Pinewood Derby

Annual Racing Event

Event Details

The Pinewood Derby is one of our most exciting annual events! Scouts design, build, and race their own custom cars. Awards are given for fastest cars, best design, and even the slowest car!

Location: 3329 Point Pleasant Rd, Elk Grove, CA 95757

Pinewood Derby Rules

Three Rivers District Official Rules

1. NO PRE-CUT CARS or cars from PREVIOUS years.
2. The car, including all decorations, must conform to the following size and weight restrictions:
- a. WIDTH – Not to exceed 2 ¾ inches, inner wheel width a minimum of 1 ¾ inches.
- b. HEIGHT – Ground to underside of car must be a minimum of 3/8 inch. Overall car height cannot exceed 6 inches.
- c. LENGTH – Not to exceed 7 inches.
- d. WEIGHT – Not to exceed 5 ounces and no loose weights (recommend designing for 4.9 ounces as environmental items such as humidity can affect weight reading – the scale used at car inspection determines final qualification for race).
3. Axles, wheels and body provided in the Boy Scouts of America kit are the only parts to be used. Wheels and axles from other kit brands are not allowed.
4. Wheel bearings, washers and bushings are prohibited.
5. Wheels may be sanded until the mold seam is removed. Wheels are not to be turned on a lathe, completely smoothed or modified. Some of the original surface must still be visible.
6. NO lubricating oil may be used. Axles may only be lubricated with dry powdered graphite or Teflon lubricant. No lubricants are allowed in the building. All lubricants must be applied prior to race time.
7. NO enclosing or packing wheels. NO hub caps.
8. NO changing of the axles slot position. The pre-cut axle slot on the block of wood must be used. If the axle slot is not a true 90-degree to the length of the car, adjustment may be made by filling the slot and re-sawing at the same location.
9. Axles must be attached directly to the car body in the axle slot. The car may not ride on any kind of spring(s).
10. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices. No assisted starts of any kind are allowed.
11. NO loose materials of any kind are allowed on the car.
12. All cars must pass an inspection to qualify for the race. Failure to follow the above rules will result in disqualification. All racers must be pre-registered AND cars must pass inspection on race day.
13. Cars that jump the track will be given a restart. Cars that jump the track a second time immediately after the restart will be disqualified if, in the opinion of the race steward, the car will continue to jump the track or poses a danger to the other cars on the track.
14. The race steward, in the case of a breakdown, will do minor repairs.