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Pinewood Derby

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RESULTS: 2021   2022   2023   2024

These are the rules for the 2024 Pinewood Derby on March 2.  These are substantially the same rules as last year.  Den times are below, and we’ll race at our usual Pack meeting place in the St. Camillus church basement.  Bring snacks or lunch, especially if you’d like to stay a while.

Lions and Tigers (registration at 10:30; races 10:45-11:15)
Wolves (registration at 11:15; races 11:30-12:00)
Bears (registration at 12:00; races 12:15-12:45)
Webelos (registration at 12:45; races 1:00-1:30)
AoL (registration at 1:30; races 1:45-2:15)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Have fun making a new car for this year’s race!  Building a Scout’s car is designed to be a team effort for the Scout and a parent or other person.  It is expected that parents provide more help for a younger Scout than they would for an older Scout.
  2. Please use the parts that came with the kit (so no high-tech replacement parts or substitutions). You are allowed to purchase official replacement BSA parts if you wish (available at the Scout Shop).
  3. Feel free to shape, paint and decorate your car in any way you want.  Use your imagination.
  4. Make sure your car is strong enough to race and get dropped (as accidents sometimes happen).

VOLUNTEERS

Pinewood Derby races need lots of adult volunteers to be a success.  In addition to set-up and take-down for the event, we’ll need helpers for each Den’s races.  Speak to a leader at the race; you’ll still be able to watch your Scout race.

REGULATIONS

The following conservative regulations are to insure that the competition is fair, enjoyable, and that winners of our competition will fall within the rules set for the District Pinewood Derby.  The fastest car in each Den will be invited to represent Pack 313 in the Sons of Liberty District race (typically in May).  If a Scout cannot race with their Den, they can race with another group (with the Family+friends cars) but won’t be eligible to win a Den ribbon.

  1. Cars must be new for this race and must be presented at the race by the person who made it – one car per person. (The idea is to have the Scout and parent working together and to have the Scout present for the race. We have made exceptions for extenuating circumstances only.)
  2. Cars must be no longer than 7 inches.
  3. Cars must be no wider than 2.75 inches.
  4. Cars must be no higher than 3 inches (according to the Sons of Liberty District rule for their race).
  5. Cars may weigh a MAXIMUM of 5 ounces, so be sure your car’s weight is no more than 5 ounces or else be prepared to modify the car on race day.
  6. All four wheels must touch the track. No deliberate design to have the car run with one wheel “floating”.  This is a Council rule to assure fair play.
  7. No part of the car is allowed to protrude ahead of the “launch peg” (e.g., wheels, body parts, etc. – it gives that car an unfair advantage).
  8. Cars must maintain a bottom clearance of 3/8″.  Nothing can stick down below the car – the Sons of Liberty District Track has a middle-guide that fits between the wheels on the track.
  9. Cars must maintain an inside wheel to wheel clearance of at least 1 ¾ (1.75) inches (so that the car doesn’t hit the middle-guide on the District track).
  10. Only dry lubricants are allowable as an axle lubricant. No wet lubricants.
  11. It is permissible to sand the plastic “flange” off the wheels and to smooth the axles. No other modifications are permitted (e.g., there are lots of “hacks” like bushings, springs, etc. that give an unfair advantage and are not appropriate for Scout-level competition).
  12. No moving parts on the car other than the wheels (so no spring or loose lead weights or other movable mechanisms).

For a full set of the District rules, see the (very detailed) Pack and District rules for 2024.

DECIDING THE WINNER

We have six separate classes, one for each Scout rank: Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos, and Arrow of Light. Scouts enter their car in their class. Each car runs once in each lane.  There are four lanes, and each car runs once in each lane.  The car with the shortest total time for the Den is the winner.  The winner in each Scout class (Den) represents our pack at the Sons of Liberty (SOL) District Pinewood Derby.

We will also have a “Family and Friends” class for siblings and other children who want to race, and a “Masters” class for adults.  This year, since we’ll race each Den separately, the separate “Family and Friends” and “Masters” races will be held for each Den.  After race day, we’ll announce the fastest “Family and Friends” and “Masters” cars for the day.

HINTS

Use the axle slots provided with the original kit, you cannot move them. The original placement is very good.

Make sure that any attachments (drivers, fins, etc.) are secure. Use good glue or small nails to insure that they stay attached to the car.

Make sure your name is on your car (e.g., on the underside) so there’s no confusion.

Make sure that the wheels turn freely and are on square. This helps the car roll straight.  All four wheels must touch the table upon inspection.

On the whole, the kit with paint weighs about 5 ounces. So you don’t need to add weights unless you take away a lot of the wood block.

You can use anything for weights.  Multiple sources sell weighted putty and weights which can be “broken off” or to get just the right weight.

Have fun!

The Pack 313 Racing Team

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