PINEWOOD DERBY RULES

(Palmetto Council, Daniel Morgan District)

Guiding Principles:

The Pinewood Derby Race is for the enjoyment of all participants in a fair and equitable environment.
It is a social event for the pack/district/council which encourages parent/child teamwork and good sportsmanship.
The goal is participation of all where teamwork is preeminent, and competition is secondary.
It can be used to teach basic tool and construction skills to our children with an eye towards friendly competition.
Children should be guided in designing and constructing a car of their own choosing from which they can take pride in their accomplishments.

Car kits should be official BSA or equivalent.
New car each year built primarily by the scout. Absolutely no outside cars.
5.0 ounce maximum car weight, 7.0 maximum length, 2.75 maximum width
No major alternations to wheels or axles
Dry lubricants only
Failure to comply with the detailed rules may lead to disqualification.
NOTE: Derby car rules by themselves are pretty simple. These detailed rules provide light to gray areas which may tempt some to bend them or cause conflict. We have tried to answer any question that may arise. The Race Committee’s interpretations will be final.

All safety rules concerning the use of hand tools and power tools by cub scouts must be observed.
Final interpretation of rules and judgments will be made by the Race Chairman or a designated Race Committee.

All cars must be freshly built and/or constructed for the current Pinewood Derby Racing Season.
NO REPEATS or REPAINTS.
Cars from previous racing seasons may not be reused.
Cars must be constructed, decorated, tuned, and/or aligned by the racer with adult supervision as necessary.
Parents are encouraged to enter separate cars for themselves in the parent/sibling category in order to satisfy their own competitive nature or to showcase their own designs. That said, your primary goal should be helping your child/teammate accomplish their design to the best of their abilities.
Cars may not be sent to third-party facilities for tuning or other performance enhancements.
Non-timed awards may be given based on the Guiding Principles based on appearance, design, or construction.

The main body structure must be made of wood.
Only Official BSA Grand Prix bodies or equivalent may be used. The substitution of other woods (i.e. harder, denser, heavier woods) is expressly forbidden.
If the builder lacks the resources to cut out a car from a stock block of wood, attendance at a workshop (den/pack/district) is strongly encouraged. Alternately, a pre-shaped block may be purchased to be used with the stock BSA Wheels and approved Axles.
No part of the car or attachment to any car, which is metal, pointed, sharp, and/or jagged, may be capable of contacting any part of the track. Only the vehicle’s wheels should touch the track.
Drilled holes or slots can be used to mount axles.
ONLY DRY LUBRICANT(s) ALLOWED. No oil lubricants are allowed.
Over-application of lubricant (anywhere on the body, axles, or wheels) which results in excessive shedding onto the track is not allowed. Excessive shall be defined as residue, visible or not, which affects the friction or cleanliness of the track.

Width - Not to exceed 2 3/4 inches
Length - Not to exceed 7 inches
Weight - Not to exceed 5.0 ounces on scale accurate to 1/10 ounce.
Center Rail Width - Must clear center guide rails, typically no less than 1-3/4 inches minimum.
Bottom - No less than 3/8 inches from the track surface between center rails.
Fender flairs with less clearance are acceptable as long as the center rail width clearance is maintained.
Wheelbase – All cars must have a wheelbase no less than 4", with the two rear wheels being positioned directly across the body from one another and the two front wheels being positioned directly across the body from one another.
Front End Height - Depending upon the track, the front of the car may rest against a short starting pin. Therefore, the front bottom of the car which rests on the pin is no higher than 0.75" above the track.
Front End Width - The front end must be at least ½ inches wide in the middle.
No part of the car body, wheels, or attachments may protrude in front of the starting peg.
The car design may be enhanced and/or reinforced by the addition of other stable materials such as plastic or metal. Any additions must be firmly attached and meet Car Size Requirements.

Springs
Starting devices or propellants
Electronic or lighting devices that interfere with the race electronics.
Liquids, wet paint, oil, sticky substance, or powders of any kind (other than axle lubrication)
Glass or excessively fragile parts
Bearings, bushings, washers, sleeves, hubcaps, or inserts attached to or in contact with the axle, body, or wheels.
Loose objects on car
Magnets

Use only Official Scout Grand Prix wheels.
All lettering/numbering, both inside and outside, must remain complete and be visible.
The fluting and other BSA markings on the outside wheel area must remain visible.
Outer wheel surface must not be reshaped in any way in an attempt to lighten the wheel, minimize tread contact or alter aerodynamics.
Tread surface must be flat and parallel to the wheel bore.
Tread width may not be less than 7.5 mm.
You may add material such as glue, fingernail polish, or tape, to the inside of the wheel to aid in balancing of the wheel, but no material may be removed from the inside surfaces.

Rounding of tread surface/wheel edges.
Grooving, H-cutting or V-cutting.
Altering of wheel profile.
Narrowing the tread surface, other than truing inside tread edge.
Drilling sidewalls.
Hollowing, sanding, or otherwise removing or modifying material from inside the wheel.
Filling of any wheel surface with any type of material.

BSA Nail type axles are required with an overall diameter of no less than .084 inches for each wheel.
Some polishing and/or modification is allowed as long as the overall diameter is not reduced below .084 requirement.
Grooves are allowed in the axles.
The depth of the groove(s) is not limited so long as the journal portion of the axle (the part the wheel rides on) is no less than the stated minimum diameter.
Axles must not be connected to any device that mechanically alters rotation or spin.
Axles must be mounted into the wood sections of the car.

The use of exposed Lead(Pb) in cars is prohibited. All Lead(Pb) must be completely sealed and safe from all possible contact with the youth. There are many reasonably priced alternatives that should be used instead.
All weights should be secured firmly to the vehicle with glue, screw, putty or wooden plugs. Loose or unsecured weights will not be allowed. Weights that fall from cars during racing may not be reattached.