SEQUOYAH DISTRICT 2001 PINEWOOD DERBY
1. Length, Width and Clearance
a) The maximum overall width including wheels and axles) shall not exceed 2
¾ inches.
b) The minimum width between the wheels shall be 1 ¾ inches so the car will
clear the center guide strip on the track.
c) The minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and the track surface
shall be 3/8 inch so the car will clear the center guide strip on the track.
d) The maximum overall length shall not exceed 7 inches.
e) The wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles) may not be changed
from the kit body distance of 4 ¾ inches (some kits may be off between 1/8 inch
to ¼ inch).
2. Car Body, Weight and Appearance
a) Body wood shall be only as provided in the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby
Kit.
b) The car must have been built during the current year (the school year in
which the Pinewood Derby is held).
c) The maximum weight of the car shall not exceed 5 ounces. The reading of the
official scale will be final.
d) No liquids or loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car.
The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the addition
of wood or metal only, provided any additional materials is securely built into
the body or firmly affixed to it.
e) Details such as steering wheel, driver, decals, spoiler, painting and interior
detail are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length,
width or weight specifications.
f) Cars with wet paint will not be accepted.
g) The front end of the car is to be solid, (meaning no notches, grooves, or
slots) that would give the car an unfair advantage at the start.
3. Wheels and Axles
a) Only BSA approved wheels and axles, as provided in the Official Pinewood
Derby Kit, may be used.
b) Wheel bearings, washers, bushings and hubcaps are prohibited.
c) The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
d) The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices or other types of
propulsion.
e) Wheels can be sanded to remove surface imperfections, but the treads must
be left flat. Beveling, tapering, narrowing, thinning, thin sanding or wafering
of the wheels is prohibited.
f) Axles can be smoothed to remove surface imperfections, but not altered in
any way except polishing.
4. Lubrication
a) Only graphic or powdered Teflon "white lube" will be allowed for lubricating
the wheels. You MAY NOT use any other lubricant, especially oil and silicone
sprays. (Liquids and sprays mix with the paint of the car or the plastic wheels
and make them tacky which will slow your car considerably.)
b) There will be NO lubrication after your car has completed Final Inspection
and Registration.
5. Inspection and Registration
a) To compete in any category of the Pinewood Derby, each car must pass Final
Inspection, (which includes weigh-in) and be registered prior to 10:00 AM.
b) Final Inspection and Registration is from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM.
c) The Inspection Committee has the right to disqualify cars that do not meet
these rules. Any scout or adult may appeal the inspection to the Pinewood Derby
Committee Chairperson, whose decision is final.
d) If a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason
his car did not pass (too long, too heavy, altered wheelbase, or the like).
Cars that fail the initial inspection may be modified to bring them within specifications
and brought back for re-inspection before the Final Inspection Deadline.
e) No car may be altered in any way after it has passed Final Inspection and
Registration. The cars will remain in the holding area and cannot be touched
by anyone until time to race.
f) A preliminary inspection of the cars will be available between 8:00 AM and
9:00 AM on the same Saturday. This is the time when scouts can weigh-in their
cars to decide if they need weight added or taken off.
6. Ground Rules and Competition
a) Sequoyah District Pinewood Derby 2001 will begin promptly at 10:15 AM, on
Saturday, April 28th in the lower level of Crabtree Valley Mall next to the
staircase to the upper food court).
b) Good sportsmanship and good behavior is expected. Pinewood Derby Officials
may ask anyone (participant or spectator) not following this rule to leave the
competition or race area.
c) The Pinewood Derby is open to all Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts
registered in Sequoyah District and who won first place in speed, originality
or craftsmanship in their perspective group at their Pack Pinewood Derby during
this current school year.
d) Each entrant may enter only one car and one category in the competition.
Their car must be entered in the same category in which they won at their own
Pack Derby.
e) The Speed Competition will consist of double-elimination heat races within
each bracket (Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos). To equalize differences among
track lanes, each heat will consist of at least two races, with each car racing
at least one time in each lane. In case of a tie, the drivers will draw lane
choice from out of a hat that has the lane colored balls inside and then have
a race-off.
f) Only Pinewood Derby officials and scouts participating in the current race
may enter the track area.
g) Each heat will be announced. Drivers will retrieve their cars from the holding
area, report to the starting line and place their cars on the designated track.
The starter will start the race.
h) The car whose nose is over the finish line first is the winner for that race.
i) There will be at least one judge at the finish line, who will determine the
winner.
j) The drivers will then report to the finish line to retrieve their cars for
the next race, and return their cars to the holding area after the last race
of the heat. The drivers return to their seats outside the track area.
k) If a car leaves the track, runs out of its lane, or interferes with another
car, that car will automatically lose that race.
l) The ONLY repair that will be allowed during the District Derby is for a wheel
and axle that has come off of the car. Only the driver will make the repair
by hand or with a hammer. NO glue or other substance will be used to make the
repair. The driver's parent or Race Official may verbally help.
m) The Pinewood Derby Committee will handle any questions of the rules or problems
that may arise during the event and their decisions will be final.
7. Awards and Recognition
a) The most important values in Pinewood Derby competition are parent/scout
participation, good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules. The Awards
Committee is responsible for recognizing and encouraging these qualities in
addition to traditional racing awards.
b) Every participating scout will receive a District Pinewood Derby Certificate.
c) First, second and third place trophies will be awarded in each category of
Speed, Craftsmanship and Originality.
Coaching Hints for Parents