Pinewood Derby
Rules of the Road
Initial rough cuts can be done by a parent with power tools. Scouts must take ownership and lead the building and decorating of the car. The Cub Scout is asked to Do Your Best. If families want to collaborate on a more adult-led car creation, consider the Friends and Family. Contact your Pinewood Derby Crew Chief if you have any additional questions or would like to purchase an additional car kit.
Class 1: Cub Scout Grand Prix
Competitors in this class are limited to the Cub Scouts registered in Pack 159.
You must use BSA-branded wheels, axles, and body. Decorations and weights not from the kit are allowed. Wheels in addition to those in the car kit (e.g. colored) which are unmodified and are BSA-branded are allowed. Pre-built vehicles or pre-cut bodies are not allowed and will be disqualified.
Cars may not exceed the following dimensions:
Length: 7” Width: 2 3/4” Weight: 5 oz Ground Clearance: 3/8” minimum
Wheel bearings, washers, bushings, springs, and starting devices are prohibited.
No lubrication oil may be used. Axles may be lubricated with powdered graphite or silicone prior to checking in the car.
The original wheels and axles cannot be reshaped, although manufacturing irregularities (burrs, flash) may be removed. This will be strictly enforced! All wheels must be flat, no rounding of the edges will be allowed at all.
No loose materials of any kind are allowed on the car.
Once a car has been weighed and registered, Cubs and parents will not be allowed to touch the track, or any of the cars.
If two cars tie, they race again until there is a winner.
If a car leaves the track, runs out of its lane, or interferes with another car, then the heat will be rerun.
The ruling of the Race Officials on any infraction of the rules will be deemed final.
Specific examples that are NOT allowed: Bent axles, less than 4 wheels, BSA branded wheels that are significantly shaped
Specific examples that ARE allowed: Axles in a location other than the pre-drilled location, lifting a wheel
Class 2: Friends & Family
All of the rules from the Cub Scout Grand Prix class apply.
This class is for the friends & family of the Cub Scouts in Pack 159 to compete during the pinewood derby race day. Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister, Uncle, Cousin, Grandma, whoever!
Class 3: Outlaw Gravity and Gravity+ class
The only rules for these classes is to have a safe car that will not damage the track or spectators.
No pyrotechnics allowed. Safety first!
Gravity denotes Outlaw cars powered by gravity alone will race separately from Gravity+ which are alternatively powered (engines, fans, etc). This will allow those racers who want to compete with changes like weight, axle, wheel, and other optimizations to have a chance to compete separately from the really fast cars.
This class is open for Cub Scouts, Friends & Family.
This class is also open to Scouts that attempted to comply with all the rules for the Cub Scout Grand Prix, but were not able to completely adhere to the rules during check-in (eg overweight, too long, etc). Scouts have the option to waive trying to make their non-compliant car complaint by entering the Outlaw Class.
Enter as many cars as you want - you are not limited to one during Outlaw.
Cub Scouts, Friends & Family are encouraged to compete in multiple classes.