Pinewood Derby 2008 District Rules
Pinewood Derby 2008 District Procedures
Pinewood Derby Layout Specifications
Letter from District Pinewood Derby Committee
District Certification and Registration Form (Not Used for Pack Race!)

2008 MAWAT DISTRICT  PINEWOOD DERBY RULES

1.   It is required that the car be built using the materials in the BSA Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit. "Precut" car bodies are permitted, as long as the nails for axles and plastic wheels are Official BSA Pinewood Derby Wheels and Axles, (Official Pinewood Derby Wheel and Axles Kits are available from the BSA catalog, and stores that sell the Official Pinewood Derby Kits).

2.   Judging categories for the District Derby will be FASTEST CAR, MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR, and MOST ORIGINAL CAR. The first two categories are rather self-explanatory.  An ORIGINAL car does not have to look like a car! In past years, they have looked like bananas, radios, tennis shoes, toothpaste tubes, etc. The only requirement for this category is that the product must meet all the specifications set forth below.

3.   EACH CAR MAY PARTICIPATE IN ONLY ONE CATEGORY IN THE DISTRICT DERBY.

4.   Number of cars per Pack per category (Wolfs - WEBELOS). Packs with a derby of 1-19 cars may enter only one car per category. Packs with a derby of 20-39 cars may enter only two cars per category.  Packs with a derby of 40 or more cars may enter only three cars par category

Note: This above derby count does not include the Tiger Cubs

Number of cars per Pack per category (Tiger Cubs).  Packs with 1 - 14 Tiger Cars may enter only one car per category.  Packs with 15 - 30 Tiger Cars may enter only two cars per category. Packs with 31 or more Tiger Cars may enter only three cars per category

5.   ALL CARS must be able to roll freely on the track to enter any category, i.e., Fastest, Most Beautiful, or Most Original.

6.   Specifications:

a). The total length of the car shall not exceed 7 Inches. Many of the blocks of pine may be longer. Be sure and measure the length of your car.

b). The overall width of cars (outside of wheel to outside of wheel, including axles and any protrusions on each side of the car ) shall not exceed 3 inches.

c). The minimum ground clearance for the car shall be 3/8 inches, (see No. 5 above).

d). The weight of the car shall not exceed 5 ounces or 141.7 grams.

e).  Distance between front and rear wheels cannot be altered. The slots for nails must be used.

f). The nail heads for the axles must not be covered, no wheel covers!

g). Maximum height of cars that race is 6 inches. Most beautiful and original cars may be taller.

7.   NO LOOSE MATERIALS of any kind are permitted in or on the car.

8.   The car must be freewheeling with no starting devices.

9.   Axles (nails furnished with the B.S.A. kits) may be polished and lubricated.  Only dry lubricants may be used on the axles.

10.  Wheel bearings, washers, hubcaps, and bushings on axles or wheels are prohibited.

11.  Excess plastic or mold marks on the wheel tread may be sanded smooth.  Wheels may be turned to ensure roundness, but the ORIGINAL TREAD WIDTH MUST REMAIN INTACT.  Alteration to tread width, such as rounding, or grooving is prohibited.

12.  Cars shall not ride on any type of springs.

13.  The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by addition of wood or metal only, provided it meets the specifications set forth above (No. 6), and the weight is built into the body chassis.

14.      Details, such as adding a steering wheel, driver, decals, and painting are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the above listed specifications  (No.6).

2008 MAWAT DISTRICT PINEWOOD DERBY PROCEDURES

1.   Every boy must be a currently registered Cub Scout or WEBELOS Scout in the MAWAT District to enter the MAWAT District Pinewood Derby. Tiger Cubs are eligible to enter the District Derby in a special Tiger Division. A car can be entered in only one category. The categories are Speed, Most Beautiful or Most Original.

2.   Cars must be made this Scout year and may not have competed in any prior District Derby.

3.   Cars should not be altered in appearance or otherwise modified between the Pack Derby and District Derby.

4.   PARENTS or CUBMASTERS may register cars, but a registered Scout must race the car.

5.   EACH CAR MUST PASS INSPECTION before it can be entered into the Derby, regardless of the category the car is competing in.

6.   ALL LUBRICATION must be completed BEFORE inspection and registration.

7.   ALL CARS will be placed on a table and cannot be handled by anyone except the owner of the car. The “owner” will be allowed to touch his car only when he is racing. Judges and other race officials may handle the car, but only when it is necessary.

8.   Rulings of the Inspection Committee and the Race Officials are final.

9.   The District race will be electronically controlled. The fastest twelve- (12) cars will be determined by the competition heats and will run in elimination heats for the overall winner. All cars will be raced on each available lane during all heats. Should there be a failure of the computerized timing system double elimination will be used.  If double elimination is used a car will have to lose against two different cars to be out of the race (Unless the two cars in the finals have no losses, then one car must lose to the other twice to be eliminated).

10.  Heats consist of each car racing on each available track by alternating with the other cars competing in that electronically timed heat. (For double elimination, if required, there will only be two cars racing.)

11.  Using the electronic timer and averaging the overall time of that car racing on the available tracks in a heat, the highest average speed will determine the heat winner. This means that even though a car may not win that heat, its time may be one of the 12 highest speed cars in the race. That car will compete in the finals.

12.  If you win a heat, this alone does not qualify the Scout for the final 12. The highest average speed alone makes this determination. However, if the electronic timing device fails and the race is run by double elimination, then if cars tie, or there is an uncertainty as to which car crossed the finish line first, both cars will be considered winners and put back in the drawings.

13.  If a repair becomes necessary, repair time is two (2) minutes only, and only one repair is allowed per contest.

14.  The balance or scale (for weight) and the box or any other measuring device used at the District Level is the standard for the District Pinewood Derby. Weight may be reduced in order to meet specifications but weight may not be added. (Note: You should bring your own tools for a repair.)

15.  In all cases, the decisions of the District Judge’s are final!