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The Downtown Davenport Partnership is excited to announce the first Downtown Derby, pine car racing series. Sign up at the link below and join a racing team sponsored by your favorite bar restaurant or retail shop. Work in an office downtown? You can sign up and have a corporate team too and compete against your coworkers and other office users downtown.
WHAT IS PINE CAR RACING?
Pine car racing was popularized by the Boy Scouts. Using a block of pine wood, racers can carve it into any style of car they would like. Kits come with axels and wheels that you assemble. Next, paint and decorate to your taste and you are ready to race!
Pine cars are approximately 7" long by 1.75" wide and 1.25" inches tall. This can vary depending on how the wood is carved. There are rules on maximum weight, dimensions and parts that can be used. These rules will be provided to all racers and participating businesses.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Racers will need to purchase a ticket for a season pass, some packages include a car kit (if needed) that the racer will pick up from downtown business Major Art & Hobby.
Pricing is as follows:
CAR SPECIFICATIONS:
1. Maximum width - 2-3/4"
2. Maximum Length - 7"
3. Maximum weight - Not over 5 Ounces
4. Minimum width between wheels - 1-3/4″
5. Car must have 4 wheels and be the wheels included with your build kit
RULES/RACING CATEGORIES
1. The Real Deal Speed Category
This is the category for everyone who want to relive their childhood of racing Pinewood Derby cars. Wring out as much speed as you can with what you have while staying within the rules below.
Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited. The car shall not ride on springs. Only official Cub Scout Pinewood Derby wheels and axles are permitted, no razor style wheels. Only dry lubricant is permitted. Details, such as steering wheel and driver are permissible, as long as these details do not exceed the maximum length, width and weight specifications.
The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices. Motors, engines, or other propulsion may not be used. Each car must pass inspection by the official Downtown Derby inspector before it may compete. If, at registration, a car does not pass inspection, the owner will be informed of the reason for failure and will be given time within the official weigh-in time period to make the adjustment. Some tools will be on hand to make adjustments, if you need a specific tool for your car please make sure you bring it with you.
After final approval, cars will not be re-inspected unless the car is damaged in handling or in a race.
You will not be able to choose which lane you race in. All racers will run at least one race in each lane. The fastest time recorded out of all heats will be recorded for each racer. In the event of a tie, all racers with the same time will run a best of three races in alternating lanes.
The top racers from each business will move on to semi-finals to compete with racers from other businesses. The number of racers moving on to semi-finals depends on the number of total racers within a business? team.
<10 - Top two racers move on
10-15 - Top three racers move on
>15- Top four racers move on
Prizes will be awarded to the top three racers in the finals.
2. Anything Goes Speed Category
In this category the rules are at a minimum. The only rules are as follows:
1. Maximum width - 2-3/4″
2. Maximum Length - 7"
3. Must be gravity powered. No engines, springs, or propulsion systems
This category lets you use your imagination and know-how to build the fastest car on the block. Bring all your tricks and secret engineering to rule the track!
<10- Top two racers move on
10-15- Top three racers move one
>15- Top four racers move on
Prizes will be awarded to the top three racers in the finals.
3. Style
The only rules in the Style category are that you must use the provided derby kit and they must be able to fit and run on the official track.
This will be a popularity vote that will be voted on by racers, business owners and spectators.
There will be prizes awarded to the winner at each race day and winners will move on to semi-finals as well the finals.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three vote getters throughout the season.
*Cars can compete in more than one category as long as they meet the criteria for each category. Racers may also race more than one car, but can only enter one car in each category.
RACE DAY SCHEDULE
Build & Tune Days:
March 16th- Mac’s Tavern, 7pm-9pm
March 21st - Mac’s Tavern, 4pm-6pm
March 22nd - Mac’s Tavern, 7pm-9pm
Open Race Days:
FREE to compete, not need to register. Just show up on these nights!
May 24th - Macs Tavern, 7pm - 9pm
June 1st - Front St. Taproom, 7pm - 9pm
RACE DAYS:
Lopiez Pizza - April 6th, 7pm
Quad Cities River Bandits - April 7th, 7pm (Modern Woodmen Park)
Abernathy's + Front Street Brewery. - April 12th, 7pm
Mac’s Tavern + Major Art & Hobby - April 11, 4pm
Freight House Farmer Market - April 17, 1pm
SECOND ROUND - TBA
The first round will consist of a race day at each business. Once each business has had a race day, we will move to at least two businesses competing against each other with the top cars from the previous round. The number of rounds and races will be determined by the number of participating businesses and racers.
Businesses:
If your business would like to participate, contact our team. We will be in touch to get you the marketing materials you will need to get everything out to your customers. We will also work with you to schedule build days and race days.
We will provide businesses with graphics and sample posts that you can use to create calls for entry on your social media.
With DDP staff administering the racing, we ask that all businesses include basic COVID awareness language in your posts. This includes social distancing guidelines, handwashing and masks when appropriate. Our staff will be wearing masks and we ask that patrons wear masks when interacting with our staff.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our team.
This racing series is made possible through the support of Green State Credit Union!