Ultimate “Unlimited” Virtual Pinewood Derby

This is your chance to design and race the ULTIMATE Unlimited Pinewood Derby Car

It’s Time To Put 2020 Behind Us!

Scouts and adults, remember when you raced in a pinewood derby as a Cub Scout? Maybe you didn’t race but helped someone who did. All the time you were thinking, “If only there were not all these official rules, I could build a car that would really SMOKE the competition.”

Well, here is your chance!

Our troop is holding an Ultimate “Unlimited” Virtual Pinewood Derby!

Normally, there are rules but this time just about anything goes!

You might be thinking about joining the race. Where do I start? I’ll need wheels, axles, weight, etc. And a lot of help from the pros.

So here is one way to get you thinking (…and you can find many, many more on-line.):

1. Go to Hobby Lobby or anyone who sells Pine Cars, and buy one of their Pinewood Derby Trucks, one that has a bed. (Remember, you can make any kind of Race Vehicle you wish.)
2. Hollow out the bottom, and fill with lead
3. Also in the truck bed, buy some sheet lead, and fill it up.
4. Stop at somewhere about 15 ounces.
5. Buy a set of 4 razor wheels WITH BEARINGS, from DD4H.
6. Soak the bearings with Mineral Spirits, then blow them out with compressed air. I.e. don’t make it 3 wheeler, use all four wheels on the ground.
7. Using the BLOCK or something similar, set 3 wheels absolutely parallel to the body. For the 4th wheel, DD4H will have one axle with a slight bend.
8. On an eight foot board with one end 2 inches high, let the car roll down and set the drift by rotating the bent wheel to about 10 to 12 inches to the left. Put the bent axle on the front right side, and rotate it to get the correct drift.
9. Take the car to the race, and win first place!

Indecently, very few of the competition will spend much time on the wheel setup. They all think of weight, but seldom of things like drift and meticulous setting wheels correctly.

We’ll see you at the Race!

The Rules are Simple:

1. The Racing Vehicle must not damage the track.
2. You must follow our listed size specifications. (You may use any or all or none of the parts from a Pinewood Derby Kit.)
3. You must have FUN!

Who May Enter – Scouters/Scouts/Parents/Siblings/Friends/Community Members

Registration and Entry Fee – There is NO Entry Fee

Vehicle Drop-Off – New Time, New Date – Thursday April 15, 2021 OR Friday April 16, 2021 at the Sanborn Firehall Parking Lot Entrance from 7:00 to 9:00PM. Inspection of your Race Vehicle will occur during the drop-off process. Every Race Vehicle MUST be turned in with an accompanying Race Vehicle Information Sheet.

Virtual Heats – New Time, New Date – Will begin Sunday April 18, 2021 at 4:00PM and end when all heats are complete.

Winner Announcements – Will occur approximately 1 hour after Virtual Heats are complete.

Vehicle and Prize Pickup – New Time, New Date – Monday April 19, 2021 AND Tuesday April 20, 2021 at the Sanborn Firehall Parking Lot Entrance from 7:00 to 9:00PM.

COVID-19 Restrictions:

Drop Off and Pickup – Social Distancing MUST be observed. A face mask must be worn by everyone in the car dropping off or picking up racing vehicles and prizes. You may not get out of your car. Gloves will be worn by the individuals receiving your racing vehicles. The heats (Race) will be conducted Virtually using Zoom beginning at 4:00PM Sunday afternoon, April 18, 2021.

You must read and agree to these restrictions. You will be asked if you have read and agree to follow all of the COVID-19 Restrictions on your registration. If you do not agree, you will not be allowed to complete your registration.

Derby Format:

This is a Virtual Event. This is the event in a nutshell. Remember, the underlying purpose of this event is to STAY SAFE and HAVE FUN!

1. Decide to compete with however many Race Vehicles you wish to enter.
2. You MUST go on-line to register each Racing Vehicle
3. You will receive a confirmation email that includes direction to access the derby Zoom meeting, a Race Vehicle Information Sheet and detailed directions on how to make the entry fee payment.
4. Begin making your Race Vehicle and have fun. Some of you may decide to enter a previously used vehicle, it’s up to you.
5. Drop off your Race Vehicle on one of the two scheduled nights. Your car will be inspected at that time and assigned a number.
6. On the day of the race, the Zoom meeting broadcast will be started at 3:30PM. The Heats will begin at 4:00PM.
7. Race Vehicles will be assigned to Heats consisting of 4 (four) cars. Each Race Vehicle will be raced in 4 (four) heats in a different lane.
8. In a similar fashion, Heat winners will be raced against other Heat winners each other until the fastest Race Vehicle emerges.
9. Every Heat will be electronically timed.
10. All Heats will be broadcasted on the Zoom meeting. There will be at least 2 cameras on the race track and a screen showing the electronic scoreboard.
11. When the race is over, the judges will take some time to judge all of the categories and review race results.
12. Approximately 1 hour after the final Heat, the judges will report via the Zoom meeting, all of the winners. A printed list will be emailed to all registered racers.
13. The judges decisions are final.
14. Pick up your Race Vehicle(s) and prizes on one of the two scheduled nights.

Registration:

Registration is limited to the first 250 Registrations. If you register, please show up on time to drop off your Racing Vehicle on Thursday OR Friday night. Your email address MUST be correct on your Registration because you will receive an email confirmation for your successful registration that will include detailed information for payment and your Zoom meeting information and password. You MUST register by April 14, 2021 11:59PM.

Click Here to Register

Prize Categories:

Fastest (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Place)

Best Paint Job

Judges Favorite

Best Hand Carved

Best Animal Theme

Most Unusual Shape

Best Workmanship

Each builder may enter as many Pinewood Derby Race Vehicles as they wish in any class. There is no age limit on the car makers.

• Race Vehicles may be gravity, fan or motor powered. If special directions are required to race the vehicle they must be provided in writing when the Race Vehicle is turned in.
• No work may be done to cars once they have been turned in.
• If a car jumps the track it will be disqualified from the Heat. The Heat will not be rerun unless the infracting car makes contact with any of the other cars in the race or if it found to be an issue with the track.
• All cars must pass inspection as they are turned in and before they can race. All decisions by the inspection team are final so please refrain from arguing or causing a scene if you disagree with an inspection decision.

The following Modifications are not allowed for any class

• Starting or finish line devices
• Glass or extremely fragile parts
• Paint that is wet, smudges or extremely sticky
• Sharp objects, sandpaper or abrasives on the bottom of car (We do not want any damage to the rubber stopping pads)
• Any part of the Race Vehicle to go beyond the starting peg
• Propellants

Where To Get Race Vehicle Kits:

(Check on line and you will find many options.)

Hobby Lobby – https://www.hobbylobby.com/

Scout Shop at GNFC Office – https://www.scoutshop.org/

Michaels – https://www.michaels.com/

S & W Crafts Manufacturing – https://www.pinewoodderbycars.com/

Evolution Derby Supplies – https://derbyevolution.com/

Derby Dust – https://www.derbydust.com/

PinewoodPro.com – https://www.pinewoodpro.com/

DD4H – Derby Dad for Hire – https://www.derbydad4hire.com/