2016 Pinewood Derby World Championship in Time Square

[CivilWarTalk]

Uggg.... This seems not right...

So my scout district has announced that our cars are qualified to go to the "World Championships" in Time Square.... This is only the second year for this event, but they are already getting supported by my council before Mid-America? This race is spreading through the scouting community faster than I like.

I get the impression they've solicited all the councils within 500 miles of NYC, going to this race will be insane. How long will the line be to get checked in and inspected?

It's too bad Mid-America doesn't get as much press....

I guess anyone can start one of these races. Maybe I should start my own race, call it the North-American Pinewood Derby Championship, need to hold it someplace impressive, my first thought was on the National Mall in D.C. but that's outdoors, and would be a logistical nightmare. Maybe hold it at the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport, setup the track right next to the SR-71. A guy can dream right?

 

[Vitamin K]

I guess anyone can start one of these races. Maybe I should start my own race, call it the North-American Pinewood Derby Championship, need to hold it someplace impressive, my first thought was on the National Mall in D.C. but that's outdoors, and would be a logistical nightmare. Maybe hold it at the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport, setup the track right next to the SR-71. A guy can dream right?

Hey, if you get a big scout race organized for the DC area, I'll come out to help. Doubly so if I can convince you to use NSC rules! /images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif /images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif /images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif

 

[LightninBoy]

Uggg.... This seems not right...

I agree.

The rules are FUBAR and they haven't taken any advice given to them last year after they royally screwed things up.

I'm not one to usually do this ... but I'd urge folks to *NOT SUPPORT* this race until they demonstrate the organizational excellence worthy of the title "world championships".

 

[Kinser Racing]

I agree.

The rules are FUBAR and they haven't taken any advice given to them last year after they royally screwed things up.

I'm not one to usually do this ... but I'd urge folks to *NOT SUPPORT* this race until they demonstrate the organizational excellence worthy of the title "world championships".

+1

 

[ScoutRacer]

I agree that the Rules are not clear and down right confusing especially for the Stock Car Class. The inspection process was even worse last year. We will participate again this year if we qualify at our District Race on Saturday as it is my Son's last year and he had a good time in NYC last year.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I agree that the Rules are not clear and down right confusing especially for the Stock Car Class. The inspection process was even worse last year. We will participate again this year if we qualify at our District Race on Saturday as it is my Son's last year and he had a good time in NYC last year.

Rules for Stock are certainly murky.

Pro Stock rules are much better.

Could you describe the check-in process? How in-depth they go? Do they really look at the cars, or are there so many that they just do the basics, like "go/no-go box", weight?

 

[ScoutRacer]

Here is how the inspection process went last year. They used the Maximum Velocity Gauge to check the dimensions which was the good. There was sharpie marks for they locations of the axles slots for a standard block to determine which class the car would race in. We cut the back of the car off and glued it on the front. They wanted to make us run the Pro Stock as obviously the marks did not line up with the slots after doing this. We ended up running the Stock Class. They check the weight out three decimal places which was ridiculous IMO. They did not look at wheels, axles, wheels touching, graphite, or anything else for that matter. We ended up finishing 3rd in Webelos I in the Stock Car Class and 5th in the World Championship. We raced against a lot of cars that were Pro Stock per the Rules. A lot of the cars really fell off in speed in the World Championship Race. PM if you have any specific questions.

 

[ScoutRacer]

New Rules are out. Still confusing.

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

It is just a scout race with a grand title.

 

[TRE]

It is just a scout race with a grand title.

Thats about it..nothing close to national race..just bunch of wannabees

 

[TWarwick07]

I agree with you guys ^^^^^

 

[B_Regal Racing]

Maybe I could up there and win something - I could wear my little boy pants.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I think we're going to go. Last year of Cub racing for my boy.
Might as well finish it in the Big Apple.

 

[gpraceman]

I got an email from Mat Goar, one of the leaders organizing this year's PWD World Championship Race in NY Times Square. He's looking for some local GPRM gurus that can help run the software for the race. Please see the email below. I'd love to go and help out, but don't think that it will work out for me to be there this year.

Attention New York City GrandPrix Race Manager users!

Hi, my name is Matt Gaor and I’m the Vice Chair of the GNYC Activities Committee and Chair of the Second Annual World Championship Pinewood Derby being held in Times Square on June 25th, 2016. I’m looking for a few GrandPrix Race Manager Software experts to pitch in and help out at this year’s event. Looking to contribute to Scouting by helping raise awareness in New York City? This is the perfect venue to do so! Please contact me via email at [email protected] for additional information.

See you there!

Matt Gaor

 

[CTDerbyDad]

It is just a scout race with a grand title.

Thats about it..nothing close to national race..just bunch of wannabees

Yikes. Pretty rough view of an event done for Scouts.

 

[Vitamin K]

One thing that is interesting is that they are providing free camping areas for Scout families who travel up there. That might be a fun weekend.

 

[BulldogRacing]

I just held the multi universe PWD championships. I did not allow proxy racers or anyone I could not beat. I changed the rules at the last min. But I did win! Please make me a trophy!

 

[TWarwick07]

I just held the multi universe PWD championships. I did not allow proxy racers or anyone I could not beat. I changed the rules at the last min. But I did win! Please make me a trophy!

Hilarious Bulldog....

My daughter won a girl scout race and a boy scout district race,,, I should file a title 9 suit to allow her to race her car

 

[Pacfanweb]

So the wheel rules:

"Please note: There are after-market modified wheels available that have been LIGHTENED. This is usually done by turning the wheels on a lathe and removing material from the inside of the wheel. These wheels are NOT allowed and can be EASILY RECOGNIZED at inspection. Cars with third party manufactured or modified wheels will not be permitted to race.

Coning the hubs and truing the inside tread edge is allowed, as long as overall wheel width is not reduced below 0.36 inches (9.14 mm).

No material may be removed from the inside wheel surfaces at any point.

Minimum outside diameter of wheel must be equal to or greater than 1.170 inch (29.72mm), in order to maintain the ridges on the outer edge.

I wonder who is doing this "easy recognition"? Cheetahs, anyone?

Maybe BASX Pros? I think they might be the closest to that rule.

 

[B_Regal Racing]

The rules are very confusing. Yes, it does say that you can not lighten a wheel; however, the minimum wheel weight is 2.45 grams. I do not believe you can reduce the wheel weight to 2.45 grams without removing material from the inside, which is forbidden. If you are reducing the weight of a wheel to 2.45 grams and only doing it by truing the outside tread, I doubt you would be able to maintain the 1.170 diameter.

That being said, I can spot a Cheeta from a mile away (Rage as well); a Nitro even further away. BASX Pros are a bit harder to spot, but can be done if you know what to look for (I certainly can do it); however, these are cut down to 2.40, which is why I believe they chose a 2.45 gram wheel weight. I would run straight BASX wheels; they are in the 2.5 to 2.55 gram range. I do not believe there is material removed from the inside at all.

I thought about build a car for it, but only if I knew some other racers were going.