Pinewood Derby

BUILDING

Kid's build cars with parents from standard blocks of wood, plastic wheels, and metal axels. They should have already received a kit complimentary from the pack.

Since not all of us have the tools to make a fancy car (myself included), there will be 2 car cutting events as a hand saw is really not conducive to success in this event. You should plan your car's design in advance and draw an outline of what you want cut in pencil on the wood before arriving.

Pinewood Derby Help from Bob, Ash, Bill, and their Band Saws

Ash Phillips and Bill Volovnik are making themselves available  so scouts and their parents can come over and get help cutting the outline for their Pinewood Derby cars using their band saws.  If you just draw the outline on the side (and top if necessary) of the car, they can cut it out.

The days and times available are:

Wednesday 2/28 from 4pm to 5:30pm. With BOB. 903 St. Joseph Drive Upper Darby, PA

Sunday, 3/2 from 2 to 4 PM.  With ASH. 529 E. Manoa Road, Havertown PA

Sunday, 3/2 from 2 to 3:30 PM.  With BILL. 1005 Edgewood Road, Havertown PA

Sunday, 3/9 from 2 to 3:30 PM.  With BILL. 1005 Edgewood Road, Havertown PA

We're looking for an alternate time If you can't make it to either of these dates/ times 

After cutting, you will likely want to sand your car, paint it and install the wheels and weights. You can go for speed and style or make it fun and creative. Either way, max is 5 oz. Recommend building your car to 4.8 -4.9 ounces (It is easier to add weight than take it out)

• If you want to max out car weight on the official scale bring tungsten putty. It is very easy to apply to the car to add the .1 ounces

Most kitchen scales that measure to .1 ounces will be accurate enough to get you to 4.8 or 4.9 ounces.

RACE DAY INFO:

March 16th

Temple Lutheran – 501 Brookline Blvd., Havertown

Lunch & Snacks will be available for purchase. 

Weigh-Ins Start - 11

Weigh-In Deadline - 11:45

Welcome Announcements & Kick-Off – 11:45

Voting for Creative Prizes 11:55

1st Race Start – 12:15?

Contest winners revealed: Following initial 3 races as we organize remaining heats

Trophy winners at conclusion of races

PRIZES:

1st, 2nd, 3rd, and fastest Lion/Tiger get trophies

Top 3 vote getters for most creative car will get medals.

RULES

Weigh-In’s – If you have done the initial weigh in before 11:45 you will be qualified to enter assuming that your car’s final weigh in does NOT exceed 5.0 ounces.

Tip 1: I can’t stress this enough arrive at 11:00 if you are trying to get your car as close to 5.0 ounces as possible. This year you will have a total of 10 seconds to make SMALL adjustments. If you are +/-  .2 ounces you will need to return to the back of the line while making adjustments.

TIP2:  Each car entered will get 1, maybe 2 times in line to add or remove weight before we run out of time. There will be scales in the line available but they will not be the official scale so they will vary.

TIP3: Purchasing tungsten putty is useful for quick weight adjustments. (Built in weights are harder to remove/adjust.

Once your car is officially weighed in and submitted you will not have access to your car. This means that you will need to apply graphite powder and have all adjustments made prior to final weigh in.

Inspections:

ALL CARS MUST PASS THE FOLLOWING INSPECTION POINTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE RACE:

The car weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces. The official race scale shall be considered final.

The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.

The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.

The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.

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

The wheelbase of the car and the axle locations may not be altered from the ones provided with the kit.

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

The wheels must be like those supplied with the kit. They may be replaced with the colored ones sold at the Scout Shop which are identical to the original ones in shape and size.  The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded.  You may remove the seam from the wheels.

The axles supplied with the kit must be used.  They may be polished and lubricated with dry lubricants only.

Wheel bearings, washers or bushings are prohibited.

The car must not ride on any type of springs.

The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices.

No loose material of any kind, such as lead shot, may be used.

The car must have been newly built this year and not be from the previous year.

District derby is on 4-12-24 and the top 5 fastest cars will move on to districts along with the "best is show" voted car.