2021 Official Chippewa Pinewood Derby Rules

Use only Official BSA Pinewood Derby Kit wood, wheels, and nails.

a. Wheels may only be lightly sanded to smooth out molding imperfections on the tread area. Beveling, tapering, thin sanding, wafering, lathe turning or machining of the wheels is prohibited. The decorative dots on the outside of the wheels may not be removed.

Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited. The car shall not ride on springs.
Only official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby wheels and axles are permitted.  Different colored wheels are available but only Official BSA wheels will be accepted.
The main body of the car is to be made from wood.  Mistakes can be made and we do not require that you purchase another kit if you have available replacement wood.  Care should be taken to ensure proper width, length and wheelbase if not using the official pinewood block.  As long as the chassis is wood it will be accepted.  

Motors, engines, or other propulsion may not be used.
The Minimum Front Nose Width shall be at least 0.5” at the center and parallel with the front axle to operate properly at the starting gate. Cars must be no more than 4” high to fit under the finish gate.

Included below: Rule 5b Maximum Length - 7"  The block included in the Derby kit is 7” long.  It must be noted that paint will add thickness to the block, so effort must be made to remove some of the wood block’s overall length to be sure not to go over 7” once painted.
Car specifications:

Maximum width - 2-3/4"
Maximum Length - 7"
Maximum Weight - Not over 5 Ounces
Minimum width between wheels - 1-¾ ---
Minimum bottom clearance underneath the body (so it does not rub on the track guide) - 3/8"
Wheelbase (defined as the distance between the wheels on the sides of the car) will be 4 5/16 inches. A slight allowance is given, to allow for the potential that an axle might need to be moved due to a blow out of the pre cut groove. The wheels should not be staggered, and must be close to “even across” with the other side of the car. 

Only dry graphite is permitted. Details, such as steering wheel and driver or other “glue on” enhancements are permissible as long as  these details do not exceed the maximum length, width and weight specifications. The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.
Racers must be in attendance to compete!
All cars are to be inspected and quarantined prior to the race.  

Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it may compete. If at registration, a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason for failure and will be given time within the official check-in time period to make the adjustment.  
Once a car passes inspection it will be placed in the quarantine area where judges may observe only, for style and theme awards.  Only the official race running team, to be made up of scouts from troops (501, 507, 7507) or other impartial designees, will be allowed to handle the cars during the race heats. Care will be taken in handling the cars and enforced by the race officials. Race officials will maintain integrity at all times.

No adults will be handling the cars during the races unless there is a repair that is needed and a possible re-inspection to insure the car is able to continue racing.  

All care will be taken to insure fairness and we will do our best to maintain integrity for the duration of the races.  Any parent or adult that has a concern will bring the issue to the race officials, with discretion and clarity, in a timely manner.
Rail riding is allowed, with varying results.  Cars must be “dialed in” before check-in.  No car will be allowed to be adjusted or modified after check-in, while in quarantine or during the race.
All race official decisions are final.
If a car is damaged it may be repaired.  The car owner will be given 5 minutes total for all repairs, to be monitored by a designated race official.  This time can be used for one repair, or multiple repairs, or multiple instances, but the TOTAL repair time will not exceed 5 minutes.  
If, at any time after check-in, any car is deemed “unable to continue”, it will not be disqualified.  Any remaining unfinished heats will result as 9.99 and factor in to the total time for the car.
If at any time during the races a car is found to be in violation of the specifications set during check-in, it may be deemed “unable to continue”.  Again, the 5 minute rule will be in effect, and the owner will be given time to remedy the violation, if possible.
Race heats will be:
Each car will race against their peers each of the four tracks twice, for a total of 8 heats.  The slowest time (or largest value) for all heats will be dropped, and an average time will be established using the remaining 7 heats.  Finishing placement for the 7 heats (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) will be used as tie breakers.

The judges and race officials decision are final.  We will work together to insure rules are applied and integrity is maintained.  We are aware that some cars will run noticeably faster than others, but there are limits set by the laws of physics and GOD.  If we suspect that these laws may have been broken, the car may be re-inspected with scrutiny, but with care.  If any violations are found, 5 minutes will be given to fix the issue, if possible, as stated in rule 10

Please ensure the rules and regulations are followed.
It is disheartening telling a Scout he is unable to compete.