Each district will be eligible to select 18 cars to send to the council event as design cars. They can submit 3 for each of the 6 design categories: one Tiger, one Cub and one Webelos car for each category. These cars will not compete in the speed race at district and council. Remember: we should be rewarding the boys’ modeling skills, not the parents’ skills!

• Historic Car/Truck Cars should resemble a historic classic car or truck
• Military Cars must represent the US Armed forces
• Scout Theme Cars should represent some aspect of Cub Scouting
• Sports/Games Cars should relate to some aspect of a sport or game
• Movie/TV Character Cars should represent a character from TV or movie
• Space Cars should relate to space travel or alien life

• Originality How much creative thought went into the design?
• Craftsmanship How much work actually went into making the car?
• Category How well does it fit the design category?
• Scout participation Does the craftsmanship represent the Scout’s work, or the parents?

Only the cars placing within in the top 4 places at the district races are eligible for the council derby.

 

1. Maximum width including tires and axles must not exceed 2 3/4". 
2. Minimum width of the body at the axles should be 1 3/4".
3. Maximum length must not exceed 7".
4. Some Pinewood Derby Tracks have a ¼” high guide rail. Low hanging weights will often drag on the track. Bottom clearance should be 3/8” but will NOT be cause for disqualification.  Your car will not work on our track if you don't maintain this clearance.
5. The wheelbase (distance between the axles) must not exceed the distance between the precut axle slots on the standard pinewood block, i.e. 4 3/8". Shortening the wheelbase will be permitted.
6. All four wheels must be used, and all four must touch the track. No wheel shall ride upon the center guide strip. No extra guide pins, rollers or wheels designed to ride on or against the center guide strip will be allowed.
7. The car may not exceed 5 ounces as determined by the scale at the race.
8. Axles, wheels and body must be made from the official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit, #17006. No store-bought preformed bodies.
9. The wheels may be lightly sanded or polished to remove bumps and blemishes. They must not be ground down, grooved, hollowed out, carved, cut, shaved or otherwise redesigned. Original ridges and raised letters must still be visible.
10. No magnet of any type will be allowed on any speed car
11. The race car may not be constructed or treated in such a way that the track's starting mechanism imparts momentum to the car. (For instance, this provision disqualifies cars with sticky substances on the front of the car and protrusions which may catch on the starting pin.) No part of the car may extend forward of the point where the car touches the starting post.
12. The wheels should be lubricated with graphite or powdered silicone. Oil and other liquid lubricants are prohibited. If you don't have these lubricants, don't worry...there will be plenty of it available on race night.
13. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
14. The car must not ride on any kind of springs or suspension system, other than a suspension system that is actually carved from the pinewood block.
15. Loose materials are not allowed on the cars.
16. No moving or liquid weights are allowed.

The Derby officials reserve the right to determine a cars eligibility or ineligibility to race if an unfair practice is discovered that is not covered in these rules. The officials’ objective is to hold a race that is fair to all boys. Boys whose cars are in violation of the rules will be given the chance (time permitting) to make their cars legal. Any cars found to be in violation of the rules will be offered the opportunity to register for the Outlaw Class if they can meet those requirements. Scouting encourages good sportsmanship. Cars will be disqualified if the Scout or his parents display unsportsmanlike conduct on the race site. Remember, the object is for all Scouts to have a great time!