Let the Race Begin

The purpose of the rules is to provide a reasonable and level playing field for all contestants. Our rules closely follow the Mohawk District rules. If your car conforms to our rules, then it should also qualify under the Mohawk District Rules. Please read and heed the rules!

The footnotes at the bottom of the page might help clarify any confusion about the rules. If you still have uncertainty about what is allowed, please contact the Derby Committee.

Eligibility of Contestants and Cars

The Year 2007 Scout Competition is open to all Pack 341 Cub Scouts. In case of illness or a valid conflict, an absent scout may be represented by an authorized agent.¹

The Year 2007 Open competition is open to all Pack 341 Scouts, Scout leaders, family members of Scouts, and family members of Scout leaders.

Cars in the Year 2007 Scout Competition must have been made for this race season.

Any car may race in the Year 2007 Open Competition except for cars which raced in the Year 2007 Scout Competition. Cars from previous years and new cars built specifically for the Open Competition are eligible. This includes cars from any official Pinewood Derby kit, regardless of the year the car was constructed.

We strongly recommend that cars in the Year 2007 Scout Competition be built from the block in the official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit.

Length, Width & Clearance

Maximum overall width (including wheels and axles) shall not exceed 2-3/4"

Minimum width between wheels shall be 1-3/4" so car will clear the center guide strip.

Minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and track shall be 3/8" so the car will clear the center guide strip.

Maximum length (including wheels) shall not exceed 7-1/8".

Maximum height shall not exceed 2-3/4".²

The wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles, center to center) may be changed, but the wheels must stay within the maximum length requirement. The front wheels must not exceed past the front of the car or you will not meet the indented front end rule below.

Wheels and axles

Only the wheels and axles from the official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit may be used.³

Axles may be lightly filed, sanded and polished. This light filing, sanding and polishing is the only axle modification allowed.⁴

Wheels may be lightly sanded and polished. This light sanding and polishing is the only wheel modification allowed.⁵

Weight and Appearance

Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces. The readings of the Official Race Scale will be considered final.

The car may be carved, sculpted, and/or sanded in order to enhance performance and/or appearance.

No loose materials of any kind are permitted on or inside the car.

Additional materials may be added to the car for the following purposes only:⁶

Weights may be added to increase the weight and/or alter the weight distribution of a car.

Paints/decals/decorations may be added to alter the appearance and/or aerodynamics of a car.

Glue may be used to connect the axles to the car body.

Wood putty, or a similar wood-like substance, may be used to repair minor damage to a car.

Indented noses are prohibited. Cars with nose indentations will "stage" further down the track, and thus are not traversing the same course as other cars.

Lubrication

Only dry powdered lubricants, such as graphite or white powder Pinewood Derby Car Lubricant, may be used. Oils and silicone sprays are prohibited.

A car may lubricated before inspection and, if it advances, prior to the Grade finals. These are the only two times when lubrication is permissible. Specifically, cars may not be lubricated while competing in a set of heats.

Ground Rules

If a car jumps off the track, the heat will be run again. If the same car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.

If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again. If the same car leaves its lane a second time and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again without the interfering car. The interfering car will automatically lose the heat.

If a car suffers a mechanical problem and a repair can be accomplished within 5 minutes, the heat will be run again. If not, the car will automatically lose the heat.

Inspections and Disputes

Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Team before it may compete. The Inspection Team has the right to disqualify those cars, which do not meet the rules. Car owners will be informed of the violations and given an opportunity to modify the car to meet these rules.

Ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or member of the audience will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or race area.

^{1An authorized agent is defined as a sibling or a Cub Scout of similar age who is not already competing
in the same set of heats.
^{2 The official kit block has pre-cut slots which are correctly spaced. If desired, these slots may be pre-drilled
before they are used. Use of the pre-cut slots, however, is not required.
^{3 Wheels and axles not from the official kits are prohibited. Wheels and axles, which have been modified
by other parties also, are prohibited, even if they are from the official kit.
^{4 Beveling, rounding, tapering, thinning, perforating, or any other significant altering of the shape or
performance of the axles or axles heads is prohibited.
^{5 Beveling, rounding, tapering, thinning, perforating, or any other significant altering of the shape or
performance of the wheels or wheel hubs is prohibited. Modification of the cylindrical inner wall of the wheel which contacts
the axle is prohibited
^{6 Wheel bearings, washers, or bushings are prohibited. This includes "wheel covers" which serve to keep
the wheel hubs from contacting the car body. It also includes "hub caps", or anything else that might serve as a lubrication
"well" or "tap". The car shall not ride on any type of springs. The car must be freewheeling with no starting device or other
propulsion, such as adhesives, magnets, rubber bands, motors, jets, etc. Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler,
decals, painting and interior details are allowed as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, height,
and weight. Metal frames and metal axle supports are prohibited. Axles must be mounted into the wood.}}}}}}