. If the same car leaves its lane a second time, it will automatically
lose the heat.
g. If a car suffers a mechanical problem, loses an axle, breaks a wheel, etc.,
and a repair can be accomplished in a reasonable time, that run will be restarted.
If not, the car will automatically lose the heat. An official from the
inspection team will oversee the repairs.
h. The finish line will be monitored by an electronic timing light. In
case of failure of the timing light, that run will be rerun. In the event that
the timing light becomes non-functional, there will be three judges at the finish
line. At least two of the three judges must agree on the winner or that run will
be rerun.
i. Only race officials and scouts who are racing will be permitted into the
registration and track area. This rule will be strictly enforced.
j. Only one car per Scout may be entered.
INSPECTIONS AND DISPUTES
a. Each car must pass weigh-in and inspection by the official inspection team
before it may compete. Car owners will be informed of violations and given an
opportunity to modify the car to meet these rules.
b. Any participant or parent of a participant may appeal to the Race Committee
for an interpretation of these rules. An appeal will be discussed by the Race
Committee in private. The Race Committee, by majority vote, will have final
authority on these rules. In case of a tie vote, the decision of the Race
Committee Chairperson will be final.
c. Ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or member of the
audience will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or race area.
d. No individual will interfere by talking to the scorer while a race is
running.
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