Hobbies And Interests
General Rules
Cars must be made from an official Pinewood Derby Kit with the Boy Scouts of America imprint visible on the wheels. The car registered must be the same one used in the pack and district derby qualifying races. Cars are placed in the holding area between races and only can be retrieved from the holding area by an official staff member.
Appearance and Weight
The car cannot weigh more 5 oz. A car can be hollowed out and then built up to the maximum weight using only wood and metal. Details like decals, paint and a steering wheel are allowed as long as they do not result in the car being over the weight limit. No mercury-weighted cars are allowed. Cars can be weighed at the judges' discretion at any time.
Dimensions
A pinewood derby car cannot be wider than 2 ¾ inches at the furthest horizontal protrusion, and the axle area should be 1 ¾ inches wide so that the wheels will properly fit on the track. The car cannot be longer than 7 inches. The wheelbase must be between 4 ¼ and 4 5/8 inches.
Axles and Wheels
The only wheels allowed on the cars are original wheels that have not been altered, lathe cut, re-shaped or narrowed. No wheel bearings, washers, spacers or springs are allowed on the cars. All cars require 4 wheels; at least three must be touching the track at all times. No launching or starting devices are allowed for the cars.
Races
Two cars race at a time with the winner determined by a minimum of two judges. The races feature one competition each for Tiger Cubs, Wolves, Bears, and two for Webelos (first and second years). The first four place winners of each rank group receive an award.