Pinewood Derby!

Your 2025 Pinewood Derby Champions

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Pinewood Derby Official Rules

Car Specifications

• Maximum weight: 5.0 ounces (141.7 grams)
• Maximum length: 7 inches
• Car must have a wheelbase of between 4″ and 4-1/2″
• Maximum width: 2.75 inches
• Minimum width between wheels: 1.75 inches
• Maximum height: 3 inches
• Minimum bottom clearance: 0.375 inches (to avoid rubbing on track rails)

Construction Requirements

1. Cars Should be Cub-Built

• The car should be substantially built by the Cub Scout. Parental supervision and guidance in the construction of the car is encouraged, but the parent SHOULD NOT BUILD THE CAR FOR THE CUB SCOUT.
• Each car entered in the race must be newly built for the current Cub Scouting year. Cars from previous scouting years are not permitted.
• Parents and siblings should show off their car building skills by entering the “Outlaw Class” race.

2. Cars must be constructed from the official BSA Pinewood Derby kit:

• Official pine wood block
• Official BSA wheels (colored wheels permitted)
• Official BSA axles (nails)
• Other materials such as wood, plastic or metal may be added to the original block of wood from the official kit as long as the car is within the allowed dimensions.

3. The following modifications are prohibited:

• Wheel bearings, washers, or bushings
• Springs or suspension systems
• Starting devices or propellants
• Electronic or lighting devices
• Loose materials inside the car

4. Wheel Regulations:

• All 4 wheels must touch the track simultaneously
• Original wheel diameter must be maintained
• No wheel shaving or radius reduction
• Wheel surface must remain flat
• No flex in the axles
• No oil or other liquid lubricant

Race Procedures

1. Registration:

• Cars must pass inspection before racing
• Cars with wet or uncured paint will not be accepted
• Once registered, cars remain in race committee possession
• Only race officials may handle cars during races

2. Racing Rules:

• Cars must start behind starting pin
• If car leaves track, heat will be rerun once
• If mechanical problems occur, 5 minutes will be allowed for repairs

3. Racing Format:

• Cars are scheduled to race once in each lane of the track, then the time for every run is compiled.
• The car completing the heats in the least amount of time is the winner.

Inspection Guidelines

• Weight measured on official scale
• Dimensions checked with official gauge
• Wheels and axles inspected for modifications
• Cars may be reweighed/inspected at any time

Standard Classes

• Cub Scouts will race in classes by Den
• Adults and Siblings may race in the “Unlimited Class” which follows all of the rules above.

Outlaw Class

• Each car must follow all weight and dimension requirements listed in the “Car Specifications” above with the exception that no wheelbase requirements need to be followed.
• Cars must be powered by gravity only! This means no engines, rubber bands, wind up motors, springs as used for propulsion, rocket motors, CO2 cartridges, thermo-nuclear reactors, plasma boosters, rodents on hamster wheels, or any other thrust generation or enhancement devices.
• No projectiles are allowed, and no part of the car may intentionally detach from the car during the race or come into contact with any other car.
• No hazardous materials (i.e. lead weights)
• Other than these rules, anything goes! Think outside the box. Use exotic materials, wheels, axles, bearings, or advanced engineering. Use exotic tools and equipment such as milling machines, lathes, laser cutters, 3D printers, or anything else you can think of to make your car. Put rolling weights on or inside the body to shift the center of gravity or reduce friction. Use a tiny computer and sensors to steer the car and keep it centered on the track so it never touches the center guide rail in order to reduce friction. Think of ways to make the axle bearing surfaces more efficient or even friction-free with magnetic bearings or jewel bearings. Springs can be used for suspension purposes only, but not to aid in driving the wheels or producing thrust in any manner.

Awards Categories

• Speed (1st, 2nd, 3rd place)
• Best Design
• Most Creative
• Best Craftsmanship

Violations of these rules will result in disqualification. Race Committee decisions are final.

Adult Involvement

The whole point of the “Outlaw Class” Race is to encourage parents to KEEP THEIR MITTS OFF THEIR CUB SCOUT’S CAR and let their kids build their OWN cars with the parent’s help.