2016 Mount Tahoma District Pinewood Derby Rules and Regulations Pinewood Derby is an opportunity for parents and their sons to build something together. Although the parents can be involved, the car must be built by the Scout. When the question is asked, “Did you build your car?”, the Scout must honestly believe that he did so. As much as competition is about winning and losing, honesty is the basis for sportsmanlike conduct. It is also the basis for respect for others. Pinewood Derby is where your child should learn these values. We hope that parents will provide the support their son needs but give him the opportunity to experience mostly by himself. Parents, before you start helping your sons, please remember what values you wish your son to gain from this event.

Construction of the Car 1. Assembly of the Car: a. Cars must be built by the Scout; however, parents may assist the Scout. b. The car must be made specifically for the 2015‐2016 Pinewood Derby season. Cars from previous years may not race. c. Cars purchased from others, including professional builders, will not be allowed. 2. Material of the Car: a. The car must be constructed from the official BSA Pinewood Derby kit. i. Exception: Weights may be non BSA material (Refer to “Weight of Car” below). ii. Exception: Official BSA parts sold at the Scout Shop may be used. b. No aftermarket component may be used in the construction of the car, including tires and axles. c. The car must run on the four axles and wheels provided in the kit. 3. Dimensions of the Car (determined by official gauge at the Weigh In): a. Maximum length: 7 inches (177.8 mm) b. Maximum width: 2.75 inches (69.85 mm) c. Maximum height: 3 inches (76.2 mm) d. Ground clearance: ⅜ inches (9.52 mm) e. Minimum width between adjacent wheels: 1.75 inch (44.45 mm) 4. Weight of the Car (determined by digital scale at the Weigh In): a. Total weight of 5 ounces (141.75 grams) b. Add‐on weights must be secured by permanent glue, screws, nails, or in similar manner i. Weights shall not be attached by tape or other sticky substances ii. Weights must be passive, i.e., cannot effect the performance of the car c. Be prepared to remove weight at the Weigh In; limited tools will be available. 5. Wheel and Axle: a. Wheels and axles must be original components from the official BSA Pinewood Derby kit. NO AFTERMARKET PARTS SHALL BE ALLOWED. THIS RULE WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. See exceptions noted above under 2a. i. Wheels 1. Wheels may be sanded to remove plastic burrs and other obvious imperfections. 2. Wheels may not be shaved, drilled, rounded, or hollowed to lessen the weight.

3. Wheels may not be beveled, tapered, or polished by lathe or milling machines. 4. Wheels must maintain original appearance. 5. Wheels must display original “BSA” on outside of wheel. ii. Axles 1. Axles must be placed in the original axle slots of the wood block from the BSA Pinewood Derby kit. 2. Axles may be sanded and polished, but no lathe or precision polishers may be used: a. Fixed drills may be used, but no clamps or jig may secure the kit’s components. b. Tools currently offered by the Scout Shop may be used. c. Axles may not be slotted or grooved to reduce surface contact with hub of wheel. d. Axle diameter may not be appreciably reduced. 3. No washers, bushings, sleeves, bearings, or inserts may be used in conjunction with the wheel and the axle. (Refer to “Material of the Car” above). 4. No straight‐through or connected axles may be used. 5. Axles must be identifiable as original BSA parts. b. Only dry lubricants may be used. i. Lubricant must be graphite or Teflon. Note that the liquid lubricant sold by the Scout Shop does not meet this criterion and will not be allowed. ii. Lubricants must not foul the tracks. iii. No additional lubricant shall be applied after the car is registered and impounded. 6. Designs affecting racing: a. No portion of the car must interfere with a “clean” start of the race. b. The car must be able to set properly at the starting gate: i. No part of the car may be ahead of the starter pin. ii. No mechanism may propel the car from the starting pin. c. No part of the car may interfere with the running of the adjacent cars. d. Decorative components such as decals, figures, and other non‐performance enhancing components may be attached; however, components must be securely attached. 7. The Race Committee: a. The Race Committee shall have the right to inspect all cars for conformity. b. The Race Committee reserves the right to inspect a car after being officially checked and revoke its race eligibility if it is determined that the car is in violation of the specifications set forth above. c. The Race Committee reserves the right to determine the eligibility of the cars if an unfair practice is discovered that is not covered by the rules. d. After the race, the Race Committee may inspect the winning cars for conformity to the rules of the race, including removal of the tire and axle to determine whether the construction and materials are within the specifications set forth above.

Registration and Certification 1. All cars must be registered and certified at a Weigh In event before the races: a. Participants must register online and submit their car to a Weigh In official for certification at the Weigh In only.

b. NO late or race day entries will be allowed or accepted. This is necessary to allow sufficient time to schedule the race heats. c. After certification, all cars will be impounded until race time: i. No repair, maintenance, or lubrication shall be allowed once the car is impounded. ii. Cars will be handled only by race officials. iii. Cars will be in the impounded area until the end of all races or if the participant withdraws from the races. d. Please bring your son and his car to the Weigh In. Avoid having one person from the pack bring multiple cars. The Weigh In is all part of the pinewood derby experience, and being there allows you to make modifications to your car if necessary. 2. Certification will include verification of weight, dimensions, and conformity to the rules of the race. a. Race officials in charge of certification shall decide the eligibility of the car. b. If the car fails the certification, an opportunity shall be provided for the participant to correct the violation if it can be done before the close of Weigh In.

Race Day Rules 1. Only racing officials will be allowed in the track area. This area shall remain off‐limits until the end of the races. 2. The race will be conducted by the race officials; only race officials will be allowed to handle the cars. The Race Master will have final say over the conduct of the race. 3. The race schedule will be determined by the number of entrants and the number of heats necessary to allow each car to race an equal number of times. 4. Race irregularities: a. Lane jumping: 1. If a car should jump a lane, the heat will be run again. 2. If the car jumps the second time, it shall be deemed last in place, and the other cars will race again without the offending car: 3. After the first jump, the race official, at his discretion, may allow the offending car to be repaired under his supervision, if time permits 4. Cars damaged due to the offending car shall be given a limited time to make repairs: 1. Repairs must be made under supervision of the race officials. 2. Unless the wheel or axle is damaged, no additional lubrication may be added. b. Problem with the track: 1. Should the track cause lane jumping or other obvious effects on the performance of a car, repair shall be made to the track, and the heat shall be run again. 2. Heats occurring prior to the detection of the track problem will not be rerun; results from those heats will stand. c. Repairs during heats: 1. At the discretion of the race official, a limited time may be allowed for broken and damaged cars to be repaired under supervision of the race official d. Repair time shall be generally 5 minutes under normal conditions. e. Cannot cross the finish line: 1. A car that cannot cross the finish line under its own power will be deemed to have finished last in the heat. 5. Disputes: a. Any disputes from the participants shall be made to the Race Master: 1. The Race Master will request the Race Committee to make a prompt decision:

1. Decision will be by majority vote of the Race Committee. 2. The Race Master shall decide if there is a tie vote. 2. Decisions made by the Race Committee shall be final. 6. Open Division Race a. Open to all participants eligible to race in the District Pinewood Derby and family/community members if they have paid the race fee in full. b. Cars must be made from the official BSA Pinewood Derby kits. c. Same construction rules apply. d. Same Registration and Racing Rules apply.

Conduct and Manner Sportsmanlike conduct is requested from all participants and observers. Any adult or Scout showing unsportsmanlike conduct will be asked to withdraw from the races and leave the premises.