The Pinewood Derby car racing competition is a popular competitive and recreational activity that is conducted for the members of Boy Scouts of America program. The scouts are given wooden car kits that contains nails, wood block and wheels to make a car of their choice. The goal of the participants is to build a car that runs fastest on the track. When building a car the participants must follow all the rules set by the organization. These rules are necessary to ensure the event is fair and all participants are given equal chance to win the event.

The Howler Pinewood Derby Car Kit

Specification of the Car

The participants must make the car from the supplied block of wood. However, the shape of the wood can be altered to make a fast Pinewood Derby car. To change the shape of the car, participants can use bandsaw, hand knife or Dremel. However, the finished car must have a maximum length and height of 7 inches and 3 inches respectively. Also, the car designed by the participants must not be wider than two and three-quarter inches. The scouts must also make sure the car has the right clearance height. If the car has higher clearance, the pin will not be able to their car in position. On the other hand, if the car has lower clearance, the bottom of the car will rub the track and affect their chances of winning the event.

Weight

Since the cars that are heavy can gain more momentum when racing down the track, the organizers have put a cap on the maximum weight of the car. To provide a level playing field to all the scouts who participate in the event, the maximum weight of the car is fixed at 5 ounces. To offset the weight lost when the wood is shaved down; the organizers have allowed scouts to add metal weights to the car. These weights cannot be tapped to the car but can be inserted in the body.

Axles

All the participants must use the axles that come with the official kit. Smoothing, filing and sanding of the pinewood derby axles is permitted provided the diameter of the axles does not exceed 0.084 inches. The axles can also be lubricated with products that are available on sale at Derby outlets. However, these axles cannot be attached to machines that are designed to rotate them.

Wheels

The participants are only allowed to use the official BSA Pinewood Derby wheels that come with the kit. Sanding of the wheel is allowed provided the original lettering, size and shape is not altered. Scouts can use fingernail polish, tape or glue on the inside but nothing must spill over to the outside. The participants must attach the wheels of the car directly to the axle and must ensure they spin freely.

Prohibited Parts

The participants are prohibited from using parts like wheel bearing, motorized parts, springs, hubcaps, lubricating oil, electronically-powered lights, modified wheels or any other part that can affect other cars. The use of these items is prohibited because it can give players an unfair advantage and may increase their chances of winning the race.

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