Penn-Del District South
Central Section
Pinewood Derby
Rules
(as
of January 8, 2007)
The
Royal Ranger Pinewood Derby Project was started with the intent of having a
project that a father and son could work on together and to give the boy with no
father at home an opportunity to learn with his farther image, leader or
sponsor. Through this project each
boy will learn many wood working skills and good sportsmanship conducted in a
Christian manner. Please allow the
boy to experience as much of the joy of this project as he can.
God bless you and may the best cars win.
Format of Competition
1.
1.
All races will start at the
specified time and participants must allow time to register their cars prior to
the Race time.
2.
2.
The races will be conducted
in a double elimination format.
See Race procedures.
3.
3.
Classes include:
Ranger
Class: (Ranger Kids, Discovery, Adventure, and Expedition Rangers)
Open
Class: (Rangers, Ranger’s family members, Commanders, and Commander’s family
members)
4.
4.
Open Class: An open class has been included for any Ranger,
Ranger’s family members, Commanders, and Commander’s family members.
The cars in this class must adhere to the same rules as other classes and
must be a separate car NOT racing in any other class.
Please note, the 1st, 2nd place winners from each
Ranger class race will automatically be entered at no cost in the Open Class
race. The cost will be the same for
this class and all other conditions of racing remain the same.
5.
5.
Pinewood Derby guidelines:
Ranger Class Race: GPH (Gospel Publishing House) pinewood derby car kit.
Open Class Race: any pinewood derby car kit.
6. 6. Due to possible schedule conflicts, if a car owner cannot be present to race, his Commander or designated alternate may race or show the car if it is otherwise eligible. Ranger Class only!
7.
7.
You may enter only one car per person, per class, and that car my
not race in any other class for another participant.
You may not race a car that has raced in a previous year.
Race
Procedures
1.
1.
Each car must be registered at the Registration Table, inspected
and placed on the Display Table before the scheduled Race Time (s).
The car will be given a number to expedite the racing activity.
The car will be inspected by members of the Derby Staff for weight and
measurements. (There may be an Inspection Gauge box used
for measurements, basically if car fits inside with door closed, most likely
will pass inspection). There is only one Official Scale (due to scale differences,
the “Official Scale” 5.5 oz. will be used irregardless of what any scale
used at home, Outpost or otherwise reads; there may also be an “Official
Scale” use at each Ranger Class registration table if needed and or desired by
Derby staff; any other devices present are for your convenience and are not
considered “Official” in any way. Once
the car has completed inspection you may not lubricate or work on the car in any
way without permission from the Derby Director so … make sure the car is
lubricated before the registration and inspection is completed!
2.
2.
If during the race, a car is broken, you may ask the Derby
Director for permission to repair the problem only.
Do not take advantage of this opportunity to make other adjustments.
3.
3.
All races will be run on a double elimination basis to determine
the fastest cars. The Double
Elimination method will be explained by the Derby Director or his alternate
conducting the race, prior to the first heat of the event. To eliminate any
possible differences in lanes (or perceived differences) cars will rotate lanes
on the track in an orderly a manner as possible.
4.
4.
At least 1 Finish Line Judge will be designated by the Derby
Director to visually determine the winner of each heat. There may be an
electronic timer used, it times to 0.001 seconds, tie declared at 0.0002 seconds
or less. The car whose nose crosses the finish line first wins the race.
5.
5.
If either a car or parts of a car leave the track or interfere
with another car before the finish line, the race will be declared “no
contest” and the race will be re-run with cars in the same lanes.
If the same car or parts of the car leaves the track or interferes a
second time the offending car will lose that heat.
6.
6.
If a race is declared a “tie”, or Judge(s) cannot determine
winner, the race will be re-run with the cars in different lanes.
7.
7.
Only a car’s owner, the Official Starter, and Official Finish or
Workmanship Judges may handle the car. Handling
will not go beyond what is absolutely necessary.
While not racing, all cars will be left on the Display Table until
cleared by the Derby Director at conclusion of event.
8.
8.
All cars and participants must adhere to all the rules and
specifications included in this set of Official Rules or they will be
disqualified from the Pinewood Derby. If
you have any doubts about a car or an action see the Derby Director or your Area
Commander as soon as possible while we can still deal with the situation without
hurting anyone’s feelings.
9.
9.
The Derby Director will use a Race Work Sheet to conduct the race,
or software equivalent (DerbyMaster).
Final
Note to Commanders and Parents
To
assure the best possible Christian atmosphere, please communicate all rules well
before the race. Above all, your
positive attitude will contribute to the overall success of the event and His
ministry. If you have any
suggestions please see your Area Commander or the Derby Director.
Rules of Construction
1.
1.
The Ranger may have help in building his car (dependent on his age
and skill), and it may be shaped by any means desired.
It does not have to be whittled. Do
not design the car so it has a competitive advantage while sitting in the
starting gate.
2.
2.
All cars entered in competition (Ranger Class, Open Class, and
Workmanship) must be able to fit on and roll down the track.
All cars must meet the following specifications:
·
A car must not be more than
7 ½” in length, including all attachments.
·
A car must not be more than
2 ¾” in width, including wheels and axles, (see note #1).
·
A car must not be more than
4” high.
·
A car must not weigh more
than 5½ ounces, (see note #2).
(Note
#1: the center lane strip on the track will be normally ¼” high
but not greater than 3/8” high and 1 3/4” wide or less. (See picture to right for
reference)
(Note
#2: all cars will be weighed at Registration.
The car may have 2 more attempts to make the 5½-ounce limit.
3.
3.
All weights must be inside the car, part of the ornaments or
securely attached to the car. A car
can be disqualified if the weights are not securely attached to the car.
4.
4.
No bearings or bushings of
any type may be used on any car.
5.
5.
No metal-to-metal contact is allowed in the wheel assembly.
6.
6.
No starting devices (springs, wires, rubber bands, etc…) are
allowed on any car. The car must
start moving and roll by gravity only; no pushing or blowing will be permitted.
7.
7.
You may alter the wheels or axles in any way you desire,
commensurate with other stated rules.
8.
8.
You may lubricate the wheels with any lubricant you desire;
however, if any lubricant drips or spills on the track from the car it may be
disqualified. We do expect some
graphite to fowl the track, but excessive graphite or dripping oil will cause
disqualification.
Workmanship Rules
1.
1.
All cars entered at the Area Races will be considered for a
Workmanship Award.
2.
2.
All cars competing in Workmanship must meet the same standards of
construction as Racecars.
3.
3.
The bottom of the car will not be judged for Workmanship.
4.
4.
Workmanship will be judged by at least 3 unbiased judges chosen by
the Derby Director. The judges will
be judging based on 3 categories: Originality/Authenticity, Workmanship, and
General Appearance.
Originality
/ Authenticity: take
into consideration how much creativity went into the design of the car.
Is the idea or design unique? Or,
is it a good representation of a vintage automobile?
Ratings;
Fair 1 to 4 points, Good 5 to 7 points, Excellent 8 to 10 points.
Workmanship:
take into consideration skill
and craftsmanship; how well the car was cut or carved out, sanded, finished and
detailed. Are there excessive
“store-bought parts” or decals that did not require workmanship?
Ratings;
Fair 1 to 6 points, Good 7 to 12 points, Excellent 13 to 20 points.
General
Appearance: take into
consideration the painting of the car and the color scheme if more than one
color is used. Is the car design,
color and detail pleasing to the eye?
Ratings;
Fair 1 to 6 points, Good 5 to 12 points, Excellent 13 to 20 points.