CUB SCOUT Pack 52
PINEWOOD DERBY OFFICIAL RACE GUIDELINES
Get Ready!!!!
Study and Learn the guidelines
You MUST use the car provided by the pack. NO SUBSITUTIONS! Additional cars/parts can be obtained from the pack.
Your car must:
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have been made during this current year.
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have EXACTLY 4 3/8” inches from the center of the front axle to the center of the rear axle.
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have a minimum width between wheels of 1¾ inches.
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have a minimum ground clearance of 3/8 inches.
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be made primarily from wood.
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be no wider than 2¾ inches. (This includes wheels)
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be no longer than 7 inches.
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be no higher than 5 inches.
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be no heavier than 5 ounces.
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use all four kit wheels and nail axles. NO SUBSTITUTIONS for the wheels or nail axles will be permitted on the cars. No bearings, bushings, washers, springs or any metal ”alignment” tubes and/or solid “wheel-to-wheel” axles. The provided nails must attach to the wooden block.
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have blunt nose no more than ¾ from the ground and at least 1/2” wide to stage correctly in starting block. This means no quick start wire gates
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have no loose or moving parts other than wheels.
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have your name in marker on the underside of the car.
The spirit of the competition is FUN! We want each scout to smile, laugh and be very excited. Any parent caught taking the derby too serious will be wheeled outdoors to cool them down!!!
Parents are reminded that their place in the Pinewood Derby is that of spectator only. The decisions of the judges will be final on any problems arising during the race. A panel of judges should be determined by the Race Committee prior to running the race and should consist of 5 Cub Scout parents with at least one parent from each rank (if possible). In the event that a decision needs to be made concerning a specific car or results from a race for specific scouts, the judge(s) who is the parent or guardian will abstain from the decision due to a potential conflict of interest. If this results in a tie, the Cub Master will provide the deciding vote, regardless of his/her son’s rank or pack affiliation. Once trophies are awarded results will not be revisited.
Race day repairs will be at the discretion, and under the supervision of, the race committee.
The Beauty Contest Categories
These are examples of some of the possible categories.
| Most Stylish Car | Fastest Looking Car |
| Most Patriotic Car | Funniest Looking Car |
| Most Flamboyant Car | Coolest Car |
| Most Awesome Car | Best Chicago Sports Car |
| Most Unique Car | Scoutiest! Car |
The Race
The Derby is in heats of two to six cars at a time. Winners of each heat continue to race toward the Pack Finals. For each race, the cars leave a standstill position in the starting blocks by the force of gravity and run down the track to the finish line. Each lane has a wood strip down its center to guide the cars. Our finish-line has electronic motion sensors to record finishing sequence. WOW ! ! ! !
We ask everyone on race day to not touch the track and to remain behind the ropes around the track. We need each scout to help us guard the track from any unfortunate mishaps!
If you are unable to attend the competition, you can have someone else bring your car for you to the competition.
The Cubmaster Open Race
(Non Cub Entries)
We will again host a Non Cub race near the end of our race day festivities, and we encourage all parents and siblings to join in!
Non Cub Entries Rules:
- be no wider than 2¾ inches. (This includes wheels)
- be no longer than 7 inches.
- be no higher than 5 inches.
- have a minimum width between wheels of 1¾ inches.
- have a minimum ground clearance of 3/8 inches.
- have a blunt nose no more than ¾ from the ground.
- not involve any jet propulsion, other acceleration device or any type of fire or flame.
- Be as close as possible to 5 ounces as possible. No official weigh in needed but please be “do your best” to make it fair for everyone.
- The car can not have previously raced in a Pack 52 Pinewood Derby, including, Cubmaster Open Races.
If you had fun at the races
Then YOU are a true winner!
It is important to fine-tune your axle pins. The small nails used as axles have small burrs under the nail head along the shaft. Detailed instructions on how to remove these burrs are available in the hint books. NO SUBSTITUTIONS for the wheels or nail axles will be permitted on the cars. The cars with substitute parts will not be permitted to race. Use only the wheel/axle parts in the official scout car kits.
Remember --- Your car must weigh 5 ounces or less. It is the weight of the car that makes the car go fast. You want your weight to be exactly 5 ounces. Your scales at home may not be accurate. The race committee will use a tested scale to weigh in the cars, and all the cars will be weighed on the same scale. You may have your car’s weight checked and make adjustments at the beauty contest or during registration on race day. Once your car has been entered/registered on race day, no more adjustments can be made to your car. Should a car become damaged during the race and need repairs, repairs can be made at the discretion of the race committee.
When adding weight to your car, any weights placed underneath your car must leave a 3/8-inch clearance so your car can run on the track. Checkout the hint books for how to put and place your weights.
Do not forget to lubricate your axles with graphite powder. The only lubrication that may he applied to the car is Dry Graphite (no silicone as it may damage the track). We will have graphite powder at weigh-in the night of the beauty contest and on race day if you need it.
Good Luck!
Each scout will receive a Pinewood Derby car kit from the pack. Also available at local hobby shops are pre-cut kits. The pre-cut kit can be used – the pre-cut kit’s wheels and axles can not be used. The basic shape is cut out for you. All you need to do is sand and paint the car. DUDE ! ! !
The hobby shops also have lots of car details that can be added to your car to make it look really neat! Hint & How-To-Books are also available. Local hobby shops that carry pinewood derby supplies are:
| Len’s Ace Hardware 485 Roosevelt Rd. Glen Ellyn, IL 469-4800 | Al’s Hobby Shop 121 Addison Elmhurst , IL 832-4908 |
| Hobby Lobby 255 W. Roosevelt Rd Lombard, IL. 495-4483 | Oakridge Hobbies & Toys 7511 Lemont Road Darien, IL 435-5900 |
Each car must pass inspection by the race committee before it will be allowed to compete. The inspectors have the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet the pack’s guidelines. A preliminary inspection will be held the night of the beauty contest. By checking the car with the race officials at the beauty contest, you will know whether you will pass the official inspection on race day. Should your car not pass inspection at the beauty contest, you will have plenty of time to make the necessary modifications so it will pass on race day. Not passing inspection at the beauty contest will not prevent you from participating in the beauty contest.
Special Note: Only official pinewood derby wheels/axles (included in the kit handed out by the pack) are acceptable.
Overview of Pinewood Activities
We have three main activities to the Pinewood Derby.
The first is the building of your car. You may ask for help from anyone you would like to. Your father, mother, brother, sister or a friend can help. Think about how you want your car to look. Make a plan on what you need to do to build your car and do it.
The second Pinewood Derby activity is the beauty contest held the night before the race. This will be a monthly Pack meeting evening where part of the pack meeting will be the beauty contest. Having a sharp looking car is a real neat thing!
The third Pinewood Derby activity is the race itself. You will race your car against the other scouts in your scout rank (Tiger, Bear, etc.). The scouts finishing in first place from each scout rank will go on to race in the Pack Finals.
It is very important to be on time on race day. You must register your car with the race officials. The weight and size of your car will be checked.
Also, remember that this is a scouting event so scouts and their siblings are not allowed to play on the Lincoln playground during the activities.