Pack 222 Pinewood Derby Information

General Information

CHANGE IN RACING FORMAT - Based on feedback from last year’s participants and observing how other Packs run their Pinewood Derby races, we have changed the format of  this year’s race.  This year we will run all cars together in one series of six heats regardless of rank. (Last year we ran separate races for each rank).  With our computerized timing system, we will still keep track of individual times for each car and also the fastest times for each rank.  Trophies will be awarded to the fastest car in each rank (Tigers, Wolfs, Bears, Webelos I and Webelos II).  In addition, all Scouts will receive an award for participating. Trophies will also be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd “best car” in the pack as voted on by the Scouts.

This new format will make the Pinewood Derby more of a Pack activity and also provide for more fun and excitement!

 

The Pinewood Derby will be held in January 2002. Please make a note of the following dates:

 

·        Weigh-in will be held on Wednesday, January 9th from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM in the Maple East Auditorium. This is the only time to officially qualify cars. (there will be limited tools available to make final weight adjustments to the cars).

 

·         The Pinewood Derby will be held on Friday, January 11th from 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM in the Maple East Gymnasium.  As noted above, all cars in the Pack will be racing together, so all Scouts should arrive at the gym by 6:30 PM.  Scouts will check in upon arrival and vote for the best car.  The first heat will begin as soon as check in and voting is complete. Trophies and awards will be presented immediately upon completion of the race.

 

A Leader or designated Leader from each Den should be present at the Pinewood Derby, in case decisions have to be made regarding Scouts in their Den. An example would be an absent Scout, where a decision would have to be made regarding a substitute racer.

Car Rules:

·        Wheel bearings, washers and bushings are prohibited. The car shall not ride on springs.

 

·        The wheels and axles provided in the Pack-distributed Pinewood Derby car kits are the only ones permitted. The wheels are not to be modified in any way, shape or form, with the exception of removing the injection molding ridge on the wheels (wheels may not be tapered or narrowed; Cars will be disqualified, at the discretion of the Car Qualification Committee, if the wheels are excessively modified).

 

·        The original slots in the car body should be used for the axles.

 

·        Dry graphite is the only lubricant permitted.

 

·        Any details may be added to the car as long as they do not exceed the maximum length, width and weight specifications.

 

 

·        The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.

 

·        All cars will become the property of the Pinewood Derby Race Committee after they are qualified, and no modifications will be allowed after they are qualified (this includes graphite lubrication).

 

The following car specifications will be inspected during qualifications:

 

·        Width: 2-3/4 inches

 

·        Length: 7 inches

 

·        Weight: Not over 5 ounces

 

·        Width between wheels: 1-3/4 inches

 

·         Bottom clearance between car and track: 3/8 inches

Building Your Car

Please see the insert in the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit for additional helpful hints on building your car. Weights, decals, graphite lubricant, and other supplies are available at most hobby stores and at the GNFC Scout Shop.

 

We strongly discourage the use of pre-cut car bodies, and would prefer that the Scouts use the wood bodies provided.  Also cars raced in previous years should not be used.

 

The Post Office has scales available for public use, which can be used prior to Weigh-In to weigh your car.

 

Remember, the Pinewood Derby is about sportsmanship, having fun, and individual achievement, not winning at any cost. It's designed for the Scouts, and we sincerely hope that as much of the work as possible in designing and building the cars is done by them. Competing against parent-built cars is unfair to the boys who want to do it themselves; if there are parents who want to build cars, we will consider having a parents' version of the Derby (there are other packs that do this). A great story on this subject can be found at

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/9152/thesmellofvictory.html.

 

There are many Pinewood Derby-related web sites on the Internet. Here are a few good ones:

·        The Ultimate Pinewood Derby Site

http://hometown.aol.com/randywoo/pine/index.htm

 

·        Jay's PineWood Derby Page:
http://www.3n.net/people/jjenkin/pwd.htm

 

·         Pinewood Derby Mania!:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/9152/pinewood.html

Race Day

·        During the race, designated adult helpers will handle the cars, giving the cars to the starter for placement on the track and retrieving the car at the end of each heat (each car will race 6 times on each lane of the track). Only Race committee designated helpers are permitted to handle the cars during the race.

 

·        Any needed repairs will be determined and made by the Race Committee members only. Non-functional parts that fall off during the race as a result of them going down the track or hitting the stop block shall remain off for the duration of the race. The only exception will be if the cars go off the track or crash as a result of operator error, such as the starting gate coming back up too quickly.

 

·        Only trophies and awards sanctioned by the Pinewood Derby Committee and the Cubmaster shall be awarded at the Pinewood Derby. No other ceremonies or presentations shall be allowed.

 

·        When voting for "Best Car", no one can vote for their own car.

 

 

Let's have fun!!! See you on January 11th.