Pinewood Derby

Pinewood Derby - Sunday March 10th 2023

More specific details coming soon. 

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Location: The Kenilworth Club  

 

(PLEASE Arrive early. Late arrivals will likely not be allowed to participate in the race)  

The Spirit of the event: The design and racing of cars built by 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade scouts with help from their parent. 

The Race: Each car will race four times, once in each lane. The average time of the four races will be used to determine the winner(s). Anyone who places in the Top 3 is excluded from the awards for each den. 

Awards:  Design Awards: Judges vote for Best Overall Appearance, Best Design, Most Creative 

    Race Awards: Top 3 finishers from the overall Pack; Top 1st place finisher from each Den  

PINEWOOD DERBY RULES  

Inspection - Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it will be allowed to compete. The inspectors have the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet these specifications. The decision of the judges is final. Please do not submit an illegal car, as you will be disqualified from racing (please save us and your child from this embarrassment). To be fair to those who do submit legal cars, Scouts that submit a car that does not pass inspection will not be allowed to race another car. You may not submit a car from a prior year. The inspection points are:  

  1. The car must have been made between the date the kits were issued at the Pack Meeting and Race Day from the official BSA kit provided to each scout.  

  2. Dimensions: Length may not exceed 7 inches and Width may not exceed 2 ¾ inches 
    Bottom Clearance: 3/8” between bottom of car and track... weight or other objects protruding from the bottom will catch on the track! It’s highly recommended to recess bottom weights into the body of the car.  

  3. The weight of the car shall not exceed 5.00 ounces or 141.75 grams, as determined by the scale at Inspection.  

  4. THE WHEELS SUPPLIED IN THE BSA KIT MUST BE USED. The wheels may not be sanded shaped, ground, machined or tooled. Modifying of the tread area to minimize wheel-to-surface contact is not allowed. Use the wheels as they come from the kit with no alterations. The hubs and axle holes may not be altered in any way. Any purchased wheels or axles will result in disqualification.  

  1. THE AXLES SUPPLIED IN THE BSA KIT MUST BE USED. Polishing to remove small burrs is allowed as is bending the axles. No other changes to the nails will be allowed, including machining the nails or nail heads.  

  2. The nail axles must have their points visible after installation and final assembly.  

  3. Details such as any decoration, driver, decals, painting, and interior details are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications.  

  4. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices - wheel bearings, washers, and bushings or springs of any kind are prohibited - no loose materials of any kind are allowed in the car.  

  5. A computer label / number sticker received at check-in will be attached on the car and must be visible.  

  1. The only lubricant allowed is dry graphite applied to the wheels and axles only.  

  2. Wheel bearings, washers, bushings or springs of any kind are prohibited. 

Please feel free to email Travis Nelson (tsnelson42@yahoo.com) if you have any questions.  

TIPS FOR HOW TO BUILD A FAST PINEWOOD DERBY CAR: 

What you will need ... 

  • Your Pinewood Derby kit 

  • A few tools (saw, drill, alignment tool or ruler) 

  • Some materials (sandpaper, primer, paint, glue, decals, polishing compounds, weights).  

  • More time than you think (start very early). 

  • A great attitude  

The basics ... Design. Carving the body. Inserting the wheels. Painting and decorating.  

How to make it fast ... RULE #1 Friction is your enemy. RULE #2 Friction is your enemy. Here is how to reduce friction:  

BODY -  

  • The car HAS to roll straight over a long distance; symmetrical designs roll straight 

  • Align the car by height and make sure the bottom of the car does not rub the center rail 

  • Add weights to maximize weight at 5.0 oz (the placement depends on body design) 

  • Aerodynamics matter somewhat. Bumps or rough edges tend to be slow, smooth is fast 

  • Don’t forget to make the bottom flat 

  • Make the car slippery, wax it; decals look good but can slow it down 

AXLES - Polish, polish, polish. 300 grit, 600 grit, 900 grit, 1200 grit. Sand off the burrs and crimps.  

WHEELS - Rules do not allow many changes. Spin, spin, spin the wheels to work in the lubricants. Make sure they spin freely.  

HELPFUL TIPS - Millen’s Hardware in Wilmette or Bess Hardware in Northfield can help you cut your car. Each store also has a Pinewood Derby section where you can find decals, paints, weights, graphite and anything else you may need. They also have a scale where you can weigh your car to make sure you are not the weight limit. 

Lastly, I recommend you watch this video with your son(s) if you want to learn about the physics of building a fast Pinewood Derby car: