Pinewood Derby

The pinewood derby is an annual racing event. Cub Scouts, with the help of parents, build their own cars from wood, usually from kits containing a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axles.

Race Day:  January 29, 2010
Brookvale Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room

Schedule

• 5:00 Set-up
• 6:00 Kitchen opens
• 6:00-6:30 Car Check-in
• 6:00-6:40 Unofficial Racing
• 6:45 Flag Ceremony
• 7:00 Tiger Racing
• 7:20 Wolf Racing
• 7:40 Bear Racing
• 8:00 Webelos Racing
• 8:20 Kitchen closes (at end of Webelos Races)
• 8:20-8:30 Den Awards; Participation Awards Announced
• 8:35 Finals
• 8:55 Finals Awards Announced

In order to race more efficiently, the next den to race needs to have their cars check-in and ready for racing before the end of the prior den’s race. A good rule of thumb would be to have all cars for the next race quarantined within 5 minutes of the start of the prior race.

Race Program

There are 4 race divisions (by den): Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelos. Each division will race to determine a den champion, who will then participate in the finals to determine the pack champion.

Den Race Rounds

In dens with 6 or fewer racers, the cars will be slotted starting in lane 1 according to alphabetical order of the racer’s name. After each race, the car in the farthest lane is slotted in lane 1, and the other cars are moved one lane up. This continues until racers have raced in each lane.

For each race, the placing of the car is tallied and the racers are awarded

• 1st = 9 points
• 2nd = 7 points
• 3rd = 5 points
• 4th = 3 points
• 5th = 1 points
• 6th = 0 points

The racer with the most accumulated points at the end of the set of races will be the den champion, and will advance to the Grand Championship round.

In dens with more than 6 racers, the racers will be split as evenly as possible into two groups using alphabetical order, and the above format is used to determine a winner for that group. When the two groups have determined a winner, the two winners will run-off using the above format to determine the den winner.

Grand Championship Round

The den champions will race in the above format with the cars ordered in round 1 by Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos. Rotation of the racers is then the same as described in the den heats.

Awards

For each den, the First and Second Place finishers will be recognized with ribbons. In the Grand Championship Round, the First, Second and Third Place finishers will be recognized.

Special Awards will also be presented to the scouts for cars that are extra cool in a variety of areas!

Derby Rules

Follow rules in the official derby kit.

• Scouts are to build and design cars.  Parental supervision and minimum assistance is allowed.
• No pre-cut body kits are allowed.  Use the wood block provided in the kit.
  • Maximum width, including wheels and axles, shall not exceed 2 3/4 inches.
  • Minimum width between the wheels shall be 1 3/4 inches so car will clear center guide strip.
  • Minimum clearance between bottom of car and track shall be 3/8 inch.
  • Maximum length shall not exceed 7 3/8 inches.
  • Maximum height is 1 1/2 inches.
  • Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces or 141.75 grams.  Race scale is the official scale.
• Mercury shall not be used to add weight.  Added weight shall not include loose materials or taped on coins.
• Details, such as a driver, decals, spoilers, etc. are permitted as long as they do not exceed weight and size limits.
• Cars with wet paint will not be allowed.
• Only official wheels and axles from kit allowed.
• Wheel bearings, washers and bushings are prohibited.
• The car cannot run on any type of spring.
• The car must be free wheeling, with no propulsion system being used.
• Only dry powdered lubricants like graphite can be used.  Oils and silicon sprays soften the wheels and are not allowed.
• Cars are to be lubricated ahead of inspection/weigh-in.  No further lubrication will be permitted after registration.

After official weigh-in, cars will be kept by race officials throughout racing program.

Inspection team has final “say”.

Food Table Staffing

The food table will be staffed on a rotating basis so that parents of racers will be able to watch their racers. The time for staffing will rotate as follows:

Racers	Food Table Staffing
Tigers	Bear parents
Wolf	Webelos parents
Bear	Tiger parents
Webelos	Wolf parents

The concession will shut down after the Webelos race and before the Den and participation ribbons are awarded so all parents can participate in that and the finals viewing.

Each den should arrange for volunteers to staff the table during their shift. Thanks to all for your help.

Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy the races!