Overview & Rules, Revision 2014

1 PURPOSE

The annual Pack 7 Pinewood Derby is a fun event designed for the Cub Scout and parent/guardian to work together on and enjoy. The entire Pinewood Derby Committee wants everyone to focus on this as a FUN parent/son project and event.

With this event, the Cubs Scouts will learn some very important skills and lessons:

1) The skills needed to build, paint, and decorate their car.

2) Experience a sense of accomplishment and the excitement of competition.

3) Good sportsmanship – Win or Lose.

4) How to have FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

2 SPORTSMANSHIP

Remember, the main “Purpose” of this event is to have FUN! Being a good sport and winning or losing with the right attitude is something a Cub Scout can learn from this event. There are some key points you should think about in relation to sportsmanship:

First: Remember 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.

Second: Remember 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. Honesty is the best policy.

Third : Remember that there are winners and losers in every competition. Be a good sport.

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 neat car.

3 GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS

The following rules and regulations apply to all racing events.

Please Note: The following rules are more specific than the rules that are included in the Pinewood Derby Kit. Please read the rules carefully prior to registering a cub scout in the race to make sure that his car complies with the following rules and regulations.

3.1 Who Can Race

a.) All registered members of Pack 7 (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Cub Scouts) may design, build and enter cars that are eligible to participate in the "Cub Scout Race" event.

b.) Siblings of Cub Scouts registered in Pack 7 may design, build and enter cars that are eligible to participate in the "Sibling Race" event.

c.) Adults may design, build, and enter cars that are eligible to participate in the “Business Cup Race” event, as long as they have paid the registration fee in full.

3.2 Derby Race Car Material

a.) All cars entered shall be constructed from the "Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit".

b.) Pack 7 will purchase and distribute one kit to every Cub Scout at the December Pack meeting. Siblings can purchase kits from the Pack for a nominal cost. Business Cup participants will receive a kit as part of their registration package.

c.) Additional kits may be purchased from the Connecticut Yankee Council Scout shop at:

60 Wellington Road

Milford, CT 06460

(203) 876-0013

d.) Kits may be purchased elsewhere, if they are of the exact type manufactured by the BSA as specified above.

3.3 Racing Series and Awards

a.) Cub Scout Races: All scouts will first compete in heats with other scouts of the same rank. For example – Tigers race against Tigers, Wolves race against Wolves, and so on. For each Rank, there will be awards for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place (and 4^th, 5^th ,6^th depending on rank size), and Slowpoke winners.

b.) Pack 7 Overall Race: The top three winners in each rank will move on to the Pack Finals and will compete for the overall Pack Awards for 1^st , 2^nd, 3^rd place winners. The Slowpoke winners from each rank will compete for the overall award of Pack Slowpoke.

c.) Sibling Race: All siblings will compete in heats with other siblings. For the siblings, there will be awards for 1^st, 2^nd, 3 ^rd place (and 4^th, 5^th, 6^thdepending on total participants), and Slowpoke winners.

d.) Business Cup Race: All business cup racers will race in heats with other business cup entrants. For the Business Cup, there will be awards for 1 ^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place.

e.) Design and Workmanship Awards: All Cub Scouts and Siblings will be judged on their designs and workmanship. These awards vary from year-to-year but some of the past awards have included:

v Best Paint Job	v Most Original Design
v Most Unusual Design	v Best Cub Scout Theme
v Funniest Car Design	v Best Workmanship
v Best Overall Car

f.) Participation Awards: All Cub Scouts in the race will receive a participation award and patch. All siblings and business cup racers will receive a participation award.

3.4 New Construction

a.) The car must be newly built for the current Cub Scouting year. This means ALL construction of ALL cars entered in this year’s race MUST have begun AFTER last year's Pack 7 Pinewood Derby Races.

b.) Previous year’s cars (modified or unmodified) WILL NOT be accepted.

3.5 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. The Cub Scouts should wear their “Class A” uniforms the day of the race.

3.6 Car Specifications

The intent is for the boys to build the car from the parts contained in the "Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit". Use of specialty components (such as wheels, axles, etc...) may be cause for disqualification of the car.

Details such as the steering wheel, driver, decals, painting, and interior detail are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications.

3.6.1 Size and Weight

a.) Maximum Overall Width (outside edge-to-edge of wheels) is 2-3/4 inches.

b.) Minimum Width between wheels is1-3/4 inches.

Figure 1 – Race Carl Specifications

c.) Axle locations and the distance between the axles may not be changed or altered. The nail slots already cut into the block of wood from the kit must be used.

d.) Maximum Overall Length is 7 inches.

e.) Maximum Height of the car must not to exceed 3 inches.

f.) Minimum Track Clearance between the bottom of the car
car and track is 3/8 of an inch.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Even thought the lane strips are only a ¼ inch high, the extra clearance is to allow the car to go from the sloped portion of the tract to the flat portion without dragging. Weights attached to the bottom of the car MUST be recessed into the body of the car. The car will not pass the clearance requirement, if the weights are just attached to the bottom of the block of wood.

g.) No part of the car can extend beyond the starting post and the front of the car must be no higher than 1/2” where it contacts the starting post. If the front of the car is designed to gain an unfair advantage at the start or interferes with a fair start, the car will be disqualified.

h.) Maximum weight of the car must NOT exceed 5.00 ounces.

i.) 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.

j.) All weight must be securely fastened to the car, by permanent glue, nails or screws, but not by "sticky substances", e.g. tape, or tack spray.

k.) Weights shall be passive, i.e. non-moveable, non-magnetic and non-electric.

3.6.2 Wheels and Axles

a.) All cars must have four (4) wheels. The wheels of the car must be from the official Pinewood Kit or an official Pinewood wheel replacement kit.

b.) All four wheels must make contact with the track.

c.) Axle coatings, wheel tapering, wafering, and other similar wheel shaving methods are prohibited. The words "Official B.S.A. Made in U.S.A." and other lettering on the wheels shall remain intact and clearly visible to the inspector.

d.) Wheels may not be altered or reshaped in any way.

Figure2 - Example of Rule Breaking Modified Wheels

e.) Mold projection defects on wheel treads may be removed by sanding lightly. Wheels may not be sanded to enhance performance. The decorative dots on the wheel treads may not be removed. If wheel sanding is detected the car will be disqualified.

f.) No cars will be accepted in the Pinewood Derby where bearings, washers, inserts, sleeves, or spacers are used as part of the wheel assembly.

g.) Wheels may not be designed to ride upon the guide strip of the track.

h.) Hubcaps/wheel covers are not allowed.

i.) The axles of the car must be from the official Pinewood Kit or an official Pinewood wheel replacement kit.

j.) The axle nails shall be firmly affixed to the wood of the car and MUST be placed in the original 'axle grooves' in the supplied wooden block.

k.) The use of a flexible suspension system of any type is prohibited.

3.7 Lubricants

a.) No oil, grease or silicone may be used on the cars. Only graphite powder or the new B.S.A. white tube T102/polytetra fluoroethylene may be used to lubricate wheels. (Warning - other lubricants may damage the plastic wheels and keep them from turning freely.) The Pack will NOT provide graphite powder lubricants.

b.) Graphite must be applied outside of the race location. No graphite may be applied anywhere inside the building on the day of the race.

c.) Lubricants may not foul the track and the offending car may be disqualified and removed from the race.

3.8 Unacceptable Construction

a.) No loose pieces that fall off during a race are permitted.

b.) All application of glue or paint must be dry prior to inspection. Wet glue or paint will not be allowed as it can cause damage to the track.

3.9 Gravity Powered

a.) The race car must be gravity powered and must be free-wheeling.

b.) 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.)

c.) The motion of the car may not be mechanically aided (motor, springs, rubber bands, etc. are prohibited).

4 REGISTRATION, INSPECTION, AND WEIGH-IN

The Cub Scout with his parent must bring his car to the registration, inspection, and weigh-in event to officially enter his car into the race. The race cars are checked for compliance with the official rules at the weigh-in and registration usually held the night before the race. The cars MUST PASS a technical inspection and are checked for:

a.) Components used in building the car.

b.) Weight, width, length, and underside clearance dimensions.

c.) General compliance with the rules.

If any issues are found during the inspection of the car, the Scout will be given time to correct the issue and have the car re-inspected. There will be a pit area available at the registration event with tools for the Scouts to make corrections to their cars.

All lubrication of the wheels must take place outside the registration event. No lubricants are allowed inside of the building.

Reminder: Single Entry per Person - Only one car may be registered by any person in the Pinewood Derby.

4.1 Late Registration and Inspection

a.) If a Cub Scout fails to register his car at the registration event the night before the race, he may enter his car the day of the race during late registration.

b.) Late registration will close 15 minutes before the first race. If a Cub Scout fails to register by the close of late registration, he may be unable to race due to commencement of race heat calculations.

c.) Cars MAY NOT be registered after the close of the late registration period the day of the race. No exceptions.

d.) Cars registered on the day of the race will not be eligible for the aesthetics awards, i.e. ‘Best Design’, ‘Most Colorful’. These will be judged the night before the race, after registration is closed.

4.2 Impound

a.) After a car passes registration and inspection, it will be stored by the Pinewood Derby Race Committee until race day/time.

b.) No car may be altered in any way after it has been registered.

c.) No lubrication can be added after the car has been impounded.

4.3 Failure to Pass Inspection

a.) The Pinewood Derby Inspection Committee shall disqualify cars which do not meet the rules and regulation described in this document.

b.) If a car does not pass inspection, the Scout and parent will be informed of the reason his car did not pass and will be given an opportunity to correct the car.

c.) Cars which fail the initial inspection may be taken for modifications and brought back no later than the close of the late registration event for final inspection and registration.

4.4 Car Design Rules Interpretation

Interpretations of the rules and regulations described within this document are at the sole discretion of the Pinewood Derby Inspection Committee Judges and Pinewood Derby Committee Chairman present during the Registration and Inspection process.

5 RACE DAY INFORMATION

Competition will consist of heat races within each Den, and a series of Grand Final heats at the Pack level. Track officials are responsible for the proper conduct of the races.

5.1 Race-Day Rules Interpretation

a.) Decisions of Race Officials on questions of rules interpretations and procedure may be appealed to the Pinewood Derby Chairman.

b.) All decisions of the Pinewood Derby Chairman are final.

c.) Decisions of Race Officials on questions of fact (i.e. the result of a specific race) may not be appealed beyond the Pinewood Derby Committee Chairman and/or Finish Line Judges.

d.) Unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or spectator will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.

5.2 Race Day Lubrication

Just to repeat: There will be NO lubrication allowed during the Pinewood Derby race. All lubrication of the race car must be done prior to the inspection and impounding of the car.

5.3 Car Handling Responsibility

a.) All cars will be handled and staged on the tracks by Pinewood Derby Race Day Officials – Starters, Judges, or Runners.

b.) If for some reason a car loses a part (such as a wheel), a Race Day Official will accompany the Scout to the “Pit Area” for repairs. The Scout and the parent shall be responsible for repairs. The Race Official will return the car to the racing area.

5.4 Pit Area

a.) The Pit Area will be available the day of the race to use in case a car loses a part during a heat.

b.) Cars will be re-inspected by a Race Official prior to returning to the race to ensure compliance with the rule.

c.) The race-day Pit Area will have the official scale and length box used during the registration events.

5.5 Track and Race Issues

5.5.1 The Race Area

Only Race Day Officials may enter the track area. This rule will be strictly enforced.

5.5.2 Track Faults

If a car leaves its lane, at his sole discretion, the Pinewood Derby Chairman may inspect the track and, if a track fault is found which may have caused the initial violation, the Pinewood Derby Chairman may order the race heat to be rerun after the track is repaired. /p>

5.5.3 Failure to Cross Finish Line

a.) If, during a race, a car (or cars) fails to reaches the finish line on the track, the car will place based on distance from the finish line.

b.) If, during a race, 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.) If the race is to determine the Slowpoke overall winner then the car that travels the least distance will be the winner.

5.5.4 Car Leaves Lane

a.) If, during a race heat, a car leaves its lane but proceeds down the track in a manner that does not interfere with its opponent, then the race will be called normally.

b.) If the car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the race will be re-staged and re-run.

c.) If the same car again leaves it's lane for a second time and interferes with another car, that car will be judged last place and the race will be re-staged and re-run without that car.