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2008 Rules And Regulations

Downloads:
2008 Canary Derby Race Kit [PDF 1.86MB]

Building a Soapbox Derby car doesn't have overly difficult. We have crafted the following guidlines to help ensure a level playing field for competition - and to allow you enough room to innovate while still keeping it simple. If you have any questions about the rules, please don't hesitate to contact Walt Nicholson the event race director.

Update: Some rules have been modified based on feedback from teams and new research. Rule changes are marked in bold.

Note: Rule refinements (especially for the new CanaryStyle divsion) are expected as teams ask questions or want interpretations. All such discussion is made available on the Rules Summary Notice Board. Please refer to it for the latest information.

2008 Rules and Regulations | Mandatory Car Dimensions | CanaryStyle Judging Details

• Gravity is the recommended to be only form of motive power allowed. No energy-storage mechanisms that relate to forward motion of the car can be mounted on the vehicle.
• Cars must have four (4) wheels. Four wheels must touch the ground at all times when racing.
• The floorboard of the racer must be made of minimum 5/8" plywood or of material(s) that provides equivalent structural support. Particleboard is NOT acceptable.
• Feet must be foremost when driver is in racing position.
• One (1) brake mechanism is required to stop the car, but it is recommended that cars have two (2) brake mechanisms.
  a. Each individual brake system must be capable of stopping the car in a short straight line, with no damage to the road surface.
  b. Each braking system must be able to stop the car before it crosses the out-of-bounds line in the finish area. Failure to do so will result in a time penalty on a future run(s).
• Steering wheel must not have any protrusions that may present a hazard in a collision.
  a. If cable is used in the steering mechanism, it must be of the "marine/aircraft" grade. Clothesline cable is NOT acceptable.
  b. The car must be able to slalom through three (3) cones spaced forty (40) feet apart.
  c. Drivers must be able to exit the car unassisted.
• The weight of the car including driver(s) must not exceed 375 lbs.
• Any ballast added to the cars must be securely attached to the car and cannot move during the race.
• Teams are able to purchase plans for their cars - but the cars must be built by the teams.
• All major components must be attached with through bolts, not screws.
• All turnbuckles must be safety wired or otherwise secured to prevent them from vibrating loose.
• Each car must display its assigned number clearly on both sides of the car body.
• All cars must have event-supplied logos on their cars as specified per the Canary Derby Race Kit.
• Drivers must wear a properly fitting Snell / DOT-certified helmet providing full-face protection, shoes or boots and protective eyewear during competition and clothing should be selected to provide maximum safety and protection.
• All drivers and other team participants shall be required to sign a release in a form to be provided by the event organizers.
• All CARS and DRIVERS must pass the official safety inspection. This will include checking maximum weight, construction methods, braking capabilities, steering capabilities, car dimensions.
  Please note that passing the official safety inspection does not guarantee the driver’s safety. The driver is responsible for ensuring adequate safety measures are in place within his or her car.
  a. Cars and drivers that do not pass the safety inspection cannot participate in on-track activities.

Car Costs

Materials used to build the car cannot cost more than $1500. Teams must keep receipts for all items over $50. Teams must submit expense reports to the race director at Practice Day. Should a car's materials cost be greater than $1500, teams must pay a “fine” of 10 times the difference to the Canary Derby. This amount will count towards the team's overall fundraising goals.

Specific Safety Requirements

The following list of items are required for competition. Cars in the Canary Derby have reached speeds in excess of 35km/h. Please ensure your car provides the utmost level of safety for your driver, other competitors and spectators.

Note: Teams must ensure the following items are incorporated into the vehicle design in such a manor as to ensure the safety of the driver in the event of an accident or other incident.

• A safety restraint system for drivers (ie: seatbelt / harness). It is recommended teams evaluate the use of a four-point harness system in search for a safety restraint solution.
• A roll bar with a high point that is above the top of the driver's helmet when the driver is in racing position.
• A headrest capable of restraining any sudden backward movement of the head
• Vehicles with an open cockpit should ensure the driver's neck and head are a minimum of 8” away from the edge of the cars bodywork.
• All vehicles must have a 2.5” tow hook placed at the rear of the car. This hook will be used to secure the cars while they are being transported from the finish line to the pit area.

MANDATORY CAR DIMENSIONS

• Total Car Width (measured at the car’s widest point):
  Maximum 40"
• Protrusion of axle beyond wheel hub:
  Maximum 1"
• Distance between the Rear Axel and the front of the car:
  Maximum 90"
• Front Wheel Placement:
  The front wheel of the car must be located behind the foremost part of the car’s body.
• No part of the car can extend beyond the starting gate when it is loaded on the ramp
• All external body parts must be fixed to the car and cannot move during race

CanaryStyle Judging Details:

CanaryStyle cars will be judged on a 50-point system using the following criteria:

1. Creativity in Car Design (20 points)
   Cars will be judged in the creativity of the components, features, design, paint schemes, etc.
2. Team Spirit / Enthusiasm (20 points)
   Teams will be judged on the number of team members who come to watch the races, their attire, enthusiasm, etc.
3. Crowd Response (10 points)
   Judges will evaluate the crowd's response to the car during each run and will assess points based on the number of people cheering and the volume of cheering

Cars will be judged by a panel of “VIP Canaries” located at the inside of the turn on the race course. Each car will receive two practice races and one individual race. The individual race will be judged for points - the practice races will not. The two cars with the highest scores will be entered into Canary Style Finals in which they will race side-by-side.

In the event more than two cars tie for the top score, a best of three ‘round robbin’ match of Rochambo will be used to determine the qualifiers. The rules will be in accordance with the World RPS Society and will judged by the Race Director.

Picking a Champion:
The winner of the Canary Style Finals will be selected by the judges based on the Crowd Response only.

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Notice about rule changes from 2007:

We have tried to keep the rules as static as possible, while including feedback from teams. The biggest change this year will be the new ramps being created by Camosun College. These ramps have not been completed, so exact measurements are not available. Teams should prepare to design their cars to be able to run off a ramp with an angle of attack of up to 20 degrees. More details on the ramps will be made available as soon as possible.

While these new rules will allow for new and more innovative designs, safety is paramount. All cars must meet the mandatory official dimensions and pass the safety inspection or they will not be allowed to race. If you are unsure whether your car design will violate these rules, teams can consult with the race director as needed.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the race director.

Care must be taken to keep the center of gravity as low as possible.

All cars must meet the mandatory official dimensions and pass the safety inspection prior to the race or they will not be allowed to participate. A pre-event technical inspection and test runs will be made possible on Saturday June 9. Details to follow.

Helpful Links:

• Rule Summary Notice Board
• Wheels are available at soapboxracing.com
• For those who are interested - there is an Adult Soap Box Derby in Portland in August. perhaps some of the teams might want to take their show on the road?? The website for the event is http://www.soapboxracer.com/ - be sure to check out the gallery - lots of great images for inspiration. I especially like the one of the car that's made from the old wooden kayak.
• Feeling even more adventurous?? check out extreme gravity racing. they're taking this to a whole new level.