Now we all know if there were no rules there would be some freaky looking cars with gizmos and gadgets to make the cars travel faster than the speed of light. Well since Einstein says that's impossible we have imposed rules to keep it from happening.

Pack 166 Derby Rules

The Pack utilizes the same rules as the Council (see below) for the car specifications. The only thing we do differently is we determine our winners by using the total time for each car. Our timer is interfaced to a computer which totals the time for each car. We run each car down the track twice in each lane, 8 runs, and the car with the lowest total is the winner. This is the fairest way to run a Derby. Running double elimination races means that some cars only race twice and it's over. With this system every car races the same number of times and no one knows who the winner is until the very end.

Piedmont Council

Pinewood Derby Rules and Regulations

1. Entries for the Piedmont Council Pinewood Derby shall be determined by the district. Only those Cub Scouts who were registered and active Tiger, Cub or Webelos Scouts at the time of their pack race are allowed to enter the Council race.
2. Each district will supply a maximum of FIVE entries.
3. Entry should be constructed from an up-to-date B.S.A. Pinewood Derby Car Kit for the current year. A new car must be built for each year.
4. Overall dimensions (length & width) - Place car inside a checking device which is 2 & 3/4 inches by 7 inches. The original body of the car must touch the starting gate.
5. Wheel Base - Place car in a checking device to verify distance between axles which is 4 & 3/16 inches plus or minus 1/2 inch (Measured center to center). Wheels cannot extend in front of the body of the car. The distance between the inside to the inside of the front and / or rear wheels must not be less than 1 & 3/4 inches. The distance between the track and any part of the underside of the car must not be less than 3/8 of an inch.
6. Visual Inspection of the Wheels - Wheels and axles MUST be the ones furnished in the car kit, solid axles are not permitted. Replacement wheels and axles must be purchased from an official Scout Distributor. Axles may be polished and lubricated (graphite or B.S.A. Axle Lube only). Wheels may be sanded to provide a true round circle but must retain the original width, diameter, and flat rolling surface. No purposely rounded wheels allowed. No "H" or "A" wheels. No attachments or adhesives will be allowed on the surfaces of a wheel. Wheels will be placed on a flat surface to verify that the entire width of all four wheels make simultaneous contact with the flat surface. Regardless of what they could be made out of, spacer bearings, washers, bushings or springs are prohibited, whether fixed or movable.
7. Weight - entry will not exceed 5 ounces or 141.745 grams. Weight must be securely fixed to the car, that is non-movable.
8. It is recommended that all unit and district winners be determined in double elimination fashion. One loss is determined by an entry losing on both sides for the track. In the case of a dead heat (that is, one car wins on one side and one on the other or the judges are unable to determine a winner), the same two cars will have a third heat. If no winner is determined in the third heat, then the cars will be rematched with other cars, unless it is the last race in a group in which case racing will have to continue until a winner is determined.
9. After and entry has been officially weighed in and registered, a small sticker with a number will be placed on the underside of the car. From this point on NO ADDITIONAL WORK OR REPAIRS WILL BE PERMITTED WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE INSPECTION COMMITTEE. (This includes lubrication , loose wheels and axles, etc.)
10. No car will be allowed to enter unless the Cub Scout owning the car is present at the race.
11. A Cub Scout will be allowed 15 seconds to place his car on the starting line and / or pick up from the finish line if he so desires.
12. Decisions made by the judges are final.
13. No car will be allowed to enter with a closed hub or totally enclosed axle (nail on wheel). Axles will need to be secured in pre-cut slots with clear glue (if glue used) or if the axles are inserted in holes in the side of the car, then removed by the Cub Scout and parent to verify that axles are not solid. Holes may be drilled in the bottom of the car so the points of axles (nails) can be seen. Axle (nail) points must be in view before a Cub Scout can enter the race.