Open rule draft

[rdeis]

My comittee chair has allowed me to write a rule draft for our first Open race. His vision is for "anything goes as long as you use the kit," and specificly suggested removing length and weight restrictions.

*My* vision is for a very clean and precise ruleset that steers participants toward *his* vision, leaving maximum creativity available and preventing cries of "that's not fair" if someone comes up with a truely clever unique idea.

Here's the draft- comment at will!
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Open Class Pinewood Derby Race

The intention of the Open Class race is to foster more participation by scouts and families in the Pinewood Derby, and to provide a venue for experimentation and racing with cars that are not necessarily built by scouts, and/or do not comply with the <insert name> District construction rules. Parents and siblings are highly encouraged to build Open Class cars alongside their scouts, as working together on family projects furthers Scouting values.

Open Class rules are designed to allow maximum freedom in craftsmanship and construction methods. Essentially, materials are limited to those provided in the kits, and size is limited to cars that fit on the track. Otherwise- basically anything goes!

Here are the details:

General:
1> Entries in the Open Class race are NOT eligible for the <insert name> District Pinewood Derby district race or awards, and will not compete against Standard Class cars built by the scouts.
2> The Open Class race is open to scouts, parents, relatives, and friends of the Cub Scout Pack.
3> Open Class cars are raced according the same format as standard class cars, and are also eligible for an Open Class Best in Show award.
4> Purchase of commercially prepared BSA blocks, wheels, or axels is not prohibited; but is strongly discouraged because doing so detracts from the intentions of the race.

Dimension Requirements:
The 2006 dimension requirements are intended to allow for maximum creativity in designs while still ensuring that cars will not interfere with one another or damage the track during the race.
1> The car must be no more than 2 3/4” wide.
2> The car will be no more than xx” tall. (the height of our finish gates)
3> The car may be any length. Note, however, that the back edge of the track is xx” behind the starting pin. Wheels aft of this point will not be on the track at the start of a race.
4> No part of the car may extend forward of the starting pin when the car is resting in starting position.
5> The car will have a minimum ground clearance of 3/8”
6> The car will have a minimum of 1 3/4” of clear width between wheels.
7> The car will weigh no more than 10 oz.

Construction Materials:
1> The main chassis must be constructed from one block of pinewood provided in a BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit. The block may be cut into parts, glued, shaped, or otherwise used as the designer sees fit.
2> Wheels must be BSA wheels provided in the BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit or in a spare wheels and axels kit. The number, placement, and modification of wheels are up to the designer, so long as the car meets the dimension requirements and the wheel is recognizable as having been constructed from a BSA wheel. Example: BSA wheels modified into the form of a disk are permitted, WIRL Racing Disk wheels are not.
3> Axels must be BSA axels provided in the BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit or in a spare wheels and axels kit. The number, placement, and modification of axels are up to the designer, so long as the car meets the dimension requirements. Example: BSA axels that have been cut, turned, or otherwise modified are permitted, solid music wire axels are not.
4> Any type of ballast may be used to adjust the weight of the car.
5> No performance enhancing materials such as bushings, bearings, or springs may be used unless they are constructed from materials provided in a standard BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit. Example: A bearing constructed from the pinewood block (if you can find a way to do it) is permitted. Bearings purchased from the local hardware store are not.
6> Any type of paint, figurines, plastic, or other materials may be used to create the appearance of the car, so long as they do not affect the function of the car, and the car meets the dimension requirements. Example: Rubber bands used to model hoses on a fire truck are permitted. Rubber bands that power the wheels or spring a suspension mechanism are not.
7> Any type of glue may be used.
8> Any type of dry lubricant may be used. Wet lubricants may not be used.

Tips:
1> This track is very long and very fast. As such, some of the conventional assumptions about light wheels and heavy cars being fastest do not necessarily hold true.
2> Most “loopholes” in these rules are intentional. Creative designs are encouraged. Example: if some part of the car is extended forward DURING the race, it would not violate Dimension Requirement 4, and could give you an edge at the finish. However, you’d have to find a way to build such a mechanism from the wood, wheels, and axels included in the kit; and since the race format does not allow adjustments between races, it would have to automatically “retract” itself without help from you or the race officials when the car is placed at the start for the next race.
3> Many web sites, including http://www.derbytalk.com are full of free ideas, tips, and tricks for building fast and beautiful pinewood cars.

[pwdarchitect]

THE THING I SEE WRONG IS THE SPELLING OF WIRL

ALSO IS USING ONE BLOCK FROM A BSA KIT BENEFICIAL. COULDN'T YOU BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH MORE THRU THE USE OF MORE THAN ONE KIT? I.E. MAKING THE CAR LONGER TO SAY 10 INCHES. WHY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF KITS?

OH AND YES A MECHANICAL TIED ARM CONNECTED TO A TIMER TYPE DEVICE THAT WOULD EXTEND ONCE THE RACE GETS STARTED. WHICH DOES NOT NECESSARY PROTRUDE AT THE START GATE BUT AT THE FINISH GATE DOES. INTERESTING!

JIM

[rdeis]

THE THING I SEE WRONG IS THE SPELLING OF WIRL

Whoops! Fixed.

[Stan Pope]

Pin height?
Internal moveable parts?

[rdeis]

Pin height?
Internal moveable parts?

Pin height! Good idea. I actually asked about that for the standard race..

No problem with internal moveable parts so long as they're made entirely from BSA kit materials and don't require any sort of reset operation between heats. Is that intent clear? (or opening an obvious can of worms for the official?)

I didn't see a point in addressing mechanism, suspension, or spring except to make clear that any such thing has to be made from kit materials.

[pwdarchitect]

You would want to clarify the internal moving parts issue to state what your intent is like Stan mentioned.

Jim

[BigSilver]

Can I use the PWD Box?
Do you plan to restrict entries to those that do not present the potential of damaging to your track?

22. Open Class: An open class race for the glory will be held for siblings and parents of the registered Cub Scouts following the Grand Championship. Only rules 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 apply and the cars can do no damage to the track or participants as determined by the race judges. Creativity, Cub Scout humor, and site gags are encouraged.

4. 4Width: Maximum width of the car shall not exceed 2.75 +/- 0.010 (2-3/4) inches.
5. Length: Maximum length of the car shall not exceed 7.00 +/- 0.010 inches
6. Weight: Maximum weight shall not exceed 5.00 ounces or 141.75 grams as determined at inspection. Weight can not be added or removed once the car has been inspected, registered, and impounded.
7. Height: Maximum height shall not exceed 2.75 +/- 0.010 (2-3/4) inches.
8. Clearance: Minimum ground clearance of 0.375 +/- 0.010 (3/8) inches is required.
9. Track Width: Minimum of 1.75” between wheels is required to clear track guide strip.