Japeechen District Pinewood Derby Rules - 2003

The following set of rules will be in effect for all Pinewood Derbies conducted by Japeechen District Greater Pittsburgh Council B.S.A.
Packs within Japeechen District may elect to adopt these rules in whole or in part. However, Pack representatives to the District Pinewood Derby must comply with all of these rules.

I. SCOPE OF THE EVENT

1. The Japeechen District Committee will annually organize District Pinewood Derbies (PD's) to be conducted in February.
2. The District Committee will recruit the support of two Japeechen District Cub Scout Packs. The two Packs may back each other up at the PD when needed. Each Pack will work in cooperation with the District Committee.
3. The District Committee will announce in writing to the District's packs the location, date, and time of the District PD. This announcement will be made no later than the December Roundtable meeting.
4. Race officials from the supporting Packs and District Committee, who will come in direct contact with the race cars, may not have a son participating in the PD's.
5. The District Executive or his appointed replacement will have final judgment in any dispute.
6. The Cub Scout PD will be open to three currently registered Cub Scouts from each Pack in the District. Packs are to send their top three finishers as determined by the Pack's PD. In the event that one of the top three finisher cannot attend a District PD, an alternate may be sent. Packs will be responsible for notifying the District Committee of their representatives prior to the District PD. A parent or guardian must remain at the PD location during the race.
7. The District Committee will be responsible for selecting and buying awards. The selected awards will be consistent with B.S.A. policies. Products advertising tobacco products, alcohol, etc. are not acceptable. Participation awards may be presented to non-winning participants by an adult PD official at the time of elimination. Finalists awards will be presented in a formal ceremony at the conclusion of the PD.

II. CAR

1. The car must be newly built for the current Cub Scouting year. The car should be substantially built by the Scout. Parental supervision in the construction of the car is encouraged.
2. The body of the car must be made from the block of wood provided in an official B.S.A. PD Kit (Cat. No. P1622). Wheels may not be designed to ride upon the guide strip of the track. Loose pieces that fall off during a race are not permitted. If the front of the car is designed to gain an unfair advantage at the start or interferes with a fair start, the car will be disqualified.
3. The axles of the car must be from the official B.S.A. PD Kit (Cat. No. P1622) or an official PD wheel replacement kit (Cat. No. P1622A). Axles must be firmly attached to the car. The use of a flexible suspension system of any type is prohibited.
4. The wheels of the car must be from the from the official B.S.A. PD Kit (Cat. No. P1622) or an official PD wheel replacement kit (Cat. No. P1622A). Wheels may not be altered in any way. Mold projection defects on wheel treads may be removed by sanding lightly. The wheels may not be sanded to enhance performance. The decorative dots on the wheel treads may not be removed. If wheel sanding is detected the car will be disqualified. The wheels must be attached to the car with the pins provided in the kit. No cars will be accepted in the District PD where bearings, washers, or spacers are used as part of the wheel assembly. The official wheel width is 0.34".
5. DO NOT MOVE THE AXLES - use the nail slots already positioned on the block of wood. Use wood glue or model cement to hold the pin axle in body.
6. Lubrication - only graphite powder or the new B.S.A. white lube T102/polytetra fluor oethylene may be used to lubricate wheels. (Warning - other lubricants may damage the plastic wheels an keep them from turning freely.) The District PD will NOT provide graphite powder lubricants. Once the car is impounded, it may NOT be relubricated. Graphite must be applied outside of the Mall. No graphite may be applied anywhere inside the building.
7. The total weight of the car may not exceed 5 ounces. The maximum width of the car, including wheels, may not exceed 2.75 inches. The maximum length of the car may not exceed 7 inches. The motion of the car may not be mechanically aided (motor, springs, rubber bands, etc. are prohibited).
8. The District Executive or his appointed replacement may disqualify any car that in their determination is not in compliance with the spirit of the PD race.

III. TRACK

1. The race track used at the District PD shall be built to the dimensions specified in the latest copy of the Cub Scout Leader's How To Book (Cat. No. P3831A). The surface and guide rails of the track are to be made of wood. The wood surface may be unfinished or finished with paint, lacquer, varnish, polyurethane, etc. An aluminumn track may be used as long as it meets the proper specifications outlined above.
2. The track must be equipped with an electronic finish order detector system, with two PD officials verifying each race heat.
3. The track must be adjusted to be level across it's width over the entire length of the track.
4. Joints between sections of the track must be adjusted to provide a smooth transition by the car.
5. Every attempt shall be made to insure that both running lanes of the track are equal.

IV. RACE PROCEDURE

1. Cars may be raced only by the qualifying Cub Scout. Cars may not be raced by a parent or a stand-in. Proof of registration may be required. Cub Scouts should be dressed in a neat, clean, uniform. A Cub Scout will not be disqualified because he cannot afford a uniform.
2. Race officials will establish and announce the registration time schedule for the District PD. This schedule will be presented in writing no later that the January Roundtable Meeting. No registrations will be accepted after the deadline. Scouts in line for registration before the deadline will be accepted.
3. After the Scout has registered, his car will be weighed, measured, and inspected to insure compliance with the above rules.
4. A single balance (scale) will be used to weigh cars. The balance must be able to resolve at least .01 ounce. Cars will not be accepted if their weight exceeds five (5) ounces by even the smallest resolution of the balance.
5. A wood, plastic, or metal jig will be used to determine if the car complies to the length and width limitations.
6. A Cub Scout whose car fails any part of the inspection will be given the opportunity to make adjustments to the car. Cars will be re-weighed, measured, and inspected until they comply or until the scheduled race starting time.
7. After the car has passed inspection, it will be taken by a race official to the pit table to await the race. Cars may not be handled after inspection until they are scheduled to race.
8. Cars will be protected from handling by anyone except the race officials and the car owner.
9. No additional lubrication may be applied to the car at the PD site, either before or during a PD.
10. PD's will be double elimination events. Each heat of the PD will be a best of two (2) out of three (3) race between the two Cub Scout cars.
11. Bye runs may be used when there is no opponent because of an uneven number of Scouts participating. A bye run is defined as a race with no opponent. Bye runs should be kept to a minimum, and no Scout should receive more than one bye. During a bye run, the Scout will be required to run his car down each of the two (2) lanes as if in an actual race. Race officials should assign multiple bye runs in the early levels of the race so that there will be no bye runs during the later levels.
12. Each heat will begin with the racing Scouts being called by name to the pit table. A Scout will have three (3) minutes to report before being disqualified.A Race official at the pit table will give the Cub Scout their car. The Scouts will then take the cars to the Race Starter for positioning on the track. Cars will switch lanes between the first and second race. If a third race is required, lane selection will be determined by a coin toss. Scouts will be given time to position themselves at the end of the track before the race starts. Scouts will return their cars to the starting gate between races. Upon completion of a heat, cars that have not been eliminated must be returned to the pit table.
13. In the event of a breakdown of a car during the race, the participant will be given five (5) minutes to repair the car. Only the damaged portion of the car may be modified. Work must be done by the Scout with assistance from his parent or guardian. Race officials shall re-inspect any car that is serviced during the race. The Race officials may choose to continue with other race heats in order to avoid long delays in the race. The damaged car must be raced before the race proceeds to the next level of elimination.
14. In the final heat to determine 1st and 2nd place, the winner of the heat will be declared the overall winner regardless of his previous record. Car dynamics change in time and it may be possible for a car with one loss to beat a car with no losses. The Judges decision will be final.
    Notice: Items in RED were added in November, 1999 to comply with the Greater Pittsburgh Council "The Great Race".