I. GENERAL:
Rules
about entering your car
II. CUB
SCOUT RACE CAR DESIGN STANDARDS:
Rules about building your car
III. CONDUCT OF THE RACES:
Rules
that will be used during the races
IV. THE RACING ENVIRONMENT:
Track,
timers, and scoring
V. SPORTSMANSHIP:
Some
notes on Sportsmanship
I. GENERAL RULES: (Applies to
all Race Events)
G-1. Qualification: All registered Blue Mountain District
Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts may design, build and enter cars that are
eligible to participate in the "Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Race" event.
Scouts
DO NOT HAVE TO BE WINNERS at the Pack
level to participate in the District Derby.
G-3. Competitor Categories: All
Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts that are registered within Blue Mountain
District may enter this Pinewood Derby.
Cub
Scouts will compete with others in the same age group (i.e. Tigers, Wolf, Bear,
and Webelos).
Trophies
will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age group (Tiger, Wolf, Bear,
and Webelos).
First
and second year Webelos will run as one group.
G-4. Attendance: The Cub Scout must be present at
"Inspection and Registration" to enter his car into competition.
G-5. "New Work": Construction
of all entries must have begun AFTER
last year's Blue Mountain District
Pinewood Derby Races.
G-6. Single Entry per Person: Only
one car may be registered by any Scout in the Pinewood
G-7. Inspection and Registration: Each
car must pass a technical inspection before it may compete. Technical inspection
and registration of cars occurs on the morning of the race prior to race time at
the Social Hall at
No
car may be altered in any way after it has been registered.
After
a car passes registration, it will be stored by the Pinewood Derby Race
Committee until time for it to race.
All
cars must be registered 15 minutes prior to the start of the race.
G-8. Failure to Pass Inspection: The
Inspection Committee shall disqualify cars, which do not meet the rules as
described herein.
If
a car does not pass inspection, the Scout will be informed of the reason.
Cars
that fail the initial inspection may have corrections and modifications made and
be reinspected. Scouts should bring their own tools and supplies that may be
needed to perform any corrections or modifications that may be needed.
G-9. : Car Design Rules Interpretation: Any questions concerning the rules described in G1 through G-10, and T-1 thru T-9 will be settled by the Inspection Committee Judges present during the Registration and Inspection process. Their decision will be final.
G-10. Race-Day Rules Interpretation: Questions
of rules interpretations and procedures should be addressed to the Pinewood
Derby Race Officials promptly. Decisions of Race Officials on questions of rules
interpretation and procedure may be appealed to the Pinewood Derby Chairman. All
decisions of the Pinewood Derby Chairman are final.
Decisions
of Race Officials on questions of fact (i.e. the result of a specific race) may
not be appealed beyond the Trackmaster and/or Finish Line Judges.
II. CUB
SCOUT PINEWOOD RACE CAR DESI
GN STANDARDS
T-1. Material: Race cars shall be constructed for this
event from the parts contained in the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit
(referred to below as the kit). Materials from the kit may be supplemented but
not replaced. For example fenders, driver figures, etc may be added to the car
but wheels, axles, etc. must be from the kit.
T-2. Weight: Race cars may weigh no more than five (5)
ounces (total weight) as determined
on the official scales during the registration. The weight as determined by the
official race scale is the only weight that will be accepted.
T-3. Wheels and Axles: The car shall roll on the wheels
and axle nails supplied in the kit. The axle nails shall be firmly affixed to
the wood of the car body, and must be placed in the original 'axle grooves' in the wooden block supplied in the kit.
It
must be obvious to the judges that the grooves, wheels, and the nails from the
kit are being used.
T-4. Size: Race cars may be no longer than 7 inches,
nor wider than 2-3/4 (2.75) inches, as determined by the official gages during
the registration and inspection.
Underside
clearance of at least 3/8 (0.375) inches and inside wheel-to-wheel clearance of
at least 1-3/4 (1.75) inches is recommended so that the car will run on the
racetrack. Adequate clearance is the
responsibility of the race car builder.
T-5. Weights and Attachments: Weight
may be added to the car and will be considered part of the car for purposes of
all measurements.
"Weight"
is considered to be any material on the car that is not provided in the kit.
All
weights must be securely fastened to the car, e.g. by permanent glue, nails or
screws, but not by "sticky substances", e.g. tape, or tack spray.
Weights
shall be passive, i.e. non-moveable, non-magnetic, nonelectric,
T-6. Wheel Treatment: Wheel treatment (hub and tread
smoothing and polishing) may not result in substantial removal of mass or in
reducing the wheel width from the original kit wheels.
Some
of the original "tread marks" on the wheel face must remain intact and
be apparent to the inspector.
Wheels
may not be machined to a beveled condition and the portion of the wheel surface
that contacts the track must remain parallel to the axle.
T-7. Unacceptable Construction: The
following may NOT be used in
conjunction with the wheels or axles: hubcaps, washers, inserts, sleeves,
bearings.
T-8. Gravity Powered: The race car may not be
constructed or treated in such a way that the track's starting mechanism imparts
momentum to the car. (For instance, this provision disqualifies cars with sticky
substances on the front of the car and protrusions, which may catch on or extend
beyond the starting pin.)
T-9. Lubricants: Only dry lubricants such as graphite or
powdered Teflon "white lube" will be allowed for lubricating the
wheels. LIQUID LUBRICANTS WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED.
Liquid lubricants will foul
the track. Liquid lubricants like silicone and oil will also soften the plastic
wheels.
T-10.
Paint: Cars may be painted. Paint must
be thoroughly dry prior to registering.
III. CONDUCT OF THE
RACES
C-1. Race Heats: Track officials are responsible for the
proper conduct of the races.
Competition
will consist of heat races within each age group. First and second year Webelos
will be raced as one group.
C-2. Inspection: The race-day Inspection and Registration
Area will have the official scale and gauges. The inspection equipment at this
area will be the official equipment for the race. Scouts will be allowed to make
adjustments to their cars if they do not pass inspection prior to registering.
(Please stress this fact to all Cub Scouts. They should be prepared to make
adjustments to their cars if necessary.)
C-3. Car Handling Responsibility: Once
registered cars will be staged in the holding area. No Scouts or other
unauthorized persons may enter the holding area. Track officials will maintain
security of the holding area.
Track
officials will handle and place all race cars on the track.
If
a Scout's physical limitations prevent him from being able to handle his car for
registration the scout may nominate an assistant to assist him with the approval
of the Race Chairman. In any case, the scout shall participate up to his
limitations.
C-4. Lane Assignment: To neutralize any advantage of a
particular lane each car will race in eight heats using a different lane for
each heat until the car has raced once in each lane of the track.
C-5. Car Leaves Lane: If, during a race heat, a car
leaves it’s lane but proceeds down the track in a manner that does not
interfere with an opponent’s car, then that heat will be called normally.
If
the car leaves it's lane and interferes with another car, the race heat will be
re-staged and re-run. If the same car again leaves it's lane and interferes with
another car, that car will be judged last place and the race heat will be
re-staged and re-run without that car.
If
a car leaves its lane from more than one lane during it’s race heats it will
be disqualified from further racing.
C-6. Car Leaves Track: If, during a race heat, a car
leaves the track without interfering with an opponent’s car, it shall be
considered to have ended its heat at that point.
If,
during a race heat, a car leaves the track and interferes with an opponent’s
car that race heat will be re-staged and re-run. If that same car again leaves
the track and interferes with an opponent’s car the race heat will be
re-staged and re-run without that car. The car at fault will be judged to have
come in last for that race heat.
If
a car leaves the track more than once during the race heats for that age group
it will be disqualified from further racing regardless whether it interferes
with another car.
C-7. Track Fault: If a car leaves its lane or the track the
Trackmaster will inspect the track. If a track fault is found to be the probable
cause of the initial violation, the Trackmaster will order the race heat to be
rerun after the track is repaired.
If
the track is determined to be the cause of the initial violation this violation
will not be counted against the car that left it’s lane or the track.
C-8 Car Repair (Without Fault): If,
during the race, a wheel falls off or the car becomes otherwise damaged, then
the Scout may, to the best of his ability perform repairs with the assistance of
his adult partner or Pit Crew Member.
Repairs
must not cause an excessive delay to the race.
The
Race Chairman will determine if the repairs are excessively delaying the
continuation of the race.
If
the car cannot be repaired in a timely manner it will be considered
disqualified.
C-9. Car Repair (With Fault): If
a car is damaged due to track fault, or damage caused by another car or person,
then the Race Chairman, at his sole discretion, may allow additional repair
assistance to the Scout.
Repairs
must not cause an excessive delay to the race.
The
Race Chairman will determine if the repairs are excessively delaying the
continuation of the race.
If
the car cannot be repaired in a timely manner it will be considered
disqualified.
C-10. Debris From Cars: If any parts fall off a car
during the race the part will be picked up and given to the Scout. Unless the
part is necessary for the car to race (ie a tire, etc,) it will not be put back
on the car. As long as the part does not interfere with another car the race
will be called as finished. If the part interferes with another car the race
will be rerun with all cars. If a car loses 2 or more parts during it’s heats
the Track Master will inspect the car and remove any parts he/she determines may
fall off in subsequent heats before the race continues.
C-11. No Finishers: If, during a race heat, no car reaches
the finish line on the track, the car that went the farthest in its lane shall
be declared as the heat winner.
C-12. Call to Race: Competitors will be called by age group
(Tigers, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos) prior to the start of each race so the Scouts
will be able to watch their car race.
C-13. Race Winners: The winners will be determined by the
lowest average time from all race heats for each age group.
C-15. Rewards and Recognition: The
most important values in Pinewood Derby competition is parent/son participation,
good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules.
To
recognize and encourage these traits trophies will be awarded to the first,
second and third-place Scouts in each age group.
C-16. Participants Conduct:
Unsportsmanlike conduct from Scouts or parents will not be tolerated and may be
grounds for being disqualified and/or expelled from the race event.
IV. THE RACING
ENVIRONMENT
R-1. Track Length and Drop: The
track has a racing surface (starting line to finish line distance) of
approximately 28 feet with a drop of approximately 4 feet.
R-2. Track Slope: The track slope decreases from
approximately 30 degrees at the starting line to approximately 0 degrees at the
finish line.
R-3. Lanes: Each lane consists of a straight, smooth
wooden strip approximately 1-1/2 (1.50) inches but certainly less than 1-3/4
(1.75) inches wide, and approximately 1/4 (0.25) inches but less than 3/8
(0.375) inches thick, centered on a smooth surface no less than 4 inches wide.
Each
race car must be able to straddle this strip during the races.
R-5. Finish Line Sensor Location: The
track has electronics called Finish Line Sensors.
These
shall be in alignment with the corresponding starting line pin and be
approximately centered in its lane.
R-6. Finish Line Judging: One
impartial Finish Line Judge shall be stationed as to observe each race heat, on
each track.
Race
heat finish judging is determined by the finish line sensor, but may be
challenged by the Finish Line Judge.
If
the track's electronic finish line sensor's result is challenged by the Finish
Line Judge, the race will be re-staged and re-run.
R-7. Finish Line Judge Backup: Finish
Line Judges will temporarily excuse themselves if they know that one of the heat
contestants is a son or relative. Backup Finish Line Judges shall be available
in case a judge needs to be excused for any reason.
R-8. The "Big Board": Competition
results will be displayed for 60 seconds via a video projection unit after race.
R-9. Finish Line Clearance: Track Finish Line Electronics and other track accessories, if used, must be no closer than 3 inches above the track.
V. SPECIAL
NOTES TO ALL CONCERNED
This
project is a parent and son event, and is recommended as such by the National
Boy Scouts of America. Parents should emphasize this idea with your son.
Every
effort is made to run this event fairly for all participants so everyone can
enjoy the spirit of competition. In all of the events, we require that the cars
be built this year.
Sportsmanship:
There
are three things the Pinewood Derby requires each participant to learn are 1)
the craft skills necessary to build a car, 2) the rules that must be followed,
and 3) what it means to be a good sportsman.
The
first thing to remember is that everyone’s skills are a little different. You
may be good at something like singing or drawing, but not as good at something
else like basketball or computers. This doesn't mean that you are a good person
one time and not a good person another time. You can always be a good person,
whether or not you are good at a particular activity or sport. Just because you
may not build a great car does not mean you are not a good person.
Remember,
you and your friends are individuals first and racers second. This idea is often
called “having respect for others”. The goal of the Pinewood Derby is to
have fun together building and racing the cars rather than winning the race.
The
third thing to remember about competition is that there are winners and losers.
You accept this when you choose to compete. Being a winner is easy, and losing
is sometimes hard. If you win, you must accept congratulations without bragging
or gloating. If you lose, you must not feel jealous or bitter, and you should
congratulate the winner. You must be able to say, "I did my best" and
be satisfied with the results. This is called, “being a good sport.” You
must also be able to appreciate and feel happy for someone else when they run a
good race or build a neat car.
The
most important thing with the Pinewood Derby is to have a great time building
the car and competing against your fellow Scouts.