General Rules and Procedures

I Car Specifications

A. General

1. The car must be made with the entire Official Pinewood Derby kit as
supplied, including wheels, axles, and wood block.
2. Cars must not have been made before June 1st of the prior year.
3. Boy-owner must be present to race his car.
4. All cars may be re-weighed and/or re-inspected at any time for cause,
which shall be at the sole discretion of Derby officials.

B. Weight and Appearance

1. Total weight of car may not exceed 5 ounces. Weight may be added to
the car to reach the maximum weight allowed provided the weight is
firmly affixed to it.
2. No loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car.
3. Details such as steering wheel, driver, decals, or painting are allowed
provided these details do not exceed the maximum weight, length, and
width.
4. Cars designs or drawings that are deemed pornographic, sexual or
violent in nature, or represent gang affiliation will not be allowed.

C. Length, Width, and Clearance

1. Overall width shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches at the furthest horizontal

protrusion, whether it is the body of the car or the wheels.
2. The distance between the wheels (wheel stance, not the wheelbase)
should be approximately 1 ¾ inches to ensure that the wheels will fit
over the guide strips of the track.
3. Overall length of the car (measured from the furthest point forward to
the furthest point rearward) shall not exceed 7 inches.
4. The wheelbase (distance between the centers of the front and rear
wheels) must measure between 4 ¼ and 4 5/8 inches.
5. The actual position of the axle, with respect to the body, is not regulated
provided the wheelbase requirement is met (see C4 above). It is not
required to use the slots that have been precut into the wood block.
6. The underside of the front of the car or the front itself may not be
undercut or notched so as to allow the car’s nose to protrude past the
starting gate. If the official starter is not able to adjust for a fair start,
the protruding car will not be allowed to race.
7. Bottom clearance between the lowest part of the car and the track
should be at least 3/8 inches to clear the guide strip of the track.

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 General Rules and Procedures

(I. Car Specifications)

D. Wheels and Axles

1. The wheels and axles must be official BSA Pinewood Derby wheels and
axles (see A1 above).
2. No alteration, narrowing, lathe cutting, or re-shaping of the
wheels (inside or outside) is allowed. Light sanding to wheel treads
to remove irregularities is permissible. However, the serrated edges of
the wheel treads must remain visible.
3. Minimum wheel diameter is 1.180 inches (most wheels measure between
1.195 to 1.200 inches).
4. Wheel bearings, spacers, and washers are prohibited.
5. No covers, stickers, or hubcaps will be allowed over the wheels or axles.
6. The axle head (on the outside of the wheel) and the axle point (in the
body) must be visible.
7. No springs or any suspension mechanism is allowed.
8. All cars must have four wheels, three of which must be touching the
track surface at all times.
9. The car must be freewheeling with no starting or launching device.

E. Lubrication

1. Any type of dry lubricant is permitted. Graphite is highly recommended.

2. Each racer is responsible for bringing their own lubricant.
3. Cars can be lubricated before registration. Cars may not be lubricated
thereafter. Violation will result in forfeiture.
4. Re-lubrication will be permitted just prior to the GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP
race.

II. Repairs

A. There will be an official Pit Area for repairs and alterations.

B. If the car does not qualify at Inspection, the racer and the adult(s) with whom
he came may make the alterations. It is highly recommended that the racer
bring his own spare parts. There may be Derby officials available to assist.
C. Repairs will be permitted after racing begins, but shall take place at the official
Pit Area under the direct supervision of a Derby official.
D. If a racer requires repairs, his races will be delayed until such time that his car is
repaired or he withdraws. Other races within the same “heat” will continue while
repairs are made. In no case will the racing be delayed for more than 15
minutes awaiting repairs. After 15 minutes the racer will be called to race and
upon his failure to report to the starting line at this time shall forfeit.
E. Car will be re-weighed after repair.

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 General Rules and Procedures

III. Car Registration

A. Registration the day of the race will start at 9am on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008.
B. The areas behind the inspection and registration table(s) are restricted and only
Derby officials or authorized personnel are allowed access.
C. It is not necessary for the car owner-racer to be present during inspection and
registration, but the owner-racer must be present to race (see II A3 above).
D. An adult companion may accompany the car owner-racer during the entire
registration process.
E. Each car will be inspected to ascertain compliance with the rules dictated in
section II. Car Specifications.
F. If a car fails inspection, the car owner may take his car to the Pit Area for repairs
and/or alterations (see III. Repairs). Upon completion of repairs, the car may
be submitted for re-inspection.
G. There is no limit on the number of re-inspections unless the registration time has
expired.
H. If the car passes inspection, a color-coded tag/sticker will be affixed to the car
and the car will be impounded until the day of the race.
I. The car may be lubricated prior to registration (see II E3).
J. No late registration will be allowed!
K. The registrar will record the car’s registration number and racer’s name on the
corresponding race sheet.
L. The car will be placed in the corresponding race tray. No cars may be removed
from the race tray prior to actual race time.

IV. Race Procedures

A. General

1. There will be five major race groups, herein called the RANK BRACKET.
2. The RANK BRACKETS are: (i) Tigers, (ii) Wolves, (iii) Bears, (iv) Webelos
1, and (v) Webelos 2.
3. The race will be run using the “lane rotation” method wherein each racer
will race on each of the six lanes – called a sprint.
4. Each racer will therefore race in six sprints, each one on a different lane.
5. The area surrounding the racetrack is restricted to Derby officials, race
judges, starters, and racers.
6. There will be a designated area for the racers where all racers not
immediately racing must stay.
7. There will be one starter and one judge if the racetrack has an electronic
finish line. If the racetrack does not have an electronic finish line, two
judges will be required.

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 General Rules and Procedures

(V. Race procedures)

B. Procedure

1. Once the heat is announced, all racers assigned to that heat will proceed
to the designated racetrack.
2. The race cannot start until all racers for the heat are present.
3. No race may be delayed longer than 15 minutes after its announcement.
4. After the 15 minute “grace period”, any racer not present will forfeit.
5. The racers for that heat will collect their cars and keep them in their
possession throughout the heat.
6. Upon commencement of the heat, no racer may leave the race area
except for special reasons.
7. The starter or judge will review with the racers the racing procedures
including how the lane rotation method works.
8. Six cars will race at a time as indicated by the race computer software
(deemed a sprint).
9. The judge or starter will announce the racers for the specific sprint.
10. The racers will present their cars to the starter who will place it on the
track.
11. The starter will make sure that the cars are properly aligned on the start
and will start the race.
12. Each car will be awarded based on its finishing time in each sprint.
13. If during the run, a car leaves the track or interferes with the other car,
that spring will be repeated once. If the offending car repeats its
actions, it will be automatically be given sixth place, and the sprint will
be repeated without the offending car.
14. If repairs are necessary, the rules set forth in section III. Repairs will
apply.
15. When the heat is completed, the cars will “place” according to the lowest
accumulative sprint finishing times. The worst time for each racer will be
ignored, not being factored into the final results.
16. The top four place winners, and two alternates, from each rank will be
invited to participate in the Grand Canyon Council Pinewood Derby Race.

V. Awards

A. Bicycles and Trophies will be awarded to the first four place winners of each
RANK BRACKET.
B. In the event of a tie for either first, second, third or fourth place, there will be a
sprint for the cars that are tied to determine the final top four finishers.

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 General Rules and Procedures

VI. Disclaimer

The Grand Canyon Council Pinewood Derby Committee accepts no responsibility for the
dissemination of these rules or the lack of the knowledge thereof. Every attempt is made
to publish the rules and distribute them at the monthly roundtable meetings, and online.
(VII. Disclaimer continued)

Any problems regarding the lack of understanding or knowledge of the rules will be
disregarded and have no bearing upon any decisions made by the Grand Canyon Council
Pinewood Derby officials.

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