All,

There will be another build-it on Wednesday, Feb 8 from 6-7pm for those that still need to rough-cut their pinewood derby cars. Please try to arrive close to 6:00 in order to allow time to complete the work. The address is:

330 Dupont Cir
Raleigh, NC 27603

==========================================

What gets done where?

- At home prior to arriving at the workshop, open the pinewood car box. Determine what the end car should look like and sketch (first on paper and then directly on the wood block) what the cut lines need to be made. Take note of where the axle slots are and make sure the car has reasonable thickness so as not to break easily during construction or on the track. You must be able to clearly articulate what cuts need to be made and in what order to obtain the final correct output. For those new to the Pinewood derby, simple is better. The person that will cut the wood is an experienced woodworker, but is not familiar with pinewood derby cars. As an example, if you mark the block with the axle slots at the top of the car, that is how the block will be cut. I recommend that you keep the wheels and axles at home rather than bringing them to the workshop.

- At the workshop, bring your pre-marked pine block. It will be cut for you to the lines indicated by a woodworker. You can then smooth the design sand with a drum or disc sander at the shop.

- At home after the shop, to the degree of your scout’s ambition you may fine sand the car, add weights, apply paint or stain as desired and put on the wheels and axles. Weight is a critical attribute to the speed of the car and I recommend adding weights to bring the car reasonably close to the maximum of 5oz. Weights can be purchased at hobby stores in a variety of shapes. Scouts have also used coins, washers, bolts and similar items to add weight to the car.

Please contact me if you have questions.

Brian

All,

We had a great build-it today, with about a dozen scouts participating and preparing their cars. I might be able to set a second build-it next Sunday (Feb 4) at the same shop in Raleigh if there is critical mass (6 or more scouts that could commit to a set time). If you want to participate next Sunday in Raleigh, send me an email ASAP and I’ll see what I can do. I know that Lowes hardware also has a built it session available as a backup if this the Raleigh workshop does not work out.

Thanks.

Brian

All,

I received a few questions regarding scope of the build-it. For those new to the pinewood derby (and even for the veterans):

How long do I need to plan on being at the workshop?
- Based on previous experience, I would allow about an hour at the shop. That can be significantly shorter if the design is already sketched and you know exactly what you want to do. Design modifications in process typically add time.

What gets done where?
- At home prior to arriving at the workshop, open the pinewood car box. Determine what the end car should look like and sketch (first on paper and then directly on the wood block) what the cut lines need to be made. Take note of where the axle slots are and make sure the car has reasonable thickness so as not to break easily during construction or on the track. You must be able to clearly articulate what cuts need to be made and in what order to obtain the final correct output. For those new to the Pinewood derby, simple is better. The person that will cut the wood is an experienced woodworker, but is not familiar with pinewood derby cars. As an example, if you mark the block with the axle slots at the top of the car, that is how the block will be cut. I recommend that you keep the wheels and axles at home rather than bringing them to the workshop.

- At the workshop, bring your pre-marked pine block. It will be cut for you to the lines indicated by a woodworker. You can then smooth the design sand with a drum or disc sander at the shop.

- At home after the shop, to the degree of your scout’s ambition you may fine sand the car, add weights, apply paint or stain as desired and put on the wheels and axles. Weight is a critical attribute to the speed of the car and I recommend adding weights to bring the car reasonably close to the maximum of 5oz. Weights can be purchased at hobby stores in a variety of shapes. Scouts have also used coins, washers, bolts and similar items to add weight to the car.

Good luck,

Brian

All,

We will have an opportunity to utilize a local shop for a Pinewood Derby Build-it this Sunday (January 29) between 1:30 and 4:00! The location is:

330 Dupont Cir
Raleigh, NC 27603

The basics are:
- If you plan to attend, please send me an email indicating that and the approximate time you would come.
- An adult MUST accompany the scout and be present while the scout is at the build-it
- Design and clearly mark the cutting lines on the pine block in advance - a professional will perform the band saw cutting this year for us
- Basic sanding equipment will also be available for smoothing the design

I hope to see you there.

Brian Flack

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Start your engines! It is once again time for the annual Pack 393 Pinewood Derby! The race is at the First Baptist Church on February 25th. Key information is below:

Car Build-It Clinic: TBD - will be announced in next couple days. In addition, Lowes also has a build-it clinic on Saturday February 4th (call store for times).

Vehicle Check-In and Registration: Tuesday, February 21st - 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
Where: First Baptist Church
• Please note that ALL cars must be registered by Tuesday, February 21st, 8:30 pm to qualify for the race.
• Once cars have been registered, weighed, and certified, they will remain in the hands of race committee until the end of the competition.

Race Day : Saturday, February 25th - 9:30 am
Where: First Baptist Church

• The scouts will compete in the following groupings
o Webelos (I&II together)
o Bears
o Wolves
o Tigers
• Awards include 1st and 2nd place Speed, Craftsmanship and Originality for each grouping PLUS overall Speed for the entire Pack
• NO GRAPHITE WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING day of the race. Scouts will lubricate the cars at the time of registration.
• Each heat will be announced.
• Scouts and all other spectators must remain behind the tape. Seats will be set up to allow spectators to see the race.
• The starter will make sure the cars are on the track properly and then will start the race.
• Results will be electronically recorded at the finish line.
• 1st place winning cars in speed, Craftsmanship and Originality in each grouping will be permitted to go on to the District race March 10, 2012.
• An outlaw race for siblings and family members will be held after the scout races. The outlaw race does not have weigh/size limitations so long as the cars do not damage the track, other cars, or people.

The Official Rules

Only one car may be registered by any person in the Pinewood Derby. Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it will be allowed to compete. The Inspection Committee has the responsibility to disqualify those cars that do not meet these specifications.

The following are the inspection points:
1. The wood block, wheels and nails for the car must come from the official BSA Pinewood Derby Car Kit.
2. The car weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces. The official race scale shall be considered final.
3. The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.
4. The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.
5. The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.
6. The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body.
7. The wood provided in the kit must be used. The block may be shaped any way that is desired.
8. The wheels and axles supplied with the kit must be used. The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded. You may lightly sand the wheels to remove the molding seam on the tread. Axles may not be grooved. You may remove burrs and polish the axles. No other wheel/axle changes are allowed.
9. The original wheel slot distance in the wood must be used - you may not change the original wheelbase.
10. The axles supplied with the kit must be used. They may be polished or lubricated.
11. Wheel bearings, washers or bushings are prohibited.
12. The car must not ride on any type of springs.
13. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices.
14. No loose material of any kind, such as lead shot, may be used.
15. The car body may have no moving parts.
16. Cars constructed for previous Pinewood Derbies are not eligible to compete.
17. Details such as the steering wheel, driver, decals, painting, and interior detail are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width, and weight specifications.
18. Only dry lubricants such as graphite or powdered teflon “white lube” will be allowed for lubricating the wheels. Lubricants may not foul the track. NO LUBRICANTS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING on the day of the race. Scouts will lubricate the cars at the time of registration.
Racing Rules:
1. If during the race the car loses a wheel, or is otherwise damaged, the racer shall have 5 minutes to make a repair or the car is disqualified.
2. If a car leaves the track, runs out of its lane, interferes with another car, loses an axle, etc., the heat will be rerun. If the same car gets into trouble on the second run, the contestant is disqualified and automatically loses that race. If, on the second run, another car is interfered with, the heat will be run a third time, but without the disqualified car.

Please note that starting 10th Jan we are meeting at new location

First Baptist Church
209 Church street
Morrisville, NC 27560

40 Patriots Point Rd
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464-4377

Each person must bring:

• a sleeping bag
• pillow
• shampoo
• deodorant (non-aerosol)
• toothpaste
• soap
• towel
• wash cloth
• all other necessary personal effects
• Insect repellent (non-aerosol) is advisable

The general schedule will look like the following (I will send out an update to this once they post our official schedule):

Friday: 9 Dec

6:00 PM Check in and board the ship
8:00 PM Movie in the Ship’s Theater
9:45 PM Fire Drill
11:00 PM Taps (lights out)

Saturday: 10 Dec

7:00 Reveille (wake-up)
7:55 AM Meal
9:00 Ship museums open (pick up box lunches)
10:00 Boat to Ft. Sumter
Afternoon - return from Ft. Sumter
5:30 Dinner
7:00 Leave for Ghost and Graveyard Tour in Charleston ($10 per person - I’ve gotten spots for 69 people, but there is an onboard movie if folks want to stay on the ship. The $10 has already been paid and you will need to pay back the Pack or Troop if you take one of the slots, but you don’t need to carry money on the trip for this)
9:30 PM return back to the Yorktown. There is a movie going in the ship’s theater (it starts at 9 p.m.)
11:00 PM Taps (lights out)

Sunday: 11 Dec

6:00 AM Reveille (wake-up)
6:50 AM or 7:15 AM Meal call
9:00-10:00 Check out/Disembark - you are free to tour the ship and museum or sight-see in Charleston or head on back to the Triangle

All,

One more thing on the Yorktown Trip, we will need to meet and leave from the Church building in Morrisville no later than 11 a.m. on the morning of the 9th in order to make sure that we get to our boarding point by 5 p.m.
(MapQuest says the trip will take about 4 hours and 45 minutes without stopping, so I’m figuring it will take us at least 5 to 5:30 minutes with a stop or two for a meal and rest-stops).
Thus, you will need to be making plans for your kids to get off from school. Should be an excused absence given the historical nature of the trip (Yorktown and Ft. Sumter).

Thanks,

Randy

All,

There is a Troop and Pack Committee meeting this coming Thursday, December 1 at 7 p.m. We will be discussing several things, including the Yorktown trip and Troop and Pack Rechartering in December. Given that we only have one Pack meeting in December, it will be important for everyone who can to come to this meeting.

So every parent of a kid who has signed up for this event needs to attend to coordinate plans for the trip down and when and where to meet that Friday night so that we can get onto the ship as a group. I’m working on scheduling a Charleston Ghost tour on Saturday evening, but this is going to be an extra cost, so you can let me know at the meeting if you will be able and want to attend. I hope to have more details on the cost that night.

Here is a link to the Patriot’s Pointe website with recommended “What to Bring?” on the trip:
http://www.patriotspoint.org/pdf/pod/4301491111043420.pdf

In addition, we need to discuss plans for additional roles on the Troop and Pack Committee and as we recharter, I need to know who in the Pack would like to/be interested in stepping in as Cubmaster. There will be some training required to fulfill this role and we need someone willing to commit to this in order to recharter the Pack (i.e. before the end of December). I’m not sure when the training will be given again, so hopefully the District will let us recharter with a Cubmaster who has not been fully trained yet. We’ll see.

Thanks everyone and let me know if there are any additional agenda items that we need to discuss.

See everyone on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the church building.

Randy