PINEWOOD DERBY RULES

1. Car dimensions: Width shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches, Length shall not exceed 7 inches. Minimum clearance between bottom of car and track shall be 3/8 inches. Decorations, features, and weights must meet these specifications and may not interfere with track equipment or competitors’ cars.

2. Construction: Axles, wheels, and body wood shall be as provided in the official Pinewood Derby kit (No pre made kit cars). Only cars constructed in the current scouting year may be raced.

3. Unacceptable Construction: The following may NOT be used in conjunction with the wheels or axles: bearings, washers bushings, hubcaps, inserts sleeves. Only official BSA axles and wheels may be used. NO re-manufactured, re-engineered, and/or purchased parts allowed (i.e. no Internet bought axles or wheels).

4. Weight and Attachment: Car may weigh no more than 5 ounces (total weight) as determined on the official scales during the pre-race check-in. 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 by permanent glue, nails, or screws, NOT by “sticky substances” such as tape or tack spray. Weight shall be passive, non-moveable, non-magnetic, non-electrical and non-sticky, etc. BSA approved adhesive backed lead weights are approved.

5. Axles & wheel base: The original BSA derby kit wheel base and axle grooves must be used. No repositioning or filling of the axle grooves will be allowed. THE ENTIRE, ORIGINAL AXLE GROOVES AND ALL 4 AXLES MUST BE COMPLETELY VISIBLE TO INSPECTORS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RACE. The pyramid-shaped points of the axles must be visible to verify that they are official BSA derby kit axles. The axles may only be sanded and polished to remove scars from the manufacturing process and to smooth them.

6. Width: The minimum width of the front of the car body (touching the starting peg) must be ½ inch. Only the wooden car body can touch the peg. No spoilers or other foreign objects are allowed to touch the starting peg.

7. Gravity Powered: The racecar 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 magnets, sticky substances on the front of the car or protrusions that may catch the starting pin such as spoilers.

8. Lubricants: Only dry lubricants such as graphite or powdered Teflon (white lube) will be allowed for lubricating the wheels. Lubricants must not foul the track.

9. Wheels: Absolutely no alterations to the wheels will be allowed except as follows: The only modification that may be done to the wheel is the removal of the casting dimple on the wheel. There will be no sanding, polishing, machining, drilling, or smoothing of any part of the wheels in any way, shape, form, or manner. Please see attachment.

10. Dimensions: There will be a gauging block used to measure all the dimensions that we ask you to follow. If for any reason your car does not meet the measuring dimensions you will be asked to fix your car so that they do meet the requirements or you will be disqualified.

11. Disqualifications: The inspectors have the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet these specifications.

12. Changes: Once the car has passed inspection and has been registered, NO changes or alterations may be performed on the car.

13. Inspection: All cars will be inspected by a group of judges to see that the car meets all rules and regulations. Once the car passes final inspection and is impounded, the car is legal to race and may no longer be handled.

14. Conduct: Unsportsman like conduct by any participant or member of the audience will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.

15. Race Results: Subject to the Race Judges discretion, the top 3 place-winners’ cars may be re-inspected before results are finalized.

** Remember this is for the boys, and the boys only, not the adults to race cars that the scout did not help make. If you can’t follow these rules please do not show up because your son is the only one who will be disappointed. He’s already a winner. Let’s not change that