AZ Pack 618

Hello Pack 618,

Thanks to everyone who came out for car cutting this past weekend, and special thanks again to the Rabasca family for hosting!  I saw a lot of great looking cars being cut, and I know it's going to be a great race this year.

Check-in is Wednesday, January 20 and Friday, January 22 from 6-8 pm in the Rabasca garage (17213 N. 43rd Street).  Bring your car lubed up and READY TO RACE, get it inspected, and then leave the car with us to transport to the Derby.  We will give you a pit pass when your car is turned in.

We carefully inspect all cars to make sure that the cars will work on our track, and to keep the race as fair as possible.  If your car fails any of these requirements, it will not be allowed to race until it is fixed. The vast majority of you who are not trying to push the rules will be fine as long as you don't go over 5.0 ounces.  For the lunatics among us who feel the need to be more creative (we know who we are), please carefully review the full Official Pinewood Derby Rules for the Four Peaks District, which are also applicable to our race. Decisions of race officials are final!

Note that the point of the derby is to teach our kids sportsmanship and craftsmanship.  If you are working on the car without your son present, then you are defeating the purpose of the Derby.  If you are buying aftermarket parts, you are definitely defeating the purpose of the Derby; I consider the use of aftermarket parts to be cheating.  This is Pinewood Derby, not NASCAR.

• Weight must be 5.0 oz or less on our scale.  Any more and you will have to remove weight to race.
• Distance between the front and back axles must be between 4.25- 4.625”. If you use the pre-cut slots, you're fine.
• Wheels must be separated by at least 1.75“, or they won't fit over the track guide.  The car itself cannot be more than 2.75" wide, or you could collide with cars on other lanes. If you haven't substantially narrowed the wood block or deliberately bent your axles, you'll be fine.
• You must use official BSA wheels and axles that have been processed only by you.  The tread must be visible on the wheels and the overall wheel shape cannot be narrowed or otherwise altered. If you want to alter the wheels, make sure you comply with the District rules linked above.
• Car must be no more than 7" long. Don't attach weight or anything else to the front or back of the block, and you'll be fine.
• You must have 3/8" clearance below your car or it will drag on the track. Don't attach anything to the bottom of your car, and make sure any weight is flush with the bottom of the block. 
• Slots, grooves or other designs that allow any part of the car to extend in front of the starting gate will not be allowed.
• You can use powered lubricants (such as graphite), but not liquid lubricants (such as WD40).  Liquids leak out on our track, and they don't work anyhow.
• You must have no fewer than three wheels touching the track at all times. Floating cars are not allowed.
• Make sure all weights, decorations, etc. are firmly attached so they don't come loose. 

Any questions, please ask!

--brett