Mountain District Annual Pinewood Derby Race
Pinewood Derby Race Guidelines
Every unit and district race is encouraged to follow these updated rules so that there is consistency on qualifying for the Council Pinewood Derby.
Race Eligibility
Cars must belong to a currently registered Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, AOL, or Scouts BSA youth. Scouts BSA youth that were Arrow Of Light scouts in a Cub Scout pack and crossed over to a troop in the past six months are encouraged to participate as AOL scouts.
Races Available for Each Cub Scout (Based on qualifications)
Pack Pinewood Derby Race
District Finals Race – qualifiers from the pack races participate in this race
Council Championship Race – qualifiers from the district races participate in this race
The car must be primarily Cub Scout-designed and made, but adults are encouraged to actively participate with their Cub Scout.
District championship race eligibility: The car must have won first, second, or third place for either speed or show/design at the Pinewood Derby race designated as the official race for their Cub Scout pack. A district organized “Packs Without Tracks” event qualified for this as well as long as the unit designated that event as their official Pinewood Derby event.
Council championship race eligibility: The car must have won first, second, or third place for either speed or show/design at a district championship race organized by one of the districts within the Northeast Georgia Council, Scouting America.
The car must have been built in the current Scout year (since September 2025). Cars made in previous years may not be raced.
The Volunteer Chairman in charge of the event will have the final authority to determine eligibility to race.
Race Procedures
If during the race, a car leaves the track, runs out of its lane, interferes with another car, loses an axle, etc., a special heat with only the impacted car(s) will be run using the same lanes as where the car(s) experienced trouble. If the same car gets into trouble on the second run, the contestant loses that heat.
Lubrication of any type may not be applied after the car has passed inspection and is registered or impounded; this includes during repairs.
Repairs necessary after the race starts must be completed in less than 15 minutes for the car to resume racing.
Participants are responsible for providing any tools or materials to make any adjustments before or during the race.
Physical Car Specifications and Inspections
The car must be made from the official BSA Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Kit (#17006) using official BSA parts.
All cars will be weighed and measured at registration and must pass inspection to race. The scale used at registration, and the race will be the official scale.
All pinewood derby cars – including those registered for either speed or show\design – should adhere to these physical car specifications and should pass inspection.
The maximum weight of the car may not exceed 5.00 ounces (or 141.75 grams).
Dimensions for the finished car are as follows: Width cannot exceed 2-3/4 inches (including wheels and axles). Length cannot exceed 7 inches. Ground clearance must be at least 3/8 inches. Height cannot exceed 3 inches to clear the timing device. Minimum width of the car where the axles are inserted into the body must be 1-3/4 inches.
Cars with wet paint will not be accepted at registration.
Added accessories, such as windshields, drivers, etc., are permitted from any source and may be used if the width, length, and weight restrictions are met. Accessories must be permanently attached. No loose material of any kind (such as lead shot) is allowed in or on cars.
The car may not have any springs or any type of self-propelling or starting devices.
Wheels, Axles, & Lubricants
The axle slots cannot be relocated from their original positions relative to the car’s ends.
The official BSA wheels must be rigidly attached in those slots with the nails from the original kit.
Wheels may be sanded to remove casting seams & imperfections/ridges, but they may not be tapered or narrowed.
The rolling surfaces of all four wheels must touch the track and all 4 wheels must roll when the car is moving..
No wheel modifications will be allowed, i.e., “thinning, tapering, holes, shaving, etc.” except as expressly stated to remove mold flash. “Lathe type” turning of the wheels is not allowed. All detail marks must remain visible on the entire wheel.
No wheel bearings, bushings, or washers of any type may be used.
Only dry powder lubricant will be used.
Hubcaps or any other material may not be installed on the wheels in such a way as to hold the dry lubricant against the axle.
Race Eligibility and Award Classes
Rank
Qualify for Speed & Design to
Move to Next Race
