2022 Pintwood derby

GENERAL RULES of the PINTWOOD DERBY*

1.1 In order to race at the PINTWOOD DERBY, you must satisfy these requirements:
- You must be 21 years of age or older.
- No one under the age of 21 will be admitted into race area.
1.2 It will be much more fun if you build a car from scratch for this event, using one of the Pinewood/Pinecar Derby kits, but you may enter a previously raced car. REPEATS and/or REPAINTS allowed.
1.3 The car may not be sent to third party facilities for tuning or other performance enhancements.

2. BODY

2.1 The main body structure must be made of wood. The car design may be enhanced by the addition of other stable materials such as plastic or metal. Any additions must be firmly attached and meet car size specifications.
2.2 The car must meet the following specifications:
2.2.1 Width: not to exceed 2 3/4 inches
2.2.2 Length: not to exceed 7 inches
2.2.3 Weight: not to exceed 5.0 ounces on a scale accurate to 1/10 ounce
2.2.4 Height: not to exceed 3 inches
2.2.5 Clearance: The wheels are the only part of the car allowed to touch the track.
2.3 Wheelbase: the distance between the center of the front and rear wheel must be no less than 4 inches.
2.4 Front: the front edge of the car must be no more than 1 inch above the wheel lane of the track and be at least ½ inch wide at the center of the car.
2.5 When placed in the starting position, no part of the car may protrude beyond the starting pin.
2.6 At least 4 wheels must be attached to the sides of the car body. Each wheel must be attached to the car with a legal axle.
Although at least 4 wheels are required, it is not required that all 4 wheels touch the track surface. It can actually be difficult to get all 4 of the wheels to touch. Most of the fastest cars have one front wheel raised slightly and not touching.
2.7 Each attached wheel must not be angled more than 15 degrees from vertical.

2.8 The front most and rear most wheels must be positioned across the body from one another.

2.9 The complete inside and outside lettering of each wheel must be visible when the wheel is attached to the body.

2.10 The following items are prohibited:
1. Springs
2. Starting devices or propellants
3. Electronic or lighting devices that interfere with the race electronics.
4. Liquids, wet paint, oil, sticky substance, or powders of any kind (other than axle lubrication)
5. Glass or excessively fragile parts
6. Bearings and or bushings
7. Loose objects on car
Washers/body treatments to help reduce friction ARE permitted. Washers may be between the body and the wheel, and the wheel and the axle head.

3. WHEELS

3.1 All lettering and numbering, both inside and outside of the wheel, must remain complete and be visible with the wheel on the car.
3.2 The fluting, spokes and other markings on the outside wheel area must remain visible. (“Fluting” refers to the small bumps on the outside edge of the tread.)
3.3 The wheel diameter must be no less than 1.16 inches.
3.4 The tread surface width must be no less than 7.5 mm.
3.5 The tread surface must be flat and parallel to the wheel bore. Therefore, the following modifications are prohibited:
1. Rounding of the tread surface
2. Grooving, H cutting, or V cutting the tread surface
3.6 The following wheel modifications are prohibited:
1. Removing material from the inside tread surface or the inside sidewall surface
2. Filling wheel surface with any type of material
3. Filling the wheel bores and re-drilling the bore

NOTE: Some online vendors sell aftermarket BSA wheels that have been lightened by removing material from inside the wheel surfaces. Per rule 3.7, these wheels are NOT allowed and are easily recognized at inspection. Cars with these wheels will NOT be permitted to race. If you plan to use aftermarket wheels, confirm with the vendor that no weight is removed from inside the wheel.

4. AXLES

4.1 Metal Axles with a nail head are required with an overall diameter of no less than .084 inches. An axle may not extend more than .75 inches (¾”) into the car body.

5. LUBRICATION

5.1 Over application of lubricant, which results in excessive shedding onto the track is not allowed.

Lubricants you may use include but are not limited to: Graphite, Teflon, Nyoil, and Krytox.
We encourage you to use VERY SMALL AMOUNTS of oil based lubricants such Krytox 100 over graphite because it does not damage the car’s paint and generally promotes a cleaner and safer work and race area. You can find information regarding the most effective use of Krytox 100 online and through workshop participation.

6. WEIGHTS

6.1 Lead (Pb) weight, if used, must be completely sealed and safe from all possible contact.
6.2 Drilling/Removal of lead weight is not allowed at the race or check-in venue.

7. RACE

7.1 Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Committee before it may compete. The inspectors will disqualify any car not meeting these rules. The decisions of the Inspectors, as communicated to the Race Committee Chairperson, are final.
7.2 After a car has passed inspection, only race officials may handle the car.
7.3 After check-in, car repairs are not allowed unless authorized by the race officials.
7.4 Good sportsmanship and behavior is expected. Race officials may ask anyone not following this rule to leave.

8. CLASS CATEGORY

5 oz. Class: Open to anyone, 21+. Must adhere to governing laws outlined in the Official Rules.

1. CAR BODY ( the wooden/material structure that holds the weight, axles and other add ons)/ Total Car Dimensions

Wheel Base : Any as long as wheels do not exceed the 7″ total length requirement
Total Car Height : Not to exceed 3″ inches…
Total Car Length : Not to exceed 7″ inches…
Total Car Width : Not to exceed 2-3/4″ inches…
Total Car Weight : Not to exceed 10.0 ounces (+.04) or 143 grams even measured on 1/10th digital scale

Track Center Rail Height : 1/4″ inch ( 7mm ) *

Track Center Rail Width : 1 5/8″ inches (4.2 cm) *

* Wheels must clear the outside to outside center rail width measurement

2. AXLES

Open

3. WHEELS

Open

a. No greater than 31mm wheel diameter

(Wheels will be checked with digital calipers if needed)

The following Modifications are not allowed
a. Starting or finish line devices
b. Electronic or lighting devices
c. Glass or extremely fragile parts
d. Paint that is wet, smudges or extremely sticky
e. Sharp objects, sandpaper or abrasives on the bottom of car (We do not want any damage to the rubber stopping pads)
f. Axles and/or wheels attached to any device that mechanically alters rotation and/or spin
g. Propellants
h. Any part of the car to go beyond the starting peg (Red Zone)

*subject to change