Pack 94 Pinewood Derby!

 

Schedule

Open test and tune Tuesday January 6th from 6:00pm to 7:30 pm.

The Pack 94 Pinewood Derby will be held on Tuesday January 13th.

Event Time
Check In 6:00 PM
Race 6:30 PM
Awards 7:15 PM
   

 

About the Race

There are many ways to conduct a Pinewood derby championship race. For many years, Pack 94 has been using the double illimination method. This method is a good fit for our track and finish line equipment. As with all race methods, there is a certain amount of chance that is involved. Usually, the fastest cars will rise to the top as the race progresses. However, there is always a possibility that a fast car will get eliminated early in the race. This is just a part of the fun of the derby. Below is the actual procedure that will be used to conduct the race:

 

Double Illimination Race Procedure

I. Initial Race

  1. Upon checkin, number each car and place corresponding numbered token into Winner bucket.
  2. Randomly draw all tokens from the Winner bucket and place on board. Filling lanes and heats in order. Try to even out the number of cars in each heat. For example, If 9 cars are racing, run 3 heats of three cars.
  3. Call out the number of each car and let the scout place the car on the track. Make sure that all cars are placed on the track straight.
  4. The 1st place winner of each heat goes into the winner bucket. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th place numbers go into the One Loss bucket.

II. Winner Bracket

  1. Draw all names from the winner bucket and place them on the board.
  2. The 1st place winner from each heat goes into the Winner bucket. 2nd , 3rd and 4th place numbers go into the One Loss Bucket.
  3. Repeat the Winner Bracket until one number remains in the Winner Bucket

III. One Loss Bracket

  1. Draw all the tokens from the One Loss bucket and place them on the board.
  2. The 1st place winner of each heat goes back into the One Loss bucket.  The 2nd, 3rd and 4th place cars now have 2 losses and are eliminated. However, if the One Loss bracket contains only one heat, the 2nd place car is the overall 3rd Place Winner.
  3. Repeat the One Loss Bracket race until one number remains with one loss. The 2nd place car in the One Loss bracket is 3rd place overall.

IV. Championship Race

  1. With winner of the Winners Bracket and the winner of the One Loss Bracket race for the championship.
  2. If the One Loss Bracket winner beats the Winners Bracket winner, then they must race again (on different lanes). This is because the Winners Bracket winner has not sustained a loss and must lose twice to be eliminated.
  3. If the Winners Bracket winner beats the One Loss Bracket winner, then the One Loss Bracket winner is eliminated (having lost twice), and the  Winners Bracket winner is the champion overall.
  4. The loser of the Championship Race is 2nd place overall.  

 

Pinewood Derby Rules

SPECIFICATIONS:

1.  The official BSA Pinewood Derby kit must be used.  No substitution of parts especially the wheels and axles (nails).

2.  Width:  Overall width of the car will not exceed 2 3/4 inches.  Wood may be added to the block to bring the car out to the maximum width.

3.  Length: Overall length of the car will not exceed 7 inches.

4.  Height: Overall height of the car will not exceed 3 1/8 inches.  When placed on a flat surface the entire bottom of the car must be at least 3/8 inch from the flat surface.

5.  Weight: The weight of the car will not exceed 5 ounces.  No loose materials of any kind are permitted in the car.  The car may be hollowed out and/or built up to the maximum weight, provided it is securely built into or attached to the body.

6.  Wheel Base:  The maximum wheel base will not exceed 4 1/2 inches.  If the axles must be moved due to problems with the slots cut in the wood block the axles must be within 1/4 inch of the original slots; i.e. if you move the front wheels forward 1/4 inch the rear wheels must be moved forward an equal distance.

7.  Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.

8.  Axles: Inserts for axle support are also prohibited.  Only dry powdered graphite may be used for lubrication.

9.  The car may not ride on any kind of springs.

10.  Details: Details such as steering wheel, driver, decals, painting, and interior detail are permissible and encouraged as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications.  See Notes below about pieces coming off a car.

11.  Attachments: The car must be freewheeling with no starting devices.

12.  Wheels: Although burrs and molding marks may be removed from the wheels, there will be no cutting or turning down of the wheels to a point or ridge.  Wheels must remain the same width as contained in the official Pinewood Derby kit.  Wheels may not be tapered or rounded and the rib located on the outer edge of the wheel must not be removed.

13. All cars must have been built in the same Scout year (Sep 07- Feb 08) they compete.

14.  Inspection: Each car must pass inspection by the official district inspection committee before it may compete.  The inspectors have the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet the specifications outlined above.

Notes:   The scales and measuring tools used during District Race Check-In are the final say in a car meeting these specifications.  The Cub Scout Derby Wheel Alignment Tool will be used to measure wheel base and car bottom clearance.  If the car does not meet any of these specifications the Scout will be given an opportunity to meet the specifications.  If a piece of a car comes off during a race the Scout will be given a chance to reattach the piece, however the car will be weighed again.  If the same piece comes off again the Scout will have to leave the piece off for the rest of the races the car runs in.

SPECIAL ADDITIONAL NOTES: 

#1.  Applying graphite to cars must be done before inspection – once a car has passed inspection, it is too late!  (if car needs some modification after initial inspection, graphite may be re-applied before being re-inspected).

#2.  Pins of the starting gate of the derby track are about 3/4 inch tall and are positioned in the center of the lane (so as to make contact with the middle of the front of the car).  The car must be designed so that front-most part of the car will make contact with the starting gate/pin without any part of the car resting on, passing over the top of or protruding around the starting gate/pin.  If this can not be met then the car will be run in reverse but the back end must meet the same requirements.

 

Useful Links

Pinewood Derby 101

Derby Talk Forums

The Ultimate Pinewood Derby Site