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ANNUAL PINE WOOD DERBY CONTEST
The Pine Wood Derby is a special event open to boys and girls preschool through the eighth grade who purchase and build their own midget racing car that is provided by the Gridley Recreation Department.
The cars are raced two at a time down a specially constructed 45 foot inclined track. After a series of elimination races, trophies are awarded for the fastest, best design, and most original cars. Awards are given out for the following age groups 1-5, and 6-13.
This is a double elimination tournament
1. How to Enter the Pine Wood Derby
A pinewood racer kit may be purchased at the Gridley Recreation Department. Entrants in the Derby must check their cars in at the check in table located on Virginia Street (Between Sycamore & Spruce) by 12:30 p.m., the day of the race.
2. Contents of a Pine Wood Derby Kit
A pine wood racer kit consists of the following:
2 axle housings 1 block of pine
4 plastic wheels 4 nails or screws for axles
3. Construction Regulations
1. Entrants may build car with the help of their parents. Only one car may be entered in the contest by each contestant.
2. Width: Overall width shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches
3. Length: Overall length shall not exceed 7 1/2 inches
4. Weight: Shall not exceed five ounces. - No loose material of any kind is permitted in the car. The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the addition of wood, metal, or plastic.
5. Only one official kit can be used to build each car. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited. Wheels may be smoothed to eliminate mold marks, but they may not be thinned, tapered, or shaped in any manner to cut down friction.
6. Only kits purchased from the Gridley Recreation Department this spring are eligible.
7. Details: Details such as steering wheel, driver, decals, and paint are permitted as long as the maximum weight and size of the car are not exceeded.
8. Springs: The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
9. Attachments: The car must be free wheeling with no starting devices.
10. Clearance: There must be 3/8 clearance below the car for it to pass over the track without interference. Do not shorten axles.
11. Lubrication: Graphite is the only type of lubrication allowed on axles.
4. Contest rules
1. Inspection: Every car must pass by the official inspection committee before it may compete. The inspectors have the right to disqualify those cards that do not follow rules as state herein.
2. Race Procedure:
1. Heats: All races will be run on a system of elimination by heats: two cars in each heat. Timing of contestants shall have no bearing in determining heat of final winner.
2. Starting: Cars start by gravity from a standstill at a starting ling on the track from behind an automatic starting device.
3. Finish: The car whose nose is first over the finishing line is the winner.
4. If either car leaves the track on the first run, we will switch lanes and race again. If the same car jumps that track again, the contestant automatically loses the race.
3. All cars entering this year’s race must be purchased and made during the same year.
5. Best Appearing Car Rules
The best appearing cars will be judged in the department finals and will be judged on the following factors:
1. Originality of design
2. Quality of workmanship
3. Color combination
4. Extent to which features of the car were made by entrant.
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