Length, Width & Clearance
o Maximum overall width (including wheels and axles) shall not exceed
2-3/4"
o Minimum width between wheels shall be 1-3/4" so car will clear
the center guide strip.
o Minimum clearance between the bottom of the car and track shall
be 3/8" so the car will clear the center guide strip.
o Maximum length shall not exceed 7-1/8".
o Maximum height shall not exceed 2-3/4".2
The wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles, center to center) may not be changed from the kit
body distance of 4-3/8". The official kit block has pre-cut slots which are correctly spaced.
Wheels and axles
o Only the wheels and axles from the official Grand Prix Pinewood
Derby kit may be used.3
o Axles may be lightly filed, sanded and polished. This light filing,
sanding and polishing is the only axle modification allowed.4
o Wheels may be lightly sanded and polished. This light sanding
and polishing is the only wheel modification allowed.5
Weight and Appearance
o Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces. The readings of the Official
Race Scale will be considered final.
o The car may be carved, sculpted, and/or sanded in order to enhance
performance and/or appearance.
o No loose materials of any kind are permitted on or inside the
car.
o Additional materials may be added to the car for the following
purposes only:6
1. Weights may be added to increase the weight and/or alter the weight distribution of a car.
2. Paints/decals/decorations may be added to alter the appearance and/or aerodynamics of a car.
3. Glue may be used to connect the axles to the car body.
4. Wood putty, or a similar wood-like substance, may be used to repair minor damage to a car.
o Indented noses are prohibited. Cars with nose indentations will
"stage" further down the track, and thus are not traversing the same course as other cars.
Lubrication
o Only dry powdered lubricants, such as graphite, may be used. Oils
and silicone sprays are prohibited.
o A car may lubricated before inspection and, if it advances, prior
to the Grade finals. These are the only two times when lubrication is permissible. Specifically, cars may not be lubricated
while competing in a set of heats.
Ground Rules
o If a car jumps off the track, the heat will be run again. If the
same car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.
o If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the
heat will be run again. If the same car leaves its lane a second time and interferes with another car, the heat will be run
again without the interfering car. The interfering car will automatically lose the heat.
o If a car suffers a mechanical problem and a repair can be accomplished
within 5 minutes, the heat will be run again. If not, the car will automatically lose the heat.
Inspections and Disputes
o Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Team
before it may compete. The Inspection Team has the right to disqualify those cars, which do not meet the rules. Car owners
will be informed of the violations and given an opportunity to modify the car to meet these rules.
o Ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or
member of the audience will be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or race area.
3
Wheels and axles not from the official kits are prohibited. Wheels and axles, which have been modified by other parties also,
are prohibited, even if they are from the official kit.
4
Beveling, rounding, tapering, thinning, perforating, or any other significant altering of the shape or performance of the
axles or axles heads is prohibited.
5
Beveling, rounding, tapering, thinning, perforating, or any other significant altering of the shape or performance of the
wheels or wheel hubs is prohibited. Modification of the cylindrical inner wall of the wheel which contacts the axle is prohibited
6
Wheel bearings, washers, or bushings are prohibited. This includes "wheel covers" which serve to keep the wheel hubs from
contacting the car body. It also includes "hub caps", or anything else that might serve as a lubrication "well" or "tap".
The car shall not ride on any type of springs. The car must be freewheeling with no starting device or other propulsion, such
as adhesives, magnets, rubber bands, motors, jets, etc. Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting
and interior details are allowed as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, height, and weight. Metal
frames and metal axle supports are prohibited. Axles must be mounted into the wood.
