The District Pinewood Derby is open to all Chartered
Pack Units in the Natchez Trace District (Williamson County) of the Middle Tennessee Council. Each participant must be a registered member of a Pack Unit in the Natchez Trace District
of the Middle Tennessee Council on the date of the race. It is the responsibility of each Pack Unit to issue a copy
of the annual construction rules to all participants. The race is double elimination.
Participant Requirements:
- A uniformed Scout and his "one" car must be present to register.
- At registration, a scout must decide whether to enter his car in the speedster
race or the best design competition before the car is inspected.
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A scout must be present to race his car on the track
and present to receive an award.
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The car entry must be the same one that competed
in the Pack Unit Pinewood Derby of the same year.
Download a PDF Copy of 2010 Construction Rules
The construction
guidelines found in the Pinewood Derby Car Kit are relatively basic and easy to apply.
The following construction rules are a combination of the "Grand Prix Kit"
instructions and supplement rules specific to the Natchez Trace District. The supplement rules provide a more detailed description
of the construction limits.
Please beware of the web sites that claim to have "The only BSAŽ Approved Speed Secrets."
These claims are false.
Before a race, each car must be approved for racing by the Inspection Team. The inspectors have
the right to disqualify Pinewood Derby cars that do not meet the Car Specifications outlined below.
Car Specifications
The
car must be built from parts of the "Official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit." This rule will be strictly enforced.
The kit includes 1 block of wood, 4 plastic tires and 4 nails. The kit is available at the Jet Potter Scout Shop and other
official B.S.A. distributors. Car kits from other retailers are not acceptable. Must use B.S.A. materials
only. All BSA markings must be present and undisturbed on both the outside and inside of all 4 wheels. (Additional
car accessories, such as weights and decals, can be purchased at most hobby shops.)
| BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit |
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Width: Width shall not exceed 2 3/4". The minimum
width between the wheels is 1 3/4". This is to ensure clearance of the lane guides.
Length: Overall length may not exceed 7". This includes any weights,
decorative tail pipes, wheels, etc.
Weight: Total weight is not to exceed 5 ounces (141.7grams). The car may be built
up to a maximum weight by the addition of wood and/or types of metal, provided it is securely attached to the car body. Mercury
and liquids may not be used as weight. Do not tape the weights to the car. Weight fastened to the car held by masking or scotch
tapes are not acceptable. Loose materials of any kind are not permitted on or in the car. If a part of the car falls off during
the race, it may be disqualified. Also, Cars with sticky clue are not accepted for obvious reasons.
Clearance:
Minimum bottom clearance is 3/8" (including any weights). Overall height may not
exceed 4". This is to ensure clearance of the lane guides and finishgate.
| Wheel Design Is Important |
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Wheels: Use Only Official Scout
Grand Prix Wheels and Axles. You may not use washers, bushings, wheel bearings,
starting or springing devices, or "Hub Cap" style wheel coverings. You may remove the molding seam on the tread; however,
do not remove any B.S.A. markings on both the inside and outside of the wheels including the dotted treads around the
entire circumference of the outside edge of the tires. Wheel surfaces must remain flat with full tread. No other wheel
changes are allowed that would change the original composition of the car (curving, carving, drilling, coning). All cars must
have four wheels and all wheels must make contact with the track. This rule also coincides with the axle rules below.
Wheel Tread Example
Axles: Each wheel must have one independent axle (nail). If you are
not using the block’s axle slots, drill all axle holes a similar distance from the bottom of the block with slots parallel
to the track. If desired, you may change the wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles). The axle holes must
be drilled into the original block of wood; no extensions. Angled axles or tipped wheels are not allowed. You can lightly
sand and polish the axles removing blemishes. However, the original shape of the axles are not to be altered. Use Only
Dry Powder Lubrication. You may not use any other lubricant, especially oils and silicone sprays. Graphite must be applied
only to the axle area. There will be no applications allowed in the building and especially after inspection.
Use Only Dry Powder Lubrication. You may not use any other lubricant, especially oils and silicone sprays. Graphite
must be applied only to the axle area. There will be no applications allowed in the building and especially after inspection.
Detailing: Detailing or Add-ons to the car are allowed only if the
items do not exceed the width, length, weight, or clearance specifications. Add-ons must be permanently secured to the car
body. Cars with wet paint are not accepted.
New Car: Each new year of racing requires a newly built car
made from the Grand Prix BSA kit. Previously built Pinewood Derby cars and parts are not acceptable. Each scout must use the
same car that competed in the most recent Pack Unit race.
Best Design Entries: Best Design entries will not participate in the race. Construction Rules are limited to the width,
length, weight, clearance and new car rules above. All cars must still use the BSA Grand Prix kit parts.
The Chairman notes that the District design entry
category only applies to the District race. Packs Units can continue design entry traditions for their
individual races. Just be sure that the appropriate number of design cars are listed on the District registration
form. We plan to run all of the design cars down the tract before the race so that everyone will
see the "works of art"..
Race Day Procedures
A uniformed Scout and his car must be present at the race to participate. Each Scout will present his car
for Inspection, both Speed and Design entries. If the car fails, the Inspectors tell the scout and adult partner the exact
problem(s). Changes can be made at the Pit table. A Scout must return to the end of the line to resubmit a car. After approval,
the car is assigned a No. that is entered into the Racing Log. The Scout must state his first name, last name initial and
Pack Number. The Race Log No. stickers are placed on the top rear of the car and on the Scout’s shirt. The car is then
quarantined to a Starter Table (or Impound table) for display. There will be a table to speedstars and a table for design.
Participants(or related parties) should not touch any car on display. When the Race begins, speed entry Scouts should
listen for his car number. Team heats are selected randomly. After each heat, the Scout should return his car to the
Starter Table.
Participant
Requirements:
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A uniformed Scout and his "one" car must be present to register.
-
At registration, a scout must decide
whether to enter his car in the speed race or the best design competition before the car is inspected.
-
A scout must be present to race his car on
the track and present to receive an award.
-
The car entry must be the same one that competed
in the Pack Unit Pinewood Derby of the same year.
Event Recognition
Best Design Awards will be before the Championship Heat
begins. Two third party, non-participant related adults are chosen before inspection. The top speedsters
will be awarded immediately following the race.
All of the Winners are asked to participate in a group picture session immediately
following the final awards ceremony. Parents should complete a "Press Release" form. A
group picture is typically presented to the local newspaper. Pack Units and parents will be able to view and copy
pictures of the race and awards ceremony from the Natchez Trace Pinewood Derby web site. No personal information is
presented with the pictures except for the top winners that are recognized by first name and sometimes the last
initial. There is no identifiable order on the Pinewood Derby web site.
Inspection Team - The Inspection Team has the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet the appropriately dated construction
rules. Car owners will be informed of violations and given an opportunity to modify the car to pass inspection. Owners must
return to the end of the registration line to resubmit cars. At the conclusion of the 1st round, all unresolved disqualifications
are final. If an appeal is sought, the majority vote of the Derby Committee is final. Unsportsmanlike conduct may be cause
for disqualification.
Ground Rules
If a car leaves the lane and interferes with another car, the heat will
be run again. If the same car leaves the track again, it will automatically lose the heat.
If a car suffers a mechanical
problem, and a repair can be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time, before the conclusion of the round, the heat will
be run again. If not, the car will automatically lose the round.
Potential Inspection Procedures
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