FAQ and Helpful Tips
Here are many frequently asked questions about the allowed car modifications and the event in general. If you have any other questions please email cubmaster@pack729.com
Q: Can I use custom wheels or axles?
No, you must use unmodified wheels and from an official BSA kit. You may use the colored BSA wheels from the scout shop if you would like. They are the same as the wheels and axles in your kit.
Q: Can I modify my wheels?
No, you may not modify the wheels to reduce weight or change the contact surfaces of the wheel. If you wish, you may true the wheels (make them perfectly round) and polish them. But if they appear heavily modified upon inspection, you may be disqualified or be required to replace them.
Q: Can I modify the axles?
No, you may not modify the axles to reduce weight or change the contact surfaces of the axle. However, all the axles have burrs along the shaft that can be removed and polished and the axles may be straightened and adjusted for alignment. But, tapering or trimming the head, cutting grooves in the shaft or otherwise altering the contact surface of the axle is not allowed.
Q: Can I modify the wheelbase?
Yes. You are not required to use the axle grooves that are pre-cut in your pine block. Using an axle jig is recommended and will be available at the workshop.
Q: Can I use wheel bearings?
No, the car must be freewheeling using only the wheels and axles provided in your kit. No other form of rolling mechanism is allowed.
Q: How do I get my car to 5oz?
In order to get your car to 5oz., you will need to add weights to your car. There are many weights that can purchase from the scout shop or any hobby shop. The use of lead weights is not recommended because of toxicity concerns. Tungsten weights are available in block, cylinder or putty form. Zinc and other metal weights are also available. These can be added anywhere to the car as long as the car maintains specs! This is vitally important. Many shops sell weights that screw on to the bottom of the car; however, these weights regularly make the bottom of the car too low and fail inspection. The clearance from the ground to the bottom of the car must be 3/8” or it will interfere with the track and will not pass inspection. Also, weights that extend beyond the front or back of the car will cause the car to be too long. To use these types of weights, it is best to cut out a groove in the car for the weights to fit into.
At the inspection, your car will be weighed. Since scales can be slightly different, be prepared to make adjustments the night of inspection to get your car as close to 5oz as possible. Cars can be less than 5oz., but absolutely no more than 5oz. You may add or remove weights at inspection, but once your car has been certified and placed in the pit, it may not be removed for any reason.
If your car is over 5oz., it is far more difficult to reduce weight than to add weight. You will be surprised by how much wood it takes to equal even 0.1oz, and making many last minute cuts can get dust in your axles causing friction. If you are slightly under 5oz., weight can be added more easily with putty or even small screws.
Q: How does inspection work?
At inspection your car will be checked for all of the specifications: weight, dimensions, clearance, cleanliness, etc.. Once a car passes inspection it will be certified and placed in the pit where it will remain until all races are finished or your car has been eliminated from the finals. You will not be allowed to remove your car from the pit for any reason. If your car fails any part of inspection, it will be returned to you immediately for adjustment and must be re-inspected from the beginning.
First, your car will be weighed using an official scale. If your car is over 5oz. it will fail. If it is under 5oz., you may chose to add more weight or proceed with inspection.
Second, your car will be checked for its dimensions: height, width, length.
Third, your car will be checked for track clearance.
Fourth, your car will be checked for cleanliness. In this step, the car will be placed on a clean towel, if any lubricant residue is left on the towel, it will be deemed ‘excessive’ and will fail inspection.
Fifth, your car will be visually inspected for illegal axle and wheel modifications.
Q: What if my car breaks on race day?
In the event that a car breaks, we will pause races for 10 minutes for you to repair your car to working condition. If the car is not functioning within that time, it may be disqualified.
If a car breaks because of interference by another car during a race or by an accident outside a race, more consideration will be given to the repair time. But if a car breaks as the result of normal racing, the time will likely be kept to 10 minutes. A race judge will decide when a car is disqualified.