Pinewood Derby

Pack 790 Pinewood Derby

FRIDAY – MANDATORY-- Inspection

6PM TIGERS

6:30 WOLFS

7PM BEARS

7:30 WEBELOS I & II

          Pits:            10:00-10:15

Racing :        10:30 AM to 2 PM

LUNCH:       12:00 PM

Place:  St. Andrew's Church

Refreshments, Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Cookies will be provided

Contents

Car Specifications
Car Details
Lubrication
Racing
Awards
Paint & Finishing Aids

Pack 790 Pinewood Derby Rules

All Sunset District Pinewood Derby Rules apply.  Please refer the Sunset District Pinewood Derby Rule(s) sheet provided by the Pack with each kit.

Every attempt is made to provide accurate and up to date information for scouts, scouters, families, and the interested public about scouting activities.  The Scouts and Leaders of [Pack 790] makes no warranties, express or implied, or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, reliability or usefulness of any of the information contained herein.  Suggestions, recommendations, or additional comments should be directed to [the Cubmaster].

These include but are not limited to:

1.   The pinewood derby car must be scout built this Scouting year, starting with the official BSA PINEWOOD DERBY KIT.  Only BSA parts are to be used.
Examples: “PINECAR”, “HODGES”, “WOODSHOP”, or other brand kits are not allowed.  Preformed bodies, solid axles, spoke wheels, etc are all illegal. 

2. Car Specifications

  1. Overall car width: 2-3/4 (2.75) inches.
  2. Overall length: 4-3/8  (4.375) inches minimum Refer to rule 2-G below.
  3. Total weight: 5.000 ounces (141.75 grams)
  4. Ground Clearance: 3/8 (0.375) inches minimum (The car should roll over 5-stacked nickels)
  5. Overall Height: 3.00 inches maximum
  6. Distance between wheels (right to left): 1-7/8 (1.875) inches.
  7. Distance between wheel axles(front to back): 4-3/8 (4.375) inches.  Official BSA kit dimensions.  This distance can not be altered.  THE CAR MUST FIT INTO A BSA TEMPLATE, OR IT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RACE.

3. Car Details

  1. Non-moving Attachments Allowed (drivers, pipes, spoilers, decals, … additional weights) as long as they are (1) securely attached and without moving parts, (2) attachments must meet all car specifications rules stated in #2 above, and (3) be sure any weights that may be added do not interfere with the ground clearance, as stated in #2D, above.  Weights should be put in the car, not on the car.
  2. Attachments Not Allowed:  Items such as washers between the wheels and the body, wheel bearings, bushings, springs, starting devices, hubcaps, full wheel covers, or full fenders covering the nails, or anything that will impede the inspection process.  If additional weights are added, they must be securely attached and have no loose or moving internal parts.
  3. Finish Line: The track has an electronic finish line.  This device emits a light beam approximately the diameter of a pencil.  It is recommended that the car does not have a front that comes to a sharp point.  A sharp pointed car may not trigger the electronic finish line correctly.
  4. Starting Gate: The track starting gate is 1/2 inch wide.  A sharp pointed car design, such as a pencil, may not align itself correctly against the starting gate.  (See #3C )  A "chisel" point of at least 1/2 wide is recommended.  A car that has a "U" or a "Y" front design will be ran backwards, in order in insure a correct start.  At no time shall any portion of the car extend past or over the starting gate.  All cars must start from a standing still position.

  1. Wheel Modifications: It is recommended that the wheels be lightly sanded to obtain as flat of a surface as possible.  NO OTHER WHEEL MODIFICATIONS ARE ALLOWED.  Wheels must be full width, as provided in the kit.  Wheels must not be tapered or re-formed to reduce the "footprint" of the wheel on the track.
    ALL FOUR WHEELS MUST HAVE AT LEAST 90% OF THE WHEEL TREAD IN CONTACT WITH THE TRACK AT ALL TIMES.  CARS WITH ONE RAISED WHEEL MUST BE MODIFIED TO CONFORM TO THIS RULE, OR WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RACE.

 

  1. Axle Modifications: The axles provided (nails) in the official BSA kit must be used.  Sanding the axles to remove the die seams that are a result of the manufacturing process is recommended.  Polishing the axles with toothpaste or jewelers' polishing compound is a good idea.  Chroming, or any other type of special technical process will not be allowed.  To reduce the diameter of the head of the nail, in order to minimize friction will be allowed – within limits.  To reduce the size of the head of the nail by more than 25% will be considered extreme and will not be allowed.  All suspect nails will be measured by an inspection official, and if less than 75% of the head remains, it will be disqualified.

4. Lubrication:

A.      A dry lubricant such as graphite, or the BSA white dry lubricant (powered Teflon) is allowed.

B.      All "wet" lubricants are not allowed.

C.      Lubrication cannot be applied after the car has been registered even if axle repair is required during racing.

D.      It is helpful to "work in" the dry lubricant, by spinning the wheels, often.

5. Racing

  1. The scout must be present at inspection time to enter a vehicle.
  2. On race day each vehicle will be inspected for adherence to all rules.
  3. Car weights are as measured by the unit or district scales in-use on race day.
  4. If the car is over weight, facilities will be available to remove weight.
  5. Once certified legal, no other modifications will be allowed, such as adding lubricant and/or weight changes.
  6. Cars will be put into a holding area, for display and further inspection.
  7. Cars are not to be touched by anyone after inspection is complete.
  8. Supervised, timely repairs will be allowed if a car becomes damaged during racing.
  9. If a car leaves the track during a race, that heat will be ran again.
  10. If the car leaves the track a second time, during the same heat, that car will be disqualified, due to time constraints.

6. Staging:

  1. Cars will be staged by the designated adult starting line personnel.
  2. Cars will be staged in their start lane with body centered in lane and wheels in full outboard position.
  3. If a car does not "stage" correctly, that is fit on the starting gate correctly because the car has too narrow of a nose, or the front is modified as to "ride up" the starting gate because the front has too steep an angle, it is the official district starter's option to run the car backwards to insure a correct start.  If the car has a split front end, "Y" or "U" front end design, the car will be ran backwards.
  4. The scout must be prepared to identify the front of his car.  We do not want to race a car backwards, unless it is necessary.  See 3D & 6C
  5. If the number on den entrants allow, each car will race once in each of the 4 lanes with three other cars present (total of 4 heats).  A car will not necessarily race against all the cars in his den.
  6. Elapsed time for each car, for each race will be electronically recorded (accurate to 0.0001 seconds)
  7. Each Den will have complete one heat before moving onto the next heat.

Awards

  • "First Place Den" trophies will be awarded by den to the scout with the shortest accumulated elapsed time (i.e., the fastest average speed)
  • First-place Den winners will race an additional 4 heats to decide an overall First Place Pack trophy.
  • Fastest cars in each Cub Scout rank (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos I, Webelos II) will be registered to race in the Sunset District Pinewood Derby.
  • Blue ribbons will be given for various other categories

Paint & Finishing Aids  How to Finish

Nothing can be more frustrating than a paint finish that won't set. Prior to painting, fine sand and seal the surface with a wood sanding sealer available at most hobby shops. For glossy finishes, fast dry enamel from the local hardware store works well (i.e., "Plasti-kote Odds 'n' Ends" Fast Dry Enamel in spray or jar). Follow the directions on the paint. I have had bad results with Testor's Spray Enamel. If you plan to spray on the finish, a plastic grip & trigger device marketed as "Can Gun" makes it easier for small hands to apply the finish (it's an easy to operate trigger device that mounts over the top of the can's spray nozzle.)

 

Links to online Pinewood Derby Resources

Here are some sites with some helpful advice for the new and experienced car builder.

"The following link(s) are provided for information purposes and are not endorsed by the Detroit Area Council.  In some cases, the information provided may be out of date, misleading or incorrect."

Designing Your Car - The Virtual Cub Scout Leader's Handbook

Derby Talk

PWD Racing Message Board

Stan Pope’s Pinewood Pages Portal
            “Cliffnotes for Derby Cars”  download Stan’s Powerpoint

Macscouter Pinewood Resource Page

Go Ask Grandpa

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Copyright Pack 790 Cub Scouts.
Last revised: February 5, 2009
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