Pinewood Derby

Schedule:

Friday Night:  January 13, 2023

Set Up (Committee and wolves) 6:30-9                                            

Web 1 can set up concession stand                                           

 Early Check in 7:30-8:30

Saturday: January 14, 2023 - *scouts must arrive and check in 30 minutes prior to posted race time* 

Scouts may race during another den if they have a schedule conflict or have committee member race for them if they check their car in.

10:00 Doors Open                                            

11:00    Lions Race               

11:30    Tigers Race               

Break               

12:15    Bears Race               

12:45    Webb 1 Race               

Break                   

1:30       AOL Race               

2:00       Wolves Race             

Break/Voting on Scout Cars                       

2:45       Sibling and Adult Races *siblings may race with dens if not staying for race.               

3:00       Grand Finale               

3:15       Trophy Presentation                                            

Please return by 4pm to pik up your cars!

Each Scout will have the opportunity to vote on their fellow Scouts cars based on the categories below.

Categories:               

Best in Show               

Coolest Paint               

Most Scout Like               

Toughest Looking               

Most Unique               

Funny

We will have the box and scale at our next meeting on Monday January 9, 2023.

If you have any questions or would like to help with race day, please see Megan W, Chad, Lindsey, or Heather.

Here are the rules for Pack 701 Pinewood Derby Races!

                                    2023 Pinewood Derby Pack 701 Rules 

Each participating Cub Scout is to build a completely new car each year using the official pinewood derby car-kit (BSA Part # 17006 or equivalent).  The dimensions of the car must meet the below minimum and maximum standards. The cars will run on an aluminum, wooden or plastic track. The cars will be released from a starting point at the top of the track and race down the track with the use of natural gravity only.  No motorized starts, enhancers or bearings will be used to give the car an unfair advantage. No car or any portion of the car including, but not limited to, wheels and axles, may be used from a previous derby’s car. To minimize unnecessary cost, only weights from previous cars may be used.  At the request of any judge or race official, the scout may be required to provide proof of a car being newly built.

PARTS AND MATERIALS: Official pinewood derby car kits, weights, wheels, axels and other optional accessories may be purchased from a BSA approved distributors, including Simon Kenton Council Service Center, Scout Camp Trading Post, Hobby Lobby or www.scoutstuff.org.  There are hundreds of websites that sell pinewood derby parts and accessories that claim to be BSA approved, please bring it to the attention of a race official for verification and approval prior to purchasing items from these sites.  We do not want to disqualify a scout’s car for unapproved parts.

WIDTH: Maximum overall width allowable, including wheels is 2 ¾ inches.  After market side rails are permissible as long as they do not extend past the wheels.

LENGTH: Maximum overall length allowable is 7 inches.  No portion of the car will be allowed to extend forward of the starting pin/gate.  The further most point on the front of the car MUST make contact with the starting pin.

CLEARANCE: Maximum clearance under the body is 3/8 inches.  This is measured by placing the car on a flat surface with the wheels mounted and measuring from the lowest point of the wood block to surface.  This will prevent the car from bottoming out on the track. The minimum clearance between the inside of the wheel is 1 ¾ inches. While the wheels are mounted, measure the front wheels from the inside of the wheel to its opposite front wheel.  Repeat for the rear wheels. This will prevent the cars’ wheels from rubbing on the side of the track’s center riser guide.

WHEEL BASE: Wheel base is to be approximately 4 ¼ inches.  This is measured from the center of each axel, front to back.

WEIGHT: Weight cannot exceed 5.0 ounce (141.75 grams).  The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by additional wood, metal or any other SOLID material, provided they are securely attached to the body of the car.  No loose material of any kind is permitted on the car. At no time can liquids be used as a weight as it will give an unfair advantage to that car by using inertia as an additional means of movement.  Gravity is the only means of power that is permissible. Lead is permissible for weight provided that is completely enclosed within the body of the car.

MATERIAL: The car body, wheels and axles must be from the official pinewood derby car kit (BSA Part # 17006 or equivalent).  The car may not ride on any type of springs. Details such as decals, pine stripes, cockpit accessories and interior detailing is permissible as long as they are securely attached to the body or chassis and does not exceed the maximum weight, height and length.

WHEELS: Wheels must be from the official pinewood derby car kit (BSA Part #17006 or equivalent) or from the optional colored Cub Scout derby wheels and axle kit (BSA Parts #17553, 17554, 17555, 17556 and 17557).  Wheels may be lightly sanded only to remove bumps, burns and ridges. They may not be shaved or reduced in diameter or width. Wheels may not be beveled, tapered or in any other fashion modified from the original size and shape.  Wheels may not be painted. Wheel covers, bearings, washers and bushings are strictly prohibited.

AXELS: The axels (round head nails) must be from the official pinewood derby kit (BSA Part # 17006 or equivalent) or from the optional colored Cub Scout derby wheels and axle kit (BSA Parts #17553, 17554, 17555, 17556 and 17557). Axels may be polished using files, sandpaper, etc. or by using the pinewood derby high performance kit (BSA Part #16988) to remove burrs, scratches and ridges.  The axels may not be machined or reduced in diameter anywhere along the axle shaft. One-piece axles that extend the entire width of the car or any other substitute axles are not permitted.

LUBRICATIONS: Pinewood Derby axle lubrication (BSA Part #17106 and 17019) are permissible.  Graphite lubricant will be allowed, however do not use an excessive amount. Graphite will stain most surfaces and could cause the cars to not travel down the track properly.  Lubrication must be applied prior to the inspection and registration of the car. No lubrication is permitted after registration or during the derby. To get the most of out of the cars this year, the pit crew will reapply lubricant to all of the cars that qualify for the finals.  (This only applies to Pack 701 and does not apply for the district race.)

INSPECTION: The car must meet the weight, clearance and size requirements as stated above and use only materials listed in the 2021 Pinewood Derby Rules for Pack 701 once approved by an authorized race official.  A pit-stop (or repair table) will be provided on race day and is for the use of all participants. The only tools that will be authorized to use will be the tools in the pit- stop area. If there is a tool that the pit-stop table doesn’t have, you may request verbally for its use.  Determination will be made by an authorized race official. A car with illegal parts may have them replaced or removed prior to registration and the car will be allowed to participate in the race provided it passes re-inspection. Any car using illegal lubricants will automatically be disqualified.  If the car is broken down and the illegal lubricant is completely cleared off the car, the car may be re-inspected by an authorized race official.

DISQUALIFICATION: A scout or car could be disqualified from the race if any of the following occur:

• Any use of improper material as outlined above,      including but not limited to lubricant, wheels, axels or body.       Adjustments or repairs made in accordance with what is stated in the      “Inspection” paragraph will permit scout or car to remain in race.
• Changing the car after inspection and or registration,      except for authorized repairs.
• Removing the registration sticker from the car.
• Handling the car without permission of an authorized      race official.
• Not following the instruction of an authorized race      official.
• Not following any other rule specified for the pinewood      derby.

This should not have to be said, but unfortunately, does have to be covered in case it were to occur.  Therefore, this must be mentioned:

- Any Scout, parent scout leader, sibling or other spectators that use offensive language, act in an unsportsmanlike like manner, throw objects in anger or make threatening gestures will be removed from the race and not permitted to return.  If the offender is a scout, the scout’s car will immediately be withdrawn from the race and the scout will be asked to leave the event. The pack leaders, committee and cub master will discuss disciplinary actions at a later time.

HANDLING: Only the Cub Scout who has entered the car or a race official may handle the cars being raced.

RACE PROCEDURE: We have an electric timing system to manage timing for each race heat.  All cars will race a minimum number of races that will be determined and announced on race day (depending on the number of entrants).  The cars will be timed from the starting gate, when released, to when the cars cross the finish line. Their times will be recorded manually on an Excel Spreadsheet. At the completion of all race heats, the elapsed times for each race will be displayed on a screen so that all spectators and scouts can keep track (if available). All elapsed times for each car will be added together and the top three cars with the three lowest times will place 1stthrough 3rd overall.  We will then award 1st through 3rd for each den based on the remaining cars. The final awards ceremony will be held at the next pack meeting. Awards will be provided to the top three in each den and the top three overall fastest times.

RERUNS:  If the starter or an authorized race official declares a miss-start, gets stuck or a car leaves the track, that car will be rerun.  When a car has left the track and requires repair, the scout will be allowed up to five minutes to repair that car at the pit stop area only.  The pit crew/authorized race official and parent will assist the scout as much a needed. At no time will a parent or other scout be allowed in the pit stop area to apply more graphite.  If the car is damaged again in the same heat and is deemed not repairable it may be withdrawn from the race. If a car leaves the track, the car will be allowed to return up to three times before it is withdrawn from the race.

PROTESTS: In the event that a scout believes he should have a rerun, he may make a protest to an authorized race official as to why he should be allowed to rerun.  An authorized race official will review the protest and make an immediate determination. Reasons for a rerun would include but not limited to:

-Car riding up on center guide

-Hit by another car during race

-Debris on the track

-Track came out of alignment

-Etc.

All protests will be considered and the determination by an authorized race official.

PARTICIPATION: Every Cub Scout must be present to race his car and receive any award.  If a scout cannot attend Pinewood Derby and would like to race, his car will be placed in the sibling race and is not able to win a trophy.

CONTINGENCY PLAN:  An official Pinewood Derby program, an Excel spreadsheet or a combination of both will be used to track the time of all racers.  Should one program stop working for any reason, the other method will be used. Should both programs stop working, the race officials will use stopwatches and photography to determine the winner.

The decision of an authorized race official(s) is final.  These rules will be used by Cub Scout Pack 701 for the 2022 Pinewood derby race.

When building your car, keep in mind that scouts, parents and leaders will be judging for the following awards:

Best in Show

Coolest paint job

Most patriotic/ scout related

Toughest looking

Most unique

Funny

*For 2023, exact procedure for judging is TBD depending on how the committee decides how best to safely proceed.