Pinewood Derby Rules 2003

· The Year 2003 Scout Competition is open to all Lighthouse District Cub Scouts. In case of illness or a valid conflict, an absent scout may be represented by an authorized agent.1
· The Year 2003 Open competition is open to all Lighthouse District Scouts, Scout leaders, family members of Scouts, and family members of Scout leaders.
· Cars in the Year 2003 Scout Competition must have been made for this race season. Cars, or parts of cars such as wheels or axles, from previous years may not be used.
· Any car may race in the Year 2003 Open Competition except for cars which raced in the Year 2003 Scout Competition. Cars from previous years and new cars built specifically for the Open Competition are eligible.
· We encourage the construction of Year 2003 Scout Competition cars using the block in the official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit.

Length, Width & Clearance
· Maximum overall width (including wheels and axles) shall not exceed 2-3/4"
· Minimum width between wheels shall be 1-3/4" so car will clear the center guide strip.
· Minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and track shall be 3/8" so the car will clear the center guide strip.
· Maximum length (including wheels) shall not exceed 7-1/8".
· There is no maximum height restriction, however, it is recommended that no car exceed a height of more than 2-3/4".2

Wheels and axles
· Only the wheels and axles from the official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit may be used.4
· Axles may be lightly filed, sanded and polished. This light filing, sanding and polishing is the only axle modification allowed.5
· Wheels may be lightly sanded and polished. This light sanding and polishing is the only wheel modification allowed.6

Weight and Appearance
· Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces. The readings of the Official Race Scale will be considered final.
· The car may be carved, sculpted, and/or sanded in order to enhance performance and/or appearance.
· No loose materials of any kind are permitted on or inside the car.
· Additional materials may be added to the car for the following purposes only:7
Weights may be added to increase the weight and/or alter the weight distribution of a car.
Paints/decals/decorations may be added to alter the appearance and/or aerodynamics of a car.
Glue may be used to adhere the axles to the car body.
Wood putty, or a similar wood-like substance, may be used to repair minor damage to a car.
· Indented noses are prohibited. Cars like the one pictured below will "stage" further down the track, and thus are not traversing the same course as other cars.

Lubrication
· Only dry powdered lubricants, such as graphite or white powder Pinewood Derby Car Lubricant, may be used. Oils and silicone sprays are prohibited.
· A car may lubricated before inspection and, if it advances, prior to the Grade finals. These are the only two times when lubrication is permissible. Specifically, cars may not be lubricated while competing in a set of heats.

Ground Rules
· If a car jumps off the track, the heat will be run again. If the same car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.
· If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again. If the same car leaves its lane a second time and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again without the interfering car. The interfering car will automatically lose the heat.
· If a car suffers a mechanical problem and a repair can be accomplished within 5 minutes, the heat will be run again. If not, the car will automatically lose the heat.
· If a heat results in a tie between two or more cars, then those cars/lanes will re-race until the tie is broken. Cars/lanes not involved in the tie will not be part of the re-race, and will keep their finish positions from the original heat.

Dress Code
· Scouts should be in uniform during the competition. Class A uniforms should be worn for opening/closing ceremonies. Class B uniforms are acceptable during races.
· Coats, jackets, sweaters, etc. may not be worn by a Scout when he is competing. Too easily, they can get caught on the track or jostle cars which have already been staged by other Scouts.

Inspections and Disputes
· Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Team before it may compete. The Inspection Team has the right to disqualify those cars which do not meet the rules. Car owners will be informed of the violations and given an opportunity to modify the car to meet these rules.
· Ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or member of the audience will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or race area.

1An authorized agent is defined as a sibling or a Cub Scout of similar age who is not already competing in the same set of heats.
2 We do not have control over the height of the finish lane gates used at the District races. And for some gates, this is the maximum height.
3 The official kit block has pre-cut slots which are correctly spaced. If desired, these slots may be pre-drilled before they are used. Use of the pre-cut slots, however, is not required.
4 Wheels and axles not from the official kits are prohibited. Wheels and axles which have been modified by other parties also are prohibited, even if they are from the official kit.
5 Beveling, rounding, tapering, thinning, perforating, or any other significant altering of the shape or performance of the axles or axles heads is prohibited.
6 Beveling, rounding, tapering, thinning, perforating, or any other significant altering of the shape or performance of the wheels or wheel hubs is prohibited. Modification of the cylindrical inner wall of the wheel which contacts the axle is prohibited
7 Wheel bearings, washers, or bushings are prohibited. This includes "wheel covers" which serve to keep the wheel hubs from contacting the car body. It also includes "hub caps" or anything else that might serve as a lubrication "well" or "tap". The car shall not ride on any type of springs. The car must be free-wheeling with no starting device or other pro-pulsion, such as adhesives, magnets, rubber bands, motors, jets, etc. Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting and interior details are allowed as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, height, and weight. Metal frames and metal axle supports are prohibited. Axles must be mounted into the wood.