Keystone District Pinewood Derby Racing Committee
RULES & REGULATIONS
1. LENGTH, WIDTH, AND CLEARANCE:
A. Maximum overall width of car (including wheels and axles) shall not be
wider than 2.75 inches.
B. Minimum width between wheels shall be 1.75 inches so car will clear
the center guide strip.
C. Minimum clearance between bottom of car and track shall be .375
inches so car will clear the center guide strip.
D. Maximum length shall not exceed 7 inches.
E. The wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles) may not be
changed.
F. Height shall not exceed 2.25 inches so car will pass through the
electronic finish line assembly.
2. WEIGHT AND APPEARANCE:
A. Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces or 145 grams. Cars will be
weighed-in according to Gram weight. The reading of the
official race car scale will be considered final. The car may
be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the
addition of solid metal or wood only (no liquid weight material).
All additions must be securely built into the body or firmly
attached to it. Dimension limits must be adhered to.
B. Mercury or other liquid shall not be used for weight on the car.
C. Detail items such as steering wheel, driver,spoiler, decals,
painting and interior details cannot exceed the maximum length,
width, and height or weight specifications. Car numbers will be
issued and attached to the car at registration by the racing officials.
D. Cars with wet or sticky paint will not be accepted.
3. WHEELS AND AXLES:
A. Only the official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit wheels
and axles can be used.
B. No bushings, washers, or bearings can be used.
C. Any rough edges on axles (nails supplied with the kit) or wheels may
filed or sanded. This light sanding is the only wheel modification
allowed. Beveling, tapering or wafering is prohibited and the car
will not be permitted to race.
D. Lathe turning on wheels and axles is prohibited.
E. The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
F. The car must be freewheeling with no starting devices or other
methods of propulsion.
4. LUBRICATION:
A. No type of liquid lubricant or oils may be used.
B. Graphite or other non-oily substances may be used. Be careful
as some lubricants may soften the plastic wheels.
C. Cars may be lubricated before or during inspection and prior
to acceptance. No further lubrication will be allowed after the
car is placed on the designated racing table.
GROUND RULES:
A. Race is open to all Cub Scouts registered with the Keystone
District of Laurel Highlands Council and won this year's race
in their Pack.
B. Car must be built for this year's Pinewood Derby program. No
cars used in another year's race will be allowed. Because of the
difficulty in proving when the car was built the person doing the
challenging and the boy in question must explain issues surrounding
the building of the car. In case of a disputed challenge one of the
official Judges will be asked to resolve the dispute privately away
from the crowded area. After listening to each person the Judge will
make a decision. The decision of the Judge is final.
C. Each boy brings his car to the inspection and weigh-in table.
D. After inspection, the boy takes his car to the registration table where
his name is recorded and a car number label is affixed to his car.
E. After registration, the boy will then put his car on the starting table.
CARS ARE NOT TO BE HANDLED AFTER THIS POINT
EXCEPT TO RACE.
F. After official inspection, weigh-in and registration, only the participant
may make minor repairs to a car. Adults may only advise and such
minor repairs must be completed before a car's next scheduled HEAT
or it will not be allowed to continue racing. During a race if a damaged
car is such that it can't race it automatically goes to the double-
elimination status and is done racing.
G. Only the boy will be allowed to handle his car.
H. At the beginning of each round of racing numbers will be POSITION
numbers will be be drawn from a container. This is NOT the car
number and is used to determine which boys will place their cars in
the next round of races.
I. The race will be a "double-elimination" type that allows each boy to
race his car a minimum of four-times down the tr4ack.
J. An official race will by two HEATS. A HEAT will be one trip down
the track by the cars. The first HEAT the two cars will race down the
track in the outside lanes. The second HEAT the two cars will
exchange lanes and race again. A car will receive 1-ELIMINATION
when it loses both HEATS.
K. In the situation where two cars racing each win one HEAT that make
up a race, both cars will advance to the next round and will not be
assessed an ELIMINATION.
L. If a car jumps the track it loses the HEAT. If a car jumps the track
and interferes with another car it looses the HEAT.
M. If a car jumps the track and is damaged such that it can not continue
to race it automatically receives 2-ELIMINATION status.
N. In the case of a "BYE" (an odd number of cars to race in a given
round), that car will make two trips down each track alone so that
there will be an equal run-out on lubrication.
O. As each HEAT is announced the boys to race are to place their cars
at the starting gate. The gatekeeper will start the race by releasing
the cars.
P. The electronic finish line will be used with a Judge observing the
results of the machine. Should a failure of the electronic finish line
occur a panel of 3 Judges will determine the winning car of each
HEAT. Decision of the Judge or Judges is final.
Q. Only the racing officials and the two Scouts racing will be permitted
in the registrations and track area. This rule will be strictly enforced.
The Gatekeeper must give permission for a Scout to enter the area
to race or to leave the area after racing.
R. Any Scout walking over the track, disregarding rules or acting unruly
will be disqualified from further racing. Their car will be placed into
2-ELIMINATION status.
