Pack 232 Pinewood Derby Rules

The Pack rules are intended to maintain a level of competition which most scouts are capable of achieving with minimal adult intervention. This is the essence of the Pinewood Derby, and, in the interest of fair play, we’ve kept the rules relatively simple.

General Rules

  • Cars must have been built during this Pinewood Derby racing season using an Official BSA Pinewood Derby Kit or official BSA components purchased through an authorized BSA retailer such as a Scout Shop. Non-official BSA parts sold by an official BSA retailer are prohibited. Aftermarket car kits, non BSA precut kits, or cars purchased whole or in part from another racer, company, internet entity, or other are prohibited. Cars must be constructed by the racer and an adult, Scout’s honor.
  • Each car entered in the Pack race must pass inspection by the Inspection Committee on race day.
  • If a car doesn’t pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason for failure and will be given time within the official weigh-in time period to make the appropriate adjustment(s).
  • Cars arriving after official registration time ends will not be eligible to race
  • Our Derby consists of eight rounds of races, allowing the cars to run once in each lane. The winner of the Derby will be the car that completes the eight races in the lowest average time.
  • Awards for first, second and third place overall within the Pack will be given, as well as place within individual Dens.
  • In addition, several “Style Awards” will be presented to recognize creativity and craftsmanship (e.g., Most Realistic, Fastest Looking, Best Car That’s Not a Car, Most Colorful, Most Humorous, Most Creative, Best In Show)

Dimensions and Weights Width, including wheels, axles, and any fenders or cosmetics, must not exceed 2¾ inches. Length shall not exceed 7 inches. Cars must clear the center rail of the track. Therefore, the minimum clearance between the entire bottom of the car and the bottom of the wheels shall be 3/8 of an inch. Also, the minimum width between wheels is 1¾ inches.

  • Weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces measured on a scale accurate to 1/10th of an ounce. Overweight cars must be reduced to running weight (or below) before they can be entered. The official race scales shall be considered final.
  • Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting, and interior details are permissible as long as the details do not exceed the maximum length, width or weight specifications.
  • The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices or propulsion systems. No part of the car may protrude beyond the track start gate starting pin. In other words, the entire car must stage behind the starting pin. No part of the car or any attachment to the car may be capable of contacting the track, other than the wheels.
  • Any type of magnets, springs, washers, bearings, bushings, nylon shims, axle guards, wheel weights, wheel well weights, inner wheel air dams (also known as air deflectors or air shields), inner or outer wheel covers – clear or otherwise, or any item internal or external to a factory BSA wheel, moving weights, liquid lubricants actively wet or dried, or suspension systems of any type are prohibited.

Wheels and Axles

  • Only official BSA Pinewood Derby Kit wheels, or official BSA wheels and axles may be used.
  • Wheels may be lightly sanded to remove any mold projection (also known as flash). This very light sanding is the ONLY wheel modification allowed. All markings must be intact on the inside and the outside of wheel. Colored BSA wheels are permitted.
  • All 4 wheels must be in contact with the track at all times. The wheel tread does not have to be flat on the track.
  • Wheels may not be reversed (hub facing away from the car body).
  • BSA axles may be polished, de-burred and dry lubricated but must be left otherwise untouched.
  • Only dry lubricant is permitted. No lubricating oil or liquid lubricant of any kind may be used.
  • Axles may be angled/canted for alignment purposes (i.e., inserting a straight nail axle into the axle slot at a slight angle). Bent axles are not allowed.
  • Inspectors will visually inspect and may use magnets to ensure BSA factory axles are present.
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