The following honors will be awarded at this year's Pinewood Derby

Race Categories

• Pack 60 Pinewood Derby Grand Champion - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place

• Rank Champion (awarded for each rank Lion-AoL) - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place

• Open Class Champion - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place

Design Categories

• Scout Favorite (voted on by the Scouts) - 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place

• Best Scout Theme - 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place

• Fastest Looking - 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place

• Animal Theme - 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place

• Food Theme - 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place

Miscellaneous Categories

• Cubmaster Favorite

• Cubmaster's Challenge - Beat Cubmaster Blake's car and win a CHOCOLATE BAR! But beware... his cars has NEVER LOST a race!!!

CAR DESIGN AND INSPECTION

All cars must pass the following inspection to qualify for the race:

1. Width should not exceed 2-3/4 inches.

-- Minor variations are acceptable, but cars that are too wide and interfere with cars in other lanes will not be allowed to race

2. Length should not exceed 7 inches.

-- Minor variations are acceptable, but cars that are too long may get stuck on the curve in the track and not finish the race

3. Height should not not exceed 5 inches.

-- Minor variations are acceptable, but cars that are too tall may collide with the laser finish gate at the end of the track

4. Weight MUST NOT not exceed 5 ounces.

-- All cars will be weighed at registration using Pack supplied scales. Cars weighing more than 5 oz will not be accepted

5. The car MUST have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.

-- This is required, otherwise it will drag on the track rails, and will not finish the race

6. The car MUST have 3/8” clearance underneath the body.

-- This is required, otherwise it will drag on the track rails, and will not finish the race

7. The wood provided in the kit MUST be used. The block may be shaped any way that is desired.

-- Additional items can be added on to or around the block, but the wheels/axels must be attached to the original block of wood

8. Official BSA kit wheels MUST be used. Additional wheels can be purchased from the Scout Shop

-- You may remove the seam, polish, and lubricate the wheels. Other modifications (such as V-cutting) are subject to leader review and disqualification

9. The axles supplied with the kit MUST be used. They may be polished or lubricated.

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

11. No lubricating oil may be used. Axles may be lubricated with powdered graphite or silicone.

12. The car shall not ride on any kind of spring.

13. The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.

14. No loose materials of any kind are allowed in the car.

2021 RACE FORMAT

The following race format will be used to determine the winners of this year's Pinewood Derby.

Time Trials:

Each car will race 1 time in each of the 4 lanes, for a total of 4 races. The average time of these for races will be used to determine the Qualifying Time for the car.

Elimination Rounds - Part 1:

Cars will run 3-4 at a time, each in a random lane, matched up by their time trial rankings. The top 2 finishers of each race will move on to the next round.

Elimination Rounds - Part 2:

Once the field has been reduced to 16 cars, each car will be placed into a bracket based on their Qualifying times. Races will then be held between 2 cars head-to-head. The winner of each race moves on to the next round until there are only 4 cars remaining.

Rank Rounds:

After the Final Four has been determined, final races will be conducted between the 4 fastest cars remaining in each Den to determine 1st-4th places for each Rank.

Final Four:

To wrap up our event, the final 4 cars from the Elimination Rounds will race 2 final races each, head-to-head, to determine our Grand Champion along with our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishers.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to picking a shape for your Pinewood Derby car. Before you begin, consider the following general guidelines:

Avoid designs with a pointed nose. A pointed nose will make it difficult for your Pinewood Derby car to rest on the pin at the starting gate. It may also cause your Pinewood Derby car to get bumped around when the pin drops, and it can create problems for electronic timing systems.

Leave enough wood in the rear of the Pinewood Derby car so you can place additional weight there. You will end up placing most of the weight in the rear of the Pinewood Derby car.

Make the maximum weight. Your car should weigh as much as it’s allowed. In most races, a Pinewood Derby car’s weight is limited to 5 ounces. If your car weighs less than that, add coins or other weights.

Be sure that it is very clear which end of your Pinewood Derby car is the front and which end is the back. In many races, the race officials —- not you -— will actually place each Pinewood Derby car on the track. Sometimes the officials put the Pinewood Derby car on the track backward because they can’t tell which end is which.

Choose a design that allows the air to move over and around the Pinewood Derby car body in a smooth manner. Pinewood Derby cars with aerodynamic profiles go faster.

Designing and Building a Winning Pinewood Derby Car

You don’t have to strive for the fastest Pinewood Derby car to have fun competing in your Pinewood Derby. But if you and a helpful adult are willing to put in the extra time and effort, these tips are for you.

1. Bake the Block: Start with your block of wood, and before you do anything else, bake it in the oven at 250 degrees for around two hours to remove moisture and make it lighter. This will allow you to place more weight to the rear of the Pinewood Derby car where you actually want it.

2. Create the Design: Draw the outline of your Pinewood Derby car on a sheet of paper, cut it out and attach it to your block of wood.

Remember, a rectangular car is not an aerodynamic design. The most basic aerodynamic design is a simple wedge. If you don’t have time to design a complex car, a wedge will work just fine.

3. Rough Cut the Design: Use a coping saw to cut out the rough shape of your Pinewood Derby car. You can also ask a responsible adult to make these cuts using a power tool.

4. Shape Your Car: Use sand paper to smooth your car’s edges and shape it to your design. An adult can also use a rotary tool or other tool to help you.

5. Sand and Paint the Pinewood Derby Car: Make it smooth to reduce friction and paint an awesome design to make it look great.

6. Install Axles and Wheels: Make sure they are aligned perfectly straight. You can test the alignment of your axles by pushing your car across a smooth floor or table. It should roll smoothly in a straight line.

— Make a Three-Wheeler: Raise one wheel about 1/16 inch higher so it never actually touches the track. Less friction = more speed. Rules vary from pack to pack, so make sure to check your pack’s Pinewood Derby rules to make sure three wheelers are allowed in your race.

— Extend the Wheelbase: The front and rear wheels should be as far apart as possible. Again, make sure this is allowed in your race.

— Polish the Axels: Polishing your Pinewood Derby car's axles and wheels may be the most important factor in building a fast car.

7. Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don’t get glue on your wheels.

8. Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow. In general, it’s best to place weight to the rear of your car because a heavier rear increases speed.

9. Lubricate the Wheel Well: Add graphite or another dry lubricant to reduce friction. The less friction between the body and wheel, the better.

And finally, remember the No. 1 rule of a Pinewood Derby is that it’s supposed to be fun. While you should always strive to do your best, don’t get caught up in winning or having the fastest car. Just enjoy the ride.

https://www.pinewoodpro.com/pinewood-derby-beginners.php

https://www.derbymonkeygarage.com/pinewood-derby

https://www.maximum-velocity.com/pinewood-derby-kit-help

YOUTUBE IS A GREAT RESOURCE ALSO.

Coming Soon!

Send your questions to jason.tillman@pack9060.org