Pack 42 Pinewood Derby Rules

 

 

1  You must use the block of wood, the four nails (axles) and the four wheels from the kit distributed by Pack 42.  No substitutions of any kind are allowed for these components.

 

2  The block of wood can be shaped by cutting or sanding to any shape and additional materials such as wood, metal, plastic, wood filler, paint, glue, etc. can be added to the block of wood as long as none of these rules are violated.

 

3  The total finished car weight cannot exceed 5.0 ounces.

 

4  The overall length of the car cannot exceed 7.0 inches.  The overall width of the car must not exceed 2.75 inches.  The clearance between the wheel (side to side) should be 1.75 inches or greater to clear the track guide strip.  Clearance under the car must be 0.375 inches or greater to avoid hitting the track guide strip.  The wheelbase should be approximately 4.375 inches.  The overall height of the car cannot exceed 5 inches to avoid hitting the finish line timing mechanism.

 

5  Wheel bearings, washers, bushings or any other additions to the wheel-axle system are prohibited.  No oil or other “wet” lubricants are permitted.  Dry lubricants such as graphite or “while lube” (a powdered lubricant), are allowed and should be used.  The nails (axles) supplied with the kit must be used.

 

6  The nails can and should be deburred and polished.  Wheels can have flash removed and some smoothing at the gate (entry point of plastic into the mold) is allowed if it is required.  However, the wheels cannot be rounded – they must have the same flat contact width as furnished in the kit.  This will be judged by holding the car wheels against a flat surface and checking daylight.  Nail tips must be visible on the completed car so judges can confirm that the supplied nails were used.

 

7  The front of the car must have a blunt point (0.25 inch or wider) to rest against the starting pin.  The starting pin will contact the center face of the front of the car.  No detail or feature of the car can extend forward beyond this blunt point.

 

8  The car must be freewheeling.  No starting or motorized drives of any kind are permitted.  All decorations, weights, etc. must be fixed to the body and not free to move.