Rules and procedures should cover general guidelines, car construction rules, rules for the different competitions (i.e. Best Design, Fastest Car, etc.,) car weigh-in and registration, and Derby day procedures. It can also include tips, techniques, sportsmanship hints, and other information for your families.

The question "what are the rules?" gets asked so often because one encounters considerable variation when comparing the various "rules & race procedures" published in any of several BSA documents, AND as expressed by Scouters that run Derbies. The BSA published "rules & race procedures" can be found in the:

• "Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Guidebook" (BSA #33721 - out of print)

• "Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit" (BSA Kit No. 17006)

• "Cub Scout Leader How to Book" (BSA No. 33832)

One thing that ALL of the BSA publications have in common is that the rules & race procedures provided are "Sample Rules" or indicate that your Pack's Pinewood Derby Committee should "... decide on rules and race procedures, then have them printed and distributed to all participants at least two weeks before the Derby race."  

So... one of the PWD Committee's first orders of business is to decide on "Official Rules & Race Procedures" and distribute them with the Pinewood Derby Kits. The following links point to various sources for Pinewood Derby Rules to get your committee started:

2003 WOTAMALO DISTRICT DERBY RULES
These are the finest rules and procedures around! Of course, if Stan Pope was involved, that is to be expected! These rules include five (5) competition catagories including: Best Race Car Design, Most Unusual Design, Fastest Car, Leader's Race, and Classic Cars. AWESOME!

PACK 215's OFFICIAL RULES
This year, Pack 215 took their traditional rules and race procedures, AND their list of 'issues' from last years race, AND the much acclaimed WOTAMALO DISTRICT DERBY RULES (above) and combined them into a single document that satisfies their particular Pinewood Derby traditions. These rules not only meet the needs of their seasoned Webelos families, but also give new Tiger and Wolf families a good guide for their first Pinewood Derby. These rules can be viewed on-line AND/OR downloaded in MS Word format.

OFFICIAL BSA "GRAND PRIX PINEWOOD DERBY KIT" RULES
The famous "rules-in-the-kit-box" These rules DO NOT include the (very necessary) race procedures, but they DO include some handy "Building Instructions." A good place to start.

OFFICIAL BSA "CUB LEADER HOW-TO BOOK" RULES
These are "Sample Rules and Procedures" from the good 'ol "Cub Scout Leader How-To Book" (BSA No. 33832.) They are very simple, but can provide a good starting point for your Committee to define a more comprehensive version.

OFFICIAL BSA "GRAND PRIX PINEWOOD DERBY GUIDEBOOK" RULES
Now out of print, the "Cub Scout Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Guidebook" (BSA No. 33721) included a set of rules as well as car designs, car accessories, a PWD song, and some parental "coaching" hints on sportsmanship. Some Scout shops may still have copies of this book, but it has not been printed since 1992. Guess its a collector's item now!