Buyer Beware - Aftermarket Pinewood Derby Kits

[fritz1255]

Don't know if this has been previously covered, but the aftermarket Pinewood Derby kits often sold at local Scout stores do not have the official BSA wheels and axles, and your car is subject to disqualification if it is discovered at race day. Most boys in the Cub age group don't take it well at all when that happens - I've seen it. Of course, nowhere on the kit does it say "not eligible racing in Cub Scout pinewood derby". In my opinion, they should either have some sort of disclaimer, or be banned from Scout stores. If you want to use one of these kits, you will also need to use the axles and wheels from an offical kit.

[wagionvigil]

Well that would suck!

[cballman]

That is why when I was in charge of our packs derby we gave each child a car and the parents a set of rules. We also told them that any other kit that didnt have the right wheels and axles would be disqualified. Also if I remember correctly the rules that is enclosed with the OFFICAL kits states the these wheels must be used. The answer to the big question is YES i had to turn a child away and his parent started getting upset. I was told that the wheels and axles that came with the kit they had were legal. They purchased the kit from a local hobby store. The parent even looked at me and told me I was wrong and that he was a Lawyer. He backed down when we pulled out a Offical BSA kit and opened it in front of him. The rules inside the kit stated that these were the only wheels and axles allowed. That is why we kept going over the rules and items each week and month before the race.

[ThunderingWind]

When my son was a cubby, we had an inspector from the District (outside the unit). Once he checked the cars, he squirted the graphite lube powder in all axels. Problems was, we used the white poly lube powder. So my sons wheels were gummed and he lost every bracket race and was the slowest car of the entire Pack. We learned from that and in the Post Race chat told him to no longer lube the axels for us. He opted not to return the next year and we had the Troop SPL and ASPL be the Inspectors.

[FrankJ]

The people running the pine wood derby are free to adopt any rules they want too. There are no BSA mandated rules. If your council or district is running a pinewood derby, it will be run under rules they have adopted, and if you planning to go on to that, it is smart to use the same rules. In any case, if I bought a car kit at the local scout shop, and told after the fact it was not legal, there would be an unpleasant committee meeting that week. So make your pine wood derby rules clear in the very beginning & remember it is about having fun.

Also BSA is now licensing kit sold in places other than scout stores. Are you really going to tell some one they cannot use an "Officially Licenced BSA Pinewood Derby Kit"

From http://www.facebook.com/bsalicensing
" BSA Licensing Have you seen this? Officially licensed Pinewood Derby® kits and accessories by Revell available in your nearby Michaels craft store. Stop by and check it out!"

From http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Licensing/News/LicensingInsider/Volume3/Number1.aspx
"Beginning January 16, 2010, the Dremel Pinewood Derby® Days program has teamed up with Lowe's Home Improvement for in-store programs on how to build a winning Pinewood Derby® race car. This represents the second year of a collaborative effort with Dremel, Lowe's and the Boy Scouts of America to provide Pinewood Derby® enthusiasts a single resource for all the materials and know how to create a winning Pinewood Derby® car. The Dremel Pinewood Derby® Rotary Tool Accessory Kit includes an official Pinewood Derby® car kit and 18 Dremel accessories for carving, sanding, polishing and cleaning the race car"

[fritz1255]

Unfortunately, we only became aware of this problem when we had a judge come from another Pack, and he pointed it out to us. The "outlaw" wheels and axles look almost exactly like the official BSA ones, excepth they don't say "BSA" on them.

[FrankJ]

If they bought the kits at the scout shop or an "official BSA pinewood derby car kit". I am not sure you should call them "illegal wheels" unless you have specifically excluded them in the beginning. But thanks for bringing this up. My pack has already run their pinewood derby for this year, but it will be something we consider for next year.

[evmori]

If you are running only at the Pack level, this wouldn't be a problems as long as it fit the Pack rules for the Pinewood they were holding.

[smtroop168]

I vote for pulling them out of the box, placing the wheels on them and running them down the track.

[wagionvigil]

Yep me too.I actually saw a kid do that at a district derby once and he won. I never heard so much bitching by adults. " I did this and that and spent $$$$$ and that kid did nothing and won? He should be disqualified"

Scouts Honor The Next year we had to call the PSP to the Derby and that was end of the District derbys.

[FrankJ]

I have always emphasized that this was to be about fun. If your sample pool is big enough, The top 3 to 5 cars will be essentially even. The winner has a large element of luck of their side.

[smtroop168]

I have always emphasized that this was to be about fun. If your sample pool is big enough, The top 3 to 5 cars will be essentially even. The winner has a large element of luck of their side.

C'mon Frank...gotta have at least one frothing at the mouth parent at the Pinewood. He's usually the one who brings the car in a velvet lined box and doesn't let his son touch it.

[FrankJ]

One or two. The ones that have scout spirit, I try to deal with in a serious matter. The others tend to get madder when they realize that I do not take them seriously or get mad, and there is not a higher source they can take it to. I do offer to let them chair next year's derby. Have yet have one take me up on that offer.

[smtroop168]

One or two. The ones that have scout spirit, I try to deal with in a serious matter. The others tend to get madder when they realize that I do not take them seriously or get mad, and there is not a higher source they can take it to. I do offer to let them chair next year's derby. Have yet have one take me up on that offer.

That approach always backs them off.

Anyone remember the song from 10-12 years ago called "Five Dollar Fine for Whining"?

[John F.]

We're a fun lovin' crowd, kinda rowdy and loud

Our jukebox won't play no sad songs

So don't come in here, and cry in your beer

'Cause we don't care 'bout who done who wrong


Chorus:

We've got a five dollar fine for whining

We'll tell you before you come in

If it ain't on your mind to have a good time

Ya'll come back and see us again



Well we don't really care about your clothes or your hair

This party is open to all

Yeah we like a good joke, and it's alright to smoke

We got just one rule on the wall



Repeat Chorus



Now there's too many fools makin too many rules

That's one thing you can't say about us

Cause we all get along when we sing the same song

There's just one thing that causes a fuss



Repeat Chorus

[smtroop168]

THAT'S IT!!! PERFECT.

Thanks.

[robclarkcsm]

I believe the author is refering to the precut car kits. Yes, I have ran across a few in the past Especially at Michaels, that have all black wheels but no BSA raised lettering. This past year I'm noticing these same kits now come with the BSA wheels but also a price tag of $14.99. In my opinion it just takes away from the experience of the Cubbie and is a waste of money. For those who mentioned the parents building the cars and not letting the boys touch them... watch the movie Down and Derby. It is truely funny and spot on.