INTRODUCTION
The Pinewood Derby is
one of the most popular events in Cub Scouting. Every year more than a
million boys and parents team up to carve, decorate, weigh, adjust, fret
over, and finally race a Pinewood Derby car. The first Pinewood Derby was
held in 1953 by Cub Scout Pack 280C of
Manhattan Beach, California, and as of 1991
(Ref. 1992 BSA Retail Catalog) more than 81 million Pinewood Derby model car
kits have been sold. Wow!!
This event is also known
as "Shape N Race Derby" in the
Christian Service Brigade, and "Kub Kar
Rally" in
Canada's scouting organization. Much of the
information here is applicable to similar events, such as the Rain-Gutter
Regatta.
The purpose of the
Pinewood Derby is to help the Cub Scout build a team relationship with their
parent or helper, experience the sense of accomplishment and the excitement
of competition, learn Win/Lose good sportsmanship, and to have fun. The
model cars are made of wood to specified dimensions, created, carved,
assembled, and decorated by Cub Scouts under the guidance of the parents or
helpers. The cars are gravity powered and run down a special track.
Like all successful
events, it requires some planning and preparation, but the payoff in fun and
strengthening family relationships has been proven over the years. By
following a plan and distributing responsibility among several Cub Scout
parents and leaders, you can plan and achieve a successful Pinewood Derby.
The attached instructions, checklist, and activities should be helpful in
organizing and conducting a Pinewood Derby.
We have included two
letters that should be read before you start your project. These letters are
testaments to the strength and will of children. It will help to bring the
whole race concept into perspective.
I. GENERAL RULES: (Applies to all Race Events)
G-1. Qualification:
All registered Pack 50 Cub
and Webelos Scouts may design, build and enter cars that are eligible to
participate in the "Cub Scout Race" event. Parents or guardians of Cub
Scouts registered in Pack 50 may design, build and enter cars that are
eligible to participate in the "Adult Race" event. Siblings under the age of
scouts will have a “Sibling Race” event. Siblings will follow the same rules
as the Cub Scouts. Siblings the age of scouts or older, can enter the “Adult
Race”.
G-2. Essential Materials:
All cars entered in the “Cub
Scout Race” shall be constructed from the "Official Grand Prix Pinewood
Derby Kit" (referred to below as “The Kit”). Kits may be purchased from the
Scout Shop, 3067 Carter Hill Rd, Montgomery, AL. (Kits may be purchased
elsewhere if they are of the exact type manufactured by the BSA as specified
above.) Other kits may be used in the “Adult Race”
G-3. Competitor Categories:
All Cub and Webelos Scouts
that are registered within Pack 50, and Parents or guardians (and siblings)
of registered scouts may enter this Pinewood Derby. Cub Scouts will compete
with others in the same Cub Scout Den.
G-4. Attendance:
The Cub Scout MUST enter his
own car. This means that the Cub Scout must be present at "Inspection and
Registration" to enter his car into competition.
G-5. Single Entry per Person:
Only one car may be
registered by any person in the Pinewood Derby.
G-6. Inspection and Registration:
Each car must pass a
technical inspection before it may compete. Technical inspection and
registration of cars occurs on the day of the race.
G-7. 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, the owner will be informed of the reason his
car did not pass. Cars which fail the initial inspection may be taken to the
pit for modifications and brought back for final inspection and
registration.
G-8. Impound:
No car may be altered in any
way after it has been registered. After a car passes registration, it will
be stored by the Pinewood Derby Race Committee until the race.
G-9. Car Design Rules Interpretation:
Interpretation of the rules
described in G1 through G-9, and T-1 thru T-9 are at the sole discretion of
the Inspection Committee Judges present during the Registration and
Inspection process.
G10. Race-Day Rules Interpretation:
On Race-Day, the Cub Scout
must make all questions of rules interpretations and procedures to the
Pinewood Derby Chairman or Race Officials promptly. Decisions of Race
Officials on questions of rules interpretations and procedure may be
appealed to the Pinewood Derby Chairman. All decisions of the Pinewood Derby
Chairman are final. Decisions of Race Officials on questions of fact (i.e.
the result of a specific race) may not be appealed beyond the Trackmaster
and/or Finish Line Judges. Note:
Unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or spectator will be grounds
for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.
II. CUB SCOUT 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 (referred to below as the kit) as sold by the Scout
Shop. Materials from the kit may be supplemented but not replaced.
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. Note: The official scale will be available at
the scheduled Car Building Clinics held at Mr. Bob’s Shop.
T-3. Size:
Race cars may be no longer
than 7 inches, nor wider than 2-3/4 (2.75) inches, as determined by the
official gages during the Registration and Inspection. Underside clearance
of at least 3/8 (0.375) inches and inside wheel to wheel clearance of at
least 1-3/4 (1.75) inches is required, so that the car will run on the race
track. Adequate clearance is the responsibility of the race car builder.
T-4. Wheels and Axles:
The car shall roll on the
wheels from the kit. 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, and
MUST be placed in the original 'axle grooves' in the supplied wooden block.
It must be obvious to the judges that the grooves, wheels, and the nails
from the kit are being used.
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. All weight must be securely fastened to the car, e.g. by permanent
glue, nails or screws, but not by "sticky substances", e.g. tape, or tack
spray. Weights shall be passive, i.e. non-moveable, non-magnetic,
non-electric, non-sticky, etc.
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.)
T-9. Lubricants:
Only dry lubricants such as
graphite or powdered Teflon "white lube" will be allowed for lubricating the
wheels. Lubricants may not foul the track. There will be a lubrication table
set up at the race. In the interest of fairness, only one lubrication is
allowed before final inspection and registration.
III. CONDUCT OF THE RACES
Competition will consist of heat races within each Den, and a series of
final heats at the Pack level. Track officials are responsible for the
proper conduct of the races.
C-1. Inspection Gages:
The race-day "Check In" area
will have the official scale and length box. This equipment will be
available at the Car Building Clinics held at Mr. Bob’s Shop. That check-in
equipment will be the official equipment for the race. Please stress this
fact to all Cub Scouts. They should be prepared to make adjustments to their
cars if necessary.) Once inspected, cars are impounded till the race.
C-2. Car Handling Responsibility:
Scouts shall be responsible
to present their own cars at the "Check In" area for inspection, and at the
starting line for staging. Cars will be staged on the tracks by the scout
with the assistance of the "Starter Team".
C-3. Car Leaves Track:
If, during a race heat, a car
leaves the track without interfering with its opponent, it shall be
considered to have ended its heat at that point.
C-4. 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. The car will have to be re-inspected before being checked
back in.
C-5 Car Repair (With Fault):
If a car is damaged due to
track fault, or damage caused by another car or person, then the Trackmaster,
at his sole discretion, may allow additional repair assistance to the Cub.
C-6. No Finishers:
If, during a race heat, no
car reaches the finish line on the track, the car which went the farthest in
its lane shall be declared as the heat winner.
C-7. Call to Race:
Competitors will be called by
Den number prior to each heat. If the Cub does not respond, his name will be
called a second and third time. If the Cub has not presented himself in time
for his heat, he will be judged as placing last for that race heat. If no
competitor is present, the track chairman may, at his sole discretion, defer
the race heat in a manner that does not interfere with progress of the
racing.
C-8. Track Fault:
If a car leaves its lane, at
his sole discretion, the Trackmaster may inspect the track and, if a track
fault is found which probably caused the initial violation, the Trackmaster
may order the race heat to be rerun after the track is repaired.
C-9. The Race Area:
Only current
racers and race officials may enter the track area. This rule will be
strictly enforced.
IV. PARENT'S RACE CAR DESIGN STANDARDS
(... or "Why should the kids have ALL the fun?")
The
purpose of the Parents Race event is to have a little fun, to test our
Pinewood Derby tracks, and to help finance this year's Pinewood Derby. It
will also help us to 'bleed' off some of our nervous competitive anxiety
allowing us to be calm and collected during the Scouts race! (right?)
All adults
are encouraged to build their own cars. The adults' race will be held after
the Scouts' race. Any parent or guardian of a Cub Scout who is registered in
Pack 50 may enter this race.
P-1. Technical standards:
The Technical Standards for
the Cub Scout race (above) will be used in the Parents Race with the
exception that items T-1, T-4, T-6, and T-7 do not apply. In reference to
T-2, race cars may weigh no more than seven (7) ounces (total weight) as
determined on the official scales during the pre-race check-in.
P-2. Entry Fee:
An entry fee of $15.00 will
be paid prior to participating in the race.
P-3. Number of Entries:
You may race as many cars as
you wish as long as you pay the standard entry fee for EACH car.
P-4. The Car:
You may NOT use your son's
current car for this race.
P-5. Weigh-In:
Cars will be inspected,
weighed, and registered just prior to the race.
P-6. What Do The Winners Get?
Winners will be recognized
with honor, glory, and some GREAT prizes!
FINAL NOTE
1. The boys and adult
should make the car together as a project! It is not the intent that the
parent show the Scout the garage door then walk away; nor is it the intent
that the boy play video games while the adult cuts and sands. Parents should
shape with the power tools and then direct the rest of the action while
showing the boy each step in building a car.
2. Have fun! After all,
this is what it is all about.
3. Know the rules. Being
disqualified can be very embarrassing.
4. Safety first. Lets
not lose any fingers.
Email us at
webmaster@pack50.net with
questions
