The Pinewood Derby is one of the most exciting events we do all year.  It occurs each February with check in and inspection done Friday evening and the race the following Saturday morning.  Please check the calendar for this year's race dates.  

Car kits will be distributed to each scout during the December Pack Meeting.  If you can't make the meeting, the kits will be with your den leader.  

If you need help building your car, please reach out to someone in your den.  

How our Pack runs the event:

Friday evening is when we set up the track and check in all the cars.  Please show up as early as you can so you can make any modifications that are needed.  Our race officials will be stickler for the rules and may ask you to change something.  For everyone's benefit, please abide by their judgement.  They are simply trying to make the race fair and safe for everyone.

Once the track is set up, you will have a chance for a few practice runs to see how the car does.  Feel free to make any modifications prior to checking in the car, like adding graphite to the axels.  Once the car is officially checked in, it must remain in the pit area and will not be handled by anyone other than the race officials.

Saturday morning is race day.  In addition to breakfast, two things happen.  1 - All attendees get to vote for the creative awards.  Voting is conducted via a Google Form after the race.  2 - The race begins.  Each car will get to race down the track 4 times (one per lane).  All 4 times are counted and averaged to come up with the car's final overall race time for the rankings.  

Winners - We have both speed awards and creativity awards.  The top 3 overall fastest times win an award.  Then the top time for each Den wins an award.  The "Most Fuel Efficient" award goes to the slowest car that crosses the finish line.  Then the top car for each creative category (as tallied up during the vote) wins an award.  There is no duplication of awards, so the top overall time will not win both the overall and den speed award. 

In order to keep the race fair for everyone involved, the following rules will be enforced.

The Top 2 Rules

1. PARENTS - please let your scout build the car.  Work with them, but don't do it for them.  If you would like your own car to build, you may buy one from the pack (usually around $5).  This is a great opportunity for them to learn how to use all sorts of tools and learn some science.  
2. SCOUTS - Do Your Best!!!  Have fun building your car with your parents and be proud of what you create.

The Other Rules

1. All cars must be built using the current "BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit".  Older versions of this kit will not be allowed.
2. All instructions in the box are IN FORCE.
3. All cars must pass inspection to qualify for the races.  All cars must be built for the current Pinewood Derby Racing Season.  NO REPEATS and NO REPAINTS
4. At least 50% of the work on the car must have been done BY THE SCOUT.  Scouts are to sand and paint their own cars, not the parents.  Judges reserve the right to question Scouts on how the car was made, sanded and painted, etc.
5. To be eligible to race, all cars must be inspected and accepted into "the Pit" on Friday evening prior to the race.  Upon acceptance into "the Pit", cars may not be touched, modified or otherwise altered.  No cars will be accepted Saturday morning (this gives race officials time to enter everything in the computer).

Overall Car Specs when finished:

Width - Not to exceed 2 3/4 inches, including the wheels and axels.  Also, the front end must be at least 1/2 inch in the middle (for the starting pin to work properly).

Length - Not to exceed 7 inches.

Weight - Not to exceed 5 ounces or 142 grams.

Height - Must be able to clear the Championship gate.  Also, the front end cannot be higher than 1 inch above the track.

Center Rail (space between the inside of the wheels)- Must clear the center guide rails, typically no less than 1 3/4 inches.

Bottom - No less than 3/8 inches from the track surface and the bottom of the car.

Prohibited Items:

Springs

Starting devices or propellants

Electronic or lighting devices that interfere with the race electronics.

Fluids, wet paint, oil, sticky substances, or powders of any kind (other than powdered graphite).

Hollowing, sanding, or otherwise removing or modifying from inside the wheel.

Magnets.

Bearings, bushings, washers, sleeves, hubcaps, or other inserts attached to or in contact with the axle, body, or wheels.

Loose objects on the car.