• Our axles have a 'slot' carved into the head to allow for alignment to be done with a screwdriver instead of pliers. Is this allowed?
• Axles with pre-slotted heads meet the criteria of "machined", and are therefore not permitted. BSA does not include axles like that in their kits ("Only official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby metal "nail" type axles are permitted")
• How/When will the racer (and their family) know what time the race is?
• Once the registration period closes (roughly 12 days before the race) we will begin the process of setting checkin and race times for each zone. The information will be mailed directly to the address of the registered racer shortly thereafter.
• My scout has a baseball game that morning, can you change our zone to run after lunch?
• Once the schedule has been posted, the times are final. We try to rotate each year which zones go in the early morning, but ultimately the schedule is dictated by the number of registered racers in each zone.
• Do we have to use the axle slots on the car kits?
• So long as the new placement of the wheels does not violate any of the dimensional specifications (Length and ground clearance), the wheels may be relocated.
• Do all wheels have to touch the track? (Also see next question )
• No, all four wheels do not have to be touching the track. However, nothing else (for example, a bent axle) may touch the track or guide. Additionally, note that if a car cannot remain in the lane during a heat, the car will likely be disqualified.
• Are wheel 'Canting' and 'Rail Riding' allowed?
• Yes. But nothing other than wheels may touch the track or guide (for example a bent axle). Additionally, note that if a car cannot remain in the lane during a heat, the car will likely be disqualified.
• How do I edit my registration with my racers information? (Or what happened to the Jane Doe registration?)
• In an effort to reduce the amount of manual work that has to be performed by the race committee volunteers, we have changed the Jane Doe registration process to the "Edit your registration and give us the name that way" process. The link for the a "walk through" that explains how to do it is right here.
• You seem like a great group of volunteers and I'd love to join you and help out!
• Wonderful!! Send us an email and we'll get back to you. ( info@sandiego500.org )