All cars must pass inspection to qualify for the race. The race official's decision on all inspection points is final. Cars that do not meet specifications will not be allowed to race.
Car Inspection Requirements
The following specifications must be met. The official race scale and measuring tools are considered final.
| # | Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weight | Shall not exceed 5.0 ounces. Official race scale is final. |
| 2 | Overall Length | Shall not exceed 7 inches. |
| 3 | Overall Width | Shall not exceed 2¾ inches. |
| 4 | Maximum Height | Cannot exceed 5 inches. Adjust to clear your finish gate. |
| 5 | Wheel Clearance | Must have 1¾" clearance between the wheels. |
| 6 | Ground Clearance | Must have 3/8" clearance underneath the body. |
| 7 | Wood | The wood provided in the official kit must be used. The block may be shaped any way desired. |
| 8 | Wheels | The wheels supplied with the kit must be used. Wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled, or rounded. The seam may be removed. |
| 9 | Axles | The axles supplied with the kit must be used. They may be polished or lubricated. |
| 10 | Bearings/Bushings | Wheel bearings, washers, or bushings are prohibited. |
| 11 | Springs | The car must not ride on any type of springs. |
| 12 | Starting Devices | The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices. |
| 13 | Loose Material | No loose material of any kind, such as lead shot, may be used. |
| 14 | Identification | All cars must have the scout's name on the bottom of the car. |
Race Conduct Rules
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1Gravity powered only. Cars must be powered by gravity only. No motors, springs, or other propulsion devices are permitted.
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2Fair start design. The front of the car cannot be designed to gain an unfair advantage by shortening the distance between the start pin and the finish line sensor. The car design cannot otherwise interfere with a fair start.
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3Wheel bore. The bore of the wheels may be reamed, coned, and polished, but not otherwise altered. Drilling holes in the wheels is not allowed.
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4Axle angle. The axles should not be mounted at an angle or deliberately bent in order to tip any of the wheel treads to an angle.
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5Starting pin. No part of the car can extend past the starting pin.
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6Wheel position. The front-most and rear-most wheels must be positioned across the body from one another.
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7Lead weight. Lead weight, if used, must be completely sealed and safe from all possible contact with youth.
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8Car leaves track. If a car jumps off the track or jumps to a different lane, the heat will be run again. If the same car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.
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9Mechanical problems. 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.
Optional Rules
The following rules are optional. Race organizers may choose to adopt any or all of them for their event.
- ◆The car body may have no moving parts.
- ◆If, during a race, a car leaves the track without interfering with its opponent, it shall be considered to have ended its heat at that point.
- ◆If a car leaves its lane, the track chairman may — at his sole discretion — inspect the track and, if a track fault is found which probably caused the violation, order the race to be rerun after the track is repaired.
- ◆If, during a race, no car reaches the finish line on the track, the car which went the farthest in its lane shall be declared the heat winner.
- ◆If, during a race, a car leaves its lane and interferes with another racer, the car at fault shall be declared to have lost the heat.
- ◆Construction of all entries must have begun after last year's races. Cars must be built new for this season and cannot have been raced in previous years.
- ◆Only one car may be registered by any person in the Pinewood Derby.
- ◆Only dry lubricants such as graphite or powdered Teflon "white lube" will be allowed for lubricating the wheels. Lubricants may not foul the track.
- ◆Only one lubrication is allowed before the beginning of the first race, and then once again before the beginning of the first race of the semi-finals and finals.
- ◆Details such as the steering wheel, driver, decals, painting, and interior detail are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications.