Pack 316

PINEWOOD DERBY

 
 
 
The Event: The Pinewood Derby Competition includes all Scouts in Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos Dens and Family members categories. Participants can compete in both of the following two categories, 
 
1. Speed - In the speed category, we will recognize the first, second, and third place fastest cars as well as the slowest. 
2. Design -  
a. Originality - In this design category we will recognize one car as the best.  
b. Craftsmanship - In this design category we will recognize one car as the best.  
3. Spirit of Pinewood Award – A scout or adult leader may nominate a scout that has learned from this experience. A nomination form is attached and will also be available at the race.
 
 
Note: Cars entered in the Pack 316 Pinewood Derby can compete in both the Speed and Design competition and it is possible for one car to win both awards. However if this occurs, then the scout must decide which event to enter at the District Event because they can only compete in one district event. For example, a car competing in the district speed event may not also compete in the district design competition. 
 
 
 

Schedule:

Each scout or Family member must register prior to the design judging for their category. If you do not register, you will not be permitted to enter the design or speed events.

Category Registration Design Judging Racing Award Ceremony

Lions / Tigers* 8:00 - 8:45 8:45 - 9:00 9:00 - 9:30 9:30 - 9:45

Wolfs 8:45 - 9:30 9:30 - 9:45 9:45 - 10:15 10:15 - 10:30

Family Race 9:30 - 10:15 10:15 - 10:30 10:30 - 11:00 11:00 - 11:15

Bears 10:15 - 11:00 11:00 - 11:15 11:15 - 11:45 11:45 - 12:00

Webelos I/II 11:00 - 11:45 11:45 - 12:00 12:00 - 12:30 12:30 - 12:45

* Although Lion and Tiger scouts will race together, they will receive separate awards.

Official Car Rules:

 
All cars, regardless of division or category, must comply with the following racing specifications which are excerpted from the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit Instructions:
· The car must be newly constructed. It shall not have been built (whether or not it was run) in a previous year.
· The car must be built using the materials in the official Pinewood Derby Racing Car Kit, including the body block, nail axles, and wheels. No substitutions are allowed. Materials from the kit may be supplemented but not replaced.

1. Length, Width, and Clearance
a. Overall width including wheels, axles, and attachments shall not exceed 2 ¾". 
b. The width between wheels must be 1 ¾” so the car will clear the center guide strip on the track.
c. Overall height including any attachments shall not exceed 4 ¾". 
d. Bottom clearance between the car and the track must be at least ⅜” so the car will clear the center guide strip on the track.
e. Overall length including any attachments shall not exceed 7.0".
f. The wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles) must remain at a distance of 4 ¼ inches (some kits may be off between 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch).

2. Car Body, Weight, and Appearance
a. The maximum weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces. The reading of the official scale will be final.
b. No liquids or loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car. 
c. No taping weight down to car.
d. The car may be hollowed out and built up to a maximum weight by the addition of solid materials only, provided any additional materials are securely built into the body or firmly affixed to it.
e. Details such as steering wheel, driver, decals, painting, or interior detail are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and height specifications and/or modify the mechanical functions of the body, wheels, and axles. 
f. The car shall not have any parts that are live animals, reptiles, etc.
g. Car shall not extend past the starting gate.
 



 
  
  
   
    
    
    Note: The starting gate is a dowel coming up from the track that is lowered evenly among the four lanes at the same time. Any attempt to build a car that extends beyond the starting gate dowel will be disallowed.
    
    
   
  
   
 




3. Wheels & Axles
a. ONLY BSA approved wheels and axles, as provided in the Official Pinewood Derby Kit shall be used
b. The wheels may not be tapered or rounded. The wheels may be slightly sanded to remove any molding marks or surface imperfections but may not be modified in any other way. The treads must be left flat. Beveling, tapering, narrowing, thinning, thin sanding or wafering of the wheels is prohibited. See below for examples.
c. Washers and bushings are prohibited. 
d. The car must have four operational wheels. 
e. The distance between front and rear axles cannot be altered. 
f. Axles must be all in the same plane (all four wheels touching the track)
g. Axles must be fully visible for inspection.
h. The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
i. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices or other types of propulsion.
j. Axles can be smoothed to remove surface imperfections, but not altered in any way except polishing. The head of the axle (nail) shall not be altered.
 

 
4. Lubrication

a. Only graphite or powdered Teflon “white lube” will be allowed for lubricating the wheels. You MAY NOT use any other lubricant, especially oil and silicone sprays. (Liquids and sprays mix with the paint of the car or the plastic wheels and make them tacky which will slow your car considerably.)

b. There will be NO lubrication after your car has completed Final Inspection and Registration.

5. Inspection and Registration

a. Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Committee before it may compete. The Inspectors have the right to disqualify those cars which do not meet these specifications.
b. Once the car has been inspected, weighed and registered, it will go to a holding area and can only be handled by the Cub Scout owner for racing, by the Pit Crew for repairing, or by the judges for evaluation of design.
c. Once registered, there will be NO additional lubricant applied to the wheels. All lubricant should be applied outside of the building and PRIOR TO weigh-in (excessive graphite application has made a terrible mess of both the track and the mall in the past years).
d. No test runs before the event. 


6. Ground Rules and Competition
 
SPEED
a. The car cannot be altered in any way after the race starts, with the exception of repairs. NO GRAPHITE may be applied to the car during the race or while in the building.
b. The speed race will be run on a six-lane track with timer. Each Cub Scout will run six races, once on each lane. The winner will be the car that has the lowest total elapsed time in the races.
c. Only Pinewood Derby officials and Scouts participating in the current race may enter the track area.
d. Each heat will be announced. Drivers will retrieve their cars from the “garage,” report to the starting line and place their cars on the designated track. The starter will start the race.
e. The car whose nose is over the finish line first is the winner for that race as detected by the electronic finish device. 
f. The judge at the finish line will determine the winner if the electronic finish device fails.
g. The drivers will then report to the finish line to retrieve their cars for the next race, and return their cars to the “garage” after the last race of the heat. The drivers return to their places outside the track area after the heat. 
h. If a car jumps the track or interferes with another car, the heat will not be counted and will be re-run. If a car jumps the track twice in the same heat, that car will be disqualified from the race.
i. In the event of a breakdown on the track (a wheel falls off), a repair time of two (2) minutes will be allowed. Only the Cub Scout owner and the Pit Crew will make repairs. One time only is allowed for repairs to a car.
j. The Pinewood Derby Committee will handle any questions of the rules or problems that may arise during the event.
k. The decisions of the Inspection Crew, the Derby Officials, and the Judges are final. These rules will be strictly enforced.
 
DESIGN 

Craftsmanship
a. Cars will be judged for Craftsmanship by independent judges that have been chosen by the Pinewood Derby Committee. These judges have been instructed by the Committee and are believed to be non-biased in their judging.
b. Craftsmanship will be based on the following:
· -Neatness: is the overall appearance pleasing and well-executed
· -Detail: how well was the idea carried out
· -Colors: do the colors blend well with the overall design
· -Scout Ability: is it evident that the Cub did the majority of the work
c.  Votes will be cast on ballot sheets and tallied by members of the Pinewood Derby Committee.
 
Originality
a. Cars will be judged for Originality by independent judges that have been chosen by the Pinewood Derby Committee. These judges have been instructed by the Committee and are believed to be non-biased in their judging.
b. Originality will be based on the following:
· -Unique Design: something other than a “usual” racecar design
· -Clever use of materials
· -Unique Colors: different color scheme that impacts the design
· -Detail: how well was the idea carried out
· -Scout Ability: is it evident that the Cub did the majority of the work
c. Votes will be cast on ballot sheets and tallied by members of the Pinewood Derby Committee.
 

 
7. Awards and Recognition
a. The most important values in Pinewood Derby competition are parent/scout participation, good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules. The Awards Committee is responsible for recognizing and encouraging these qualities in addition to traditional racing awards.
b. First, Second and Third place trophies will be awarded in each category of Speed, Craftsmanship and Originality. Trophy winners must be present to win.
 
 
Coaching Hints for Parents
· Help your Scout understand the rules and specifications found in the kit and those developed by the District Pinewood Derby Committee.
· Spending time with your scout and helping him “do his best” will be remembered by both of you long after the race is finished.
· Remember the focus of this event is not to win at any cost but for each Cub Scout to “DO HIS BEST” and HAVE FUN!!

Spirit of the Pinewood Derby Award

What did you learn from the Pinewood Derby experience or what do you think your scout learned?

- Building the car?

- Adult and Scout working together?

- Racing other scouts?

- Anything else?

Rules:

1. Scouts or Adults may participate.

2. Adults may nominate a scout

3. Scouts may nominate another scout or an adult.

Name of Scout________________________

Explaination:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEW BREAK DOWN FOR RACING GROUPS.

1. LION AND TIGER CUBS WILL RACE AS A SINGLE GROUP (HOWEVER THEY WILL RECEIVE SEPARTE AWARDS)

2. WOLVES WILL RACE AS A SINGLE GROUP

3. BEARS WILL RACE AS A SINGLE GROUP

4. WEBELOS I AND II WILL RACE AS A SINGLE GROUP

NEW BREAK DOWN FOR DESIGN JUDGING - TWO DIFFERENT CLASSES - ONE EACH FOR CRAFTSMANSHIP AND ORIGINALITY!

1. LION AND TIGER CUBS WILL BE JUDGED AS A SINGLE GROUP

2. WOLVES WILL BE JUDGED AS A SINGLE GROUP

3. BEARS WILL BE JUDGED AS A SINGLE GROUP

4. WEBELOS I AND II WILL BE JUDGED AS A SINGLE GROUP

CONTESTANTS TO BE SENT TO THE DISTRICT PINEWOOD DERBY

EACH PACK WILL SEND THEIR 1^ST PLACE WINNER IN EACH OF THE ABOVE CATEGORIES AT THE PACK’S OWN PINEWOOD DERBY EVENT!

FIRST PLACE WINNER (FASTEST CAR) IN EACH LEVEL (TIGERS - WOLVES - BEARS - WEBELOS I & II)

FIRST PLACE WINNER (FOR CRAFTSMANSHIP) AND FIRST PLACE

WINNER (FOR ORIGINALITY) IN EACH LEVEL (TIGERS - WOLVES - BEARS - WEBELOS I & II)

THAT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF TWELVE (12) DIFFERENT YOUTH FROM EACH OF OUR CROSSWINDS DISTRICT PACKS.