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| "GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES!" |
JANUARY PACK MEETING-PINEWOOD DERBY
Date: 1/23/09
Time: 7:00PM - 8:30PM
Location: BLOSSOM HILL SCHOOL
Our January pack meeting will be the annual Pinewood Derby. This is one of the year's most exciting activities.
The following is all of the information you will need to construct your car and understand the rules.
Everything Parents of Cub Scouts need to know about the Pinewood Derby
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One of the most important things to keep in mind is that this is a project for the cub scouts. Of course, adult participation and assistance in the construction of the car is more than encouraged, and even expected, but the cub scout should be in control of the outcome as much as possible. Let's make sure that the winners are the cub scouts themselves, and that they earn their awards in all respects. This is a great opportunity for your Cub Scout to learn to (safely) use new tools and learn new techniques.
The next rule, quite simply, is this - the car that your cub scout enters into the race must have been constructed from the kit received! So even if your cub scout fashions a car from scratch or from some other kit, and even if the resulting car meets the size, weight and other requirements for entrants, such a car may be disqualified if it was not made from the Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit. A boy is allowed to add weights to the car kit. Bear in mind, however, there is a lot of latitude for creativity using the kit as a starting point, so please encourage your cub scout to be creative. One thing to note, for example, is that there is no height restriction, so provided your cub scout stays within the length, width and weight limits stated below, there is good opportunity to add details on top of the basic car. This is important if your cub scout wants to go for one of the specialty award categories described below.
Next, please take note of the following, excerpted from the instructions found in the kit:
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CAR SPECIFICATIONS:
Width: - 2-3/4" - Length - 7"
Width between wheels - 1-3/4"
Weight - not more than 5 ounces
All four wheels must touch the track and each must turn as the car rolls.
Bottom clearance between can and track - no less than 3/8" (to clear the track guide)
RULES
Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited. The car shall not ride on springs. Only official Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby wheels and axles are permitted. Polishing of the standard axles is permitted. Only dry lubricant is permitted. Details, such as steering wheel and driver are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width and weight specifications. The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices. Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it may compete. If, at registration., a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason for failure, and will be given time within the official weigh-in time period to make the adjustment. After final approval, cars will not be re-inspected unless the car is damaged in handling or in a race.
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So that should set you and your cub scout up for building a winning entry! Now for other schedule issues.
All cars entered into the race must be weighed-in at one of the available time slots listed below. Following the weigh-in, all qualifying cars will be registered, numbered and impounded until race day. So bear in mind that after the car is weighed, you will not have a chance to do any last-minute finishing work.
The times and location for the weigh-in will be The Akers' house January 21 and 22 from 7:00-9:00.
Weigh-in events will be held at the Akers' house:
16561 Oleander Ave
Los Gatos, CA
Map and directions are located at the end of this email.
Now the final thing is race day itself. The race day is scheduled for the Pack meeting January 23, 2008 at Blossom Hill School cafeteria (same place that the pack meetings are held). Start time is 7pm. There will be some very brief pack-related formalities followed by the race!
Three cars will run at a time on three separate tracks three times in a row, where each car will have a chance to run on each of the three tracks. The best (fastest) time will be taken from all measured times, and from that a winner for the Pack and Den will be declared. All times are measured using a computer. After all cars have raced in this way and all times recorded, den and pack winners will be declared based on the best time achieved.
Winners will be declared for each den (first, second and third) and for the entire pack (first, second and third). Ribbons and trophies will be awarded to these winners.
In addition to the speed trials, there will be additional trophies awarded in each of the following categories:
1. Funniest car!
2. Most original car
3. Best off-road vehicle
4. Most Delicious
5. Best Paint Job
6. Most original paint job
7. The car most obviously built by a Cub Scout
It is not necessary to win any speed competition in order to win one of these specialty awards. Winners for these categories will be chosen by a panel of judges. These categories should provide a lot of just plain fun!
So I think that is everything. If you have any questions, you can contact either me, one of the other Pinewood Derby organizers.
David Akers at david@theakers.com
Lalith Jayasekera at lalith.jayasekera@hp.com
For the weigh-in...
The Akers' house
6561 Oleander Ave
Los Gatos, CA
356-3566
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http://67.100.77.199/bsa.nsf/a/PineWoodDerby
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