PACK 405 PINEWOOD DERBY RULES

Participation: Open to all Pack 405 Tigers, Wolves, Bears, & Webelos whose dues are current. Parents & siblings are invited to participate in the separate category races (Siblings & Outlaws - $5 / car kit).

Inspection: Cars are inspected during weigh-in for compliance to specifications listed below. A few cars made it through inspection the last couple years that did not follow the rules. We will be checking much more closely this year to ensure the race is completely fair. If a car is deemed illegal, the car will be allowed to race if not a hazard to other cars, but NOT be eligible to win a medal / trophy.

Impound: Cars will be impounded when officially registered. No changes to the car may be made after being impounded, & repairs will be limited to re-placement of axles/wheels that are broken / lost during the race. Racers are encouraged to bring tools, spare weights, etc. to the weigh-in and the race in case adjustments are needed prior to registration or repairs during the race.

Car Body: The body in the Official BSA Pinewood Derby Kit MUST be used. The body may be shaped, hollowed out, or built up from the original block as long as it meets all other specifications AND fits in the inspection jig. Any additions to the original body, i.e. steering wheels, drivers, decals, weights, etc., must be firmly attached. Purchased pre-cut bodies will NOT be allowed to race.

Ground Clearance: No part of the car body may be closer to the ground than 3/8”. The bottom of the body should not be lowered (wheels raised) at all. Existing axle slots MUST be used. It is STRONGLY recommended that any weights added to the bottom of the car be flush with the bottom of the original wood block. This is to prevent the bottom of the car from rubbing on the raised portion of the track.

Width: Overall width may not exceed 2 ¾”.

Track: The wheel track (width between the wheels side-to-side) may not be changed from the original kit. The body may be shaped/narrowed at other points as long as it does not interfere with the car’s track. If the wheel track is widened, the car may collide with others on the track. If the wheel track is narrowed, the car will rub on the raised portion of the track or possibly not fit on the track at all.

Length: Overall car length may not exceed 7”.

Wheelbase: The wheelbase (length between the wheels front-to-back) may NOT be changed; it must be the same as the official kit. Existing wheel slots MUST be used. Either end can be used as the front.

Wheels/Axles: The wheels & axles furnished in the kit MUST be used. No washers, bushings, bearings, or springs are allowed. Wheels & axles may be sanded to remove burrs, and may be polished, waxed, etc. as desired as long as the SHAPE is NOT changed. Reductions in wheel width or diameter are NOT allowed.

Weight: The race ready car must NOT exceed five (5.0) ounces in weight as measured on the official weigh-in scale for Scouts & Siblings, < 14.0 ounces for Outlaws

Lubrication: Powdered graphite is the ONLY lubricant allowed. NO liquid lubricants are allowed. They can damage cars & the track for other racers.

NO lubricants may be used once the car is registered. Graphite will be available at Weigh-In.

Other: The car must move as a result of its own weight and gravity ONLY! No devices may be added to a car (motors, springs, moving weights, etc.) that causes it to move.

There is no designated front or back to the supplied body; either end may be used as the front. If there is any chance for confusion, please be sure to tell the leaders running the race which end is the FRONT.

Awards: Awards will be given for the fastest cars in each Den, in the Pack, and the Sibling race. Awards will also be given for Best Looking Car, Most Original, Best Paint Job, etc by Den, & will be determined by the Race Committee.

How Cars Are Timed (Parents please read this!)

We do NOT run an elimination-style race. Pack 405 has a four-lane track that is timed by a computer to 1/1000th of a second. All cars race 4 times, once on each lane of the track (no lane advantage) & times recorded by the computer. The cars with the lowest cumulative time (fastest over all 4 heats) for ALL 4 runs are the Den / Pack / Sibling / Outlaw winners.

In effect, the cars are always racing against the clock & not necerily against cars on the track.

Race Order: Cars are run in an order controlled by the computer. The Race Management program controls the order cars are placed on the track & ensures all cars run on all lanes.

Important:

Since this is NOT an elimination-style race where we methodically work our way to the fastest cars, it’s possible for a car to win its races in all four heats and still not have the overall fastest time in his den / pack. If you have ANY questions about this, PLEASE ASK. We don’t want any disappointed boys or parents.

Why do we do it this way?

1)It is absolutely the fairest way to run the race. Each car gets an equal chance and the element of human error in judging which car was 1st is eliminated. About the only way to make it better would be to run the race multiple times and take an average over more heats, which would, of course, take longer.

2)With single-elimination-style races, 1/2 the cars don’t run after the first heat, ¾ don’t run after the second heat, etc. For most of the boys, they’re done after the second race. It’s not fun to sit around & watch other boy’s cars being raced while yours sits in the pits, especially when you get to the 8th or 9th heats. Double-elimination races help this (doesn’t eliminate), & greatly extend the time it takes to complete the race.

Remember: Scouting encourages good sportsmanship. Please remember that one of the MAIN goals of the PWD is to get parent and child TOGETHER for the project. This is NOT the parents’ race. Have fun working on this project TOGETHER!

The kids need to participate in building the cars. There is a race for those parents interested in doing ALL or MOST of the work on the car….. the OUTLAW Race. Any adults wishing to do most of the work should consider entering the Outlaw race. Cars may be disqualified if the Scout or his parents display unsportsmanlike conduct at the race site. Remember…DO YOUR BEST and have some fun!