Pack 578 PINEWOOD DERBY RULES

This project is a parent and son event and is recommended as such by the National Boy Scouts of America. The Pinewood Derby Committee STRONGLY SUGGESTS that each parent emphasize this idea with your son. In all of the events, we require that the cars be built this year.

Sportsmanship:
Two things the Pinewood Derby requires each participant to learn are 1) the craft skills necessary to build a car, and 2) the rules that must be followed. Even more important though, is how we act and behave while participating in the Pinewood Derby or any other group activity. This is called sportsmanship.

The first thing to remember about sportsmanship is that everyone's skills are a little different. One person may be good at something like singing or drawing, but not as good at something else like basketball or computers. Parents have different skill levels, too. This doesn't mean that you are a good person one time and not good another time. You can always be a good person, whether or not you have good car-building skills. Remember, you and your friends are individuals first and racers second. This idea is often called having respect for others.

The second thing to remember is to follow the rules. Without rules, there would be no Pinewood Derby. You will never know if you are really good at doing something unless you follow the rules. This is often called being honest.

The third thing to remember about good sportsmanship is that there are winners and losers in every competition. You accept this when you choose to compete. There may be times when you win and feel happy, and times when you lose and feel unhappy. Being a winner is easy, and losing is sometimes hard. If you win, you must not brag or gloat. If you lose, you must not feel jealous or bitter. To be a good sportsman, you must be able to say, "I did my best" and be satisfied with the results. You must also be able to appreciate and feel happy for someone else when he runs a good race or builds a neat car.

I. GENERAL RULES: (Applies to all Race Events)

G-1. Qualification: All registered Pack 578 Tiger, Cub, and Webelos Scouts may design, build and enter cars that are eligible to participate in the "Cub Scout Race" event. Parents or guardians of Cub Scouts registered in Pack 578 may design, build and enter cars that are eligible to participate in the "Sibling/Adult Race" event. All scouts dues and popcorn money must be paid in full.

G-2. Essential Materials: All cars entered shall be constructed from the "Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit" (referred to below as the kit) as distributed at the December Pack meeting. Additional kits may be purchased from the Scout Service Center (kits may be purchased elsewhere if they are of the exact type manufactured by the BSA as specified above).

G-3. Competitor Categories: All Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts that are registered within Pack 578, and parents or guardians with registered sons may enter the Pinewood Derby. Cub Scouts will compete with others in the same Cub Scout Den. The top three finishers from each den will proceed to the Finals.

G-4. Attendance: The Cub Scout MUST enter his own car. This means that 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 (2010) Pack 578 Pinewood Derby Races.

G-6. Single Entry per Person: Only one car may be registered by any person in the Pinewood Derby.

G-7. Inspection and Registration: Each car must pass a technical inspection before it may compete.

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 owner will be informed of the reason his car did not pass. Cars which fail the initial inspection may be taken home for modifications and brought back for final inspection and registration.

G-9. Impound: 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 race day.

G-10. Car Design Rules Interpretation: Interpretation of the rules described in G1 through G-11, and T-1 thru T-9 are at the sole discretion of the Inspection Committee Judges present during the Registration and Inspection process.

G11. Race-Day Rules Interpretation: On Race-Day, the Cub Scout must make all questions of rules interpretations and procedures to the Pinewood Derby Chairman or Race Officials promptly. Decisions of Race Officials on questions of rules interpretations 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. Note: Unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or spectator will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.

II. CUB SCOUT RACE CAR DESIGN 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) as sold by the Scout Service Center. Materials from the kit may be supplemented but not replaced.

T-2. Weight: Race cars may weigh no more than five (5) ounces (total weight) as determined on the official scales during the pre-race check-in.

T-3. Wheels and Axles: The car shall roll on the wheels from the kit. The wheels shall turn about the axle nails from 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 supplied wooden block. 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 race track. Adequate clearance is the responsibility of the race car builder.

T-5. Weights and Attachment: 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 weight 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, non-electric, non-sticky, etc.

T-6. Wheel Treatment: Wheel treatment (hub and tread smoothing and polishing) may not result in substantial removal of mass nor in reducing the wheel width from the original kit wheels.

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 the starting pin.)

T-9. Lubricants: Only dry lubricants such as graphite or powdered teflon "white lube" will be allowed for lubricating the wheels. Lubricants may not foul the track. There will be a lubrication table set up at the race. In the interest of fairness, only one lubrication is allowed before the beginning of the first heat race and then once again before the beginning of the first race of the semi-finals and finals.

III. CONDUCT OF THE RACES

Competition will consist of heat races within each Den, and a series of final heats at the Pack level. Track officials are responsible for the proper conduct of the races.

C-1. Inspection Gages: The race-day "Pit Stop" area will have the official scale and length box. That check-in equipment will be the official equipment for the race. (The same 5 oz. Master Weight used for scale calibration in pre-race check-in will also be available on race day. Please stress this fact to all Cub Scouts. They should be prepared to make adjustments to their cars if necessary.)

C-3. Car Leaves Lane: If, during a race heat, a car leaves its lane but proceeds down the track in a manner that does not interfere with its opponent, then the race will be called normally. If the car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the race will be re-staged and re-run. If the same car again leaves its lane and interferes with another car, that car will be judged last place, and the race will be re-staged and re-run without that car.

C-4. Car Leaves Track: If, during a race heat, a car leaves the track without interfering with its opponent, it shall be considered to have ended its heat at that point.

C-5. 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 Crewmember.

C-6 Car Repair (With Fault): If a car is damaged due to track fault, or damage caused by another car or person, then the Trackmaster, at his sole discretion, may allow additional repair assistance to the Cub.

C-7. No Finishers: If, during a race heat, no car reaches the finish line on the track, the car which went the farthest in its lane shall be declared as the heat winner.

C-8. Finals: The top three finishers from each den will proceed to the Finals. These three Scouts shall be accompanied with his car from the track to the stage by his parent or other designee. The car will be impounded on the stage until the start of the Finals. Inspection, repair as necessary, and addition of graphite, all performed solely by the Cub Scout, will be permitted prior to the start of the Finals.

C-9. Track Fault: If a car leaves its lane, the Trackmaster may, at his sole discretion, inspect the track and, if a track fault is found which probably caused the initial violation, the Trackmaster may order the race heat to be rerun after the track is repaired.

C-10. The Race Area: Only race officials may enter the track area. This rule will be strictly enforced.

C-11. Awards and Recognition: The most important values in Pinewood Derby competition are parent/son 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. Racers will be recognized as follows:

a.) Every participating Scout will receive a Pinewood Derby patch.
b.) Every car will be awarded a ribbon for winning its own unique appearance category. The categories are:
1. Most Patriotic
2. Most Likely Built by a Scout
3. Best Design
4. Best Appearance
5. Most Original Design or Paint Job
c.) Medals will be awarded for the first through third place finishers in each den.
d.) Trophies will be awarded for the first through third place finishers overall in Pack 578.