Background

The Pinewood Derby is one of the most popular events in Cub Scouting. Every year more than a million boys and parents team up to carve, decorate, weigh, adjust, fret over, and finally race a Pinewood Derby car. The first Pinewood Derby was held in 1953 by Cub Scout Pack 280C of Manhattan Beach, California, and as of 1991 (Ref. 1992 BSA Retail Catalog) more than 81 million Pinewood Derby model car kits have been sold.

The purpose of the Pinewood Derby is to help the Cub Scout build a team relationship with their parent or helper, to experience the sense of accomplishment and the excitement of competition, to learn good sportsmanship, and to have fun.

The model cars are made of wood to specified dimensions, created, carved, assembled, and decorated by Cub Scouts under the guidance (and limited assistance) of the parents or helpers. The cars are gravity powered and run down a special track.

Like all successful events, it requires some planning and preparation, but the payoff in fun and strengthening family relationships has been proven over the years.

Official 2011 Pinewood Derby Rules

The Pack 40 Pinewood Derby will be held on Saturday April 2, 2011. We will also host a test and tune session before the race on Wednesday March 30, 2011 from 6:00 - 8:00, The track will be set up in order for your son to test run his car.

There will be five (5) race divisions: Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelo I and Webelo II. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category will be able to go on to the district Pinewood Derby to be held on Sunday April 17, 2011.

The computerized race management system will automatically keep track of each racer's scores and will generate the racing brackets for each division.

1. Eligibility: To enter any race, a boy must be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America at the time of this derby.

2. Ownership: Proxy racing is allowed, however only one car per scout is permitted.

3. Attendance: He must register and have his car weighed in, inspected and numbered before the race begins and be present for the entire race. Car is disqualified if the boy is not present at race time.

4. Use of previous year cars: Each Cub Scout is to build a completely new car each year. No car or portion thereof used in any previous year by any Cub Scout shall be entered.

5. Wet paint: A car with wet paint WILL NOT be allowed to race.

6. Width: Maximum overall width allowable is 2-3/4" from outside to outside of wheels maximum body width is 1-3/4". Height: Maximum height of car is 2-3/4".

7. Length: Overall length shall not exceed 7". A car shall not extend beyond the starting line.

8. Clearance: Cars must have 3/8" minimum clearance under the body, 1-3/4" minimum clearance between the inside of the wheels. All four wheels must lay flat on the track surface.

9. Springing: The car SHALL NOT ride on any type of springs.

10. Weight: Weight shall not exceed five (5) ounces. No loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car. The car may be hollowed out and built up to maximum weight by the addition of wood or solid metal only, provided it is securely built into the body or chassis. (Liquids are considered loose materials.) The readings of the official race scale shall be considered final. Using tape to hold weight on the car is prohibited.

11. Materials: The car shall be made of material from the official BSA kit. (Grand Prix Car Kit #17006). Substitutions for body, wheels (excluding BSA colored wheels) and round head nails furnished in kit may not be made and could result in disqualification. Nails may be polished. Other items may be added for weight or design purposes.

12. Wheels: Are not to be shaved or reduced in diameter or width. Sandpaper may be used to true the wheels, but contour of wheels cannot be changed. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited. Surface of the wheel must be flat. The original wheelbase must be maintained using the pre-cut axel slots.

13. Details: Details, such as steering wheel, drivers, decals, paintings, and interior detail are permissible as long as the car does not exceed the maximum weight.

14. Attachments: The car must be free-wheel with no starting devices or magnets in the front end.

15. Lubrication: ONLY dry powdered lubricants such as powdered graphite may be used as lubrication. Lubrication of cars will be allowed only before inspection and weigh-in. No lubrication will be permitted after inspection and no lubrication will be permitted on exposed surface of wheels. Cars that have been lubricated using wet lubricants will not be allowed to run.

16. Tech Inspection: Each car must pass tech inspection by the official inspection team before it may compete. The inspectors have the right to disqualify those cars which do not meet these specifications. The decision of the chief race official will be final. Cars that do not pass tech inspection will not be allowed to run.

17. Handling: Cars will not be handled by the scout or parent except to race after being weighed in.

18. Leaving track: If any car jumps the track the pass may be re run by decision of the race officials.

19. Restricted area: All personnel, except race officials, must be clear of the track area.

20. Judging: Any participant (including a parent or guardian) has the right to appeal to the race officials for an interpretation of the rules. The race officials, by majority vote shall be the final interpreter of the rules. In case of a tie vote, the decision of the chief race official will be final.*

21. Mechanical Issues: If a car suffers a mechanical problem during a pass (looses an axle, breaks a wheel etc..) the participant or designated adult will have up to five (5) minutes to fix the car. The pass will be re run.

If a car suffers a mechanical problem after a pass, the participant or a designated adult will have five (5) minutes or until the car's next scheduled pass to fix the car. The pass will not be re run.

22. Race Format: The race format will be announced prior to the races based on the number of entries. Each car will run at least once on each lane of the track.

*PLEASE! THIS IS A RACE FOR THE BOYS, NOT THE ADULTS.

In a society where your son is often taught that "winning is everything", Cub Scouting teaches him to "do his best".

Hints & Suggestions

Start early and unless your son is a pro, keep the design real simple -- a wedge works well.

Weight and wheel preparation appear to be the most important considerations; you want the weight to come in as close to 5 ounces as possible. Cylindrical weights are the easiest to use since you can just drill the correct size hole at the end, saw the cylinders to the right length, and then slide it in (they can be made to look like exhaust pipes, and can be any length to get the desired weight).

Plain Enamelon type spray paint works surprisingly well and dries very quickly; the "official" model paints are complicated, require primer, and have a long drying time.

Work on the wheels, axles, and their placement apparently pays off; you may want get an axle polishing kit (a chuck for holding axle in hand drill and grit for polishing it) and use it; shave the plastic ridge off of the wheels. Making sure that the car tracks straight is quite important (push it on the floor and see if it goes in a straight line); make sure the car has the right clearance and meets the required dimensions.

Decals, driver models, etc are easy add-ons.