Inspection committee

[Mojo Racing]

Okay, so I am wondering.... We all know the Scout Oath "On my honor..."

But since there are a number of scouts who are not getting to work on their cars as much as they should, and fathers don't have to recite the oath...

What is the general consensus in her about a post race inspection for trophy spots? Say a car finishes top three... take out two axles and wheels for post race inspection. They do it in NASCAR, why not PWD? The car has to pass post race inspection before trophies are handed out.

Put it specifically in the rules that this will occur, so there is no question.

Just a thought...

Comments????

Please don't do teardown inspections after the race. Do you really want to tell a kid, after he's won and all excited, that he's disqualified? It may be totally warranted, but its just not a situation anybody wants.

Better to write the rules so that they can be enforced at check in. If that means allowing aftermarket axles ... so be it.

That is why I am asking for comments in here. I like the idea of opening up the rules/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif, but I have also heard about districts doing post race inspections too... /images/boards/smilies/frown.gif

I am now on the rules committee for my district, and I am wanting to be fair to all of the kids who come to this race...

When the committee meets, I want to be able to give pro's and con's for each of the scenarios.

 

[Safer Racer]

I rewrote our rules about 2 months ago and this is how I approach it. This is the email I sent with the new rules for our District. Now of course I have had many
conversations with them before and after so it was no surprise for them to be getting this.

Hi XXX,

How about this weather -- No work today, so I got started on the pinewood derby rules proposal for you. My goals in writing these rules are :

1. Make common sense rules that are easy to understand for the builders and inspectors

2. To eliminate known problem areas with the pre-existing rules.

3. To allow for quick inspection of cars with out having to be disassembled

4. To legalize new products which are safer and easier to use for scouts.

I'm sure you will have some questions or may even want a demonstration on how some products are used, I will be glad to meet you one day at your office

if you would like.

Sincerely,

--- Safer Racer

 

[Mojo Racing]

I rewrote our rules about 2 months ago and this is how I approach it. This is the email I sent with the new rules for our District. Now of course I have had many
conversations with them before and after so it was no surprise for them to be getting this.

Hi XXX,

How about this weather -- No work today, so I got started on the pinewood derby rules proposal for you. My goals in writing these rules are :

1. Make common sense rules that are easy to understand for the builders and inspectors

2. To eliminate known problem areas with the pre-existing rules.

3. To allow for quick inspection of cars with out having to be disassembled

4. To legalize new products which are safer and easier to use for scouts.

I'm sure you will have some questions or may even want a demonstration on how some products are used, I will be glad to meet you one day at your office

if you would like.

Sincerely,

--- Safer Racer

Exactly what I am thinking...

Especially the demonstration part... We will run things how the rules are, and the way proposed rules will go... see the difference in times.

 

[cygnus]

Keep the suggestions coming. Taking notes for next year....

Get your council to adopt these rules....

https://www.northernstarbsa.org/Forms/Activities/PinewoodDerbyRules.pdf

The best rules in the country!

 

[B_Regal Racing]

Cygnus, just to ask a question:

Under your rules, this would be legal:
http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/The-Dynasty-BASX-set-of-4-wheels-W-BASX.htm

And this would not be legal:
http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/The-Dynasty-BASX-PRO-set-of-4-wheels-W-BASXPRO.htm

Correct? My son does not race in your council and will be out of cubs next year. I'm just curious more than anything.

 

[cygnus]

Cygnus, just to ask a question:

Under your rules, this would be legal:
http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/The-Dynasty-BASX-set-of-4-wheels-W-BASX.htm

And this would not be legal:
http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/The-Dynasty-BASX-PRO-set-of-4-wheels-W-BASXPRO.htm

Correct? My son does not race in your council and will be out of cubs next year. I'm just curious more than anything.

That is correct. The BASX-PRO would not be legal because material is removed from inside the wheel.

 

[BulldogRacing]

4. To legalize new products which are safer and easier to use for scouts.

Sincerely,

--- Safer Racer

You're promoting safer racer baby!

 

[W8NONU]

3.5 The tread surface width must be no less than 7.5 mm.
and
Narrowing the tread surface to 7.5mm to get straight edges

I notice many people and vendors referring to the metric width of the wheels but then state all other dimensions in imperial measurements. Wouldn't it be just as easy to say .30 or .295 inches? the wheel height is measured as 1.16 inches.

4.1...An axle may not extend more than .75 inches(¾”) into the car body.
4.2 One-piece axles that extend through the width of the car to support both wheels are not allowed.

I've always wondered why these rules would be an advantage. Anyone?

 

[Mojo Racing]

3.5 The tread surface width must be no less than 7.5 mm.
and
Narrowing the tread surface to 7.5mm to get straight edges

I notice many people and vendors referring to the metric width of the wheels but then state all other dimensions in imperial measurements. Wouldn't it be just as easy to say .30 or .295 inches? the wheel height is measured as 1.16 inches.

Maybe this is because of the roots of real tires for a car or truck.

The size 275/65R20 is a mix and match also. The 275 is the metric measurement for the tread width in millimeters. The 65 is a ratio of sidewall height to the width of the tread, and the 20 is the diameter of the bead area.... in inches.

 

[microbrush]

4.1...An axle may not extend more than .75 inches(¾”) into the car body.
4.2 One-piece axles that extend through the width of the car to support both wheels are not allowed.

I've always wondered why these rules would be an advantage. Anyone?

Not sure myself about the .75".

For the one piece axle I believe that it is to eliminate the wheels with the hubcaps. They tend to pop off and the racer looses a wheel and it takes time to fix.

These are the rules that our pack uses as well. I send this set of rules out to the pack. We don't really enforce at the pack level and about every year a kid comes with these axels with hubcaps and the wheel falls off. You just shake your head and and wonder why people don't read the rules. I am not going to DQ based on this rule, but I guess I should get some spare replacement hubcaps.

 

[microbrush]

An Iwanson gauge maybe helpful for measuring the thickness of the tread.

 

[cygnus]

4.1...An axle may not extend more than .75 inches(¾”) into the car body.
4.2 One-piece axles that extend through the width of the car to support both wheels are not allowed.

I've always wondered why these rules would be an advantage. Anyone?

We're talking straight drilled rear axle holes here... not canted...

A one-piece axle inserted into a hole that goes across the entire width of the car body will provide perfect alignment and an advantage over two axles inserted into separately drilled holes. The top bearing racers prefer the one-piece rear axle because of the advantage it provides.

 

[Crash Enburn]

I notice many people and vendors referring to the metric width of the wheels but then state all other dimensions in imperial measurements. Wouldn't it be just as easy to say .30 or .295 inches? the wheel height is measured as 1.16 inches.

Can you show me the 0.30" or 0.295" mark on a ruler? Unless you have digital calipers, those numbers are meaningless. 7.5mm, however, can be pretty easily discerned.

 

[W8NONU]

In that same logic, show me 1.16 inches? I'm sure someone is using digital calipers.

 

[BulldogRacing]

This was a tough call for our rules as well. Many were confused at the fact I said a wheel had to be at least 7.5 mm wide at the tread. I just changed it to 5/16 wide, I was afraid to putt 19/64 so I rounded up. I had some tell me if they did'nt understand the rule they just did not want to participate.

 

[bracketracer]

An Iwanson gauge maybe helpful for measuring the thickness of the tread.

I see that you can buy those with blunted tips also. Used for measuring dental wax. Might not scratch the wheels? I ordered one. We'll see what it looks like! Thanks!