Bill,<br><br>You might want to take another look at the enclosed instructions/suggestions. Also you may want to look at a booklet from the BSA titled "Grand Prix..." (mine is already packed in our PWD kit for the big event tomorrow, l& I forgot the subtitle. It discusses the PWD, & some other projects culminating in races. The rules mentioned are only provided as samples or examples. <br><br>Fairly common rules relate to maximum length, width, weight, minimum ground clearance, restriction to BSA wheels & axles, prohibition of using any power other than gravity & fast start devices. Frequently wheel tracks/treads cannot be changed. Practical height limitations may also exist. Sometimes the axle locations cannot be shifted.<br><br>See also, Car Talk re PWD cars, & "The Pope's Place" (No, not that one. ;-} I think his name is Stan Pope. He has a very good website, at least re BSA)<br><br>At the risk of sounding like a lawyer (sorry, sometimes I just can't help it :-} ), it really is helpful to read & ponder the rules. That way you not only know your rights & obligations, but you also need to know what is available. That can stimulate a lot of creativity & fun. The rules exist to provide fair & level playing field where everyone can compete to the utmost of his ingenuity & industry. You can really do some fairly mechanically sophisticated stuff with nothing more than an electric drill & vise ( at least by my primitive standards) , as well as other common hand tools. <br><br>Anyway, we're all looking forward to the race. (Actually, PWD, Wife's B-day, & F's day all in 1 weekend is a little much for us.) After the official CSA derby, adults, BS, & veteran CS will compete with their often experienced fastest car from the past. So you really can tell how the old-time champions would fare against modern competitors. <br><br>So, we're all getting excited over it. BTW, my 1st year Webelo did do a lot of the work himself (just as the BSA materials suggest that that the Cub Scouts try to do much of the work themselves {with their father/whomever}. But, don't forget some use of power tool(s) can help. A Cub needs to see what to do & how to optimize. And we had to go to 3 hardware stores to get the right tools (properly sized bolts, etc, & drill bit). BTW, forget the mega-chain stores. I was brushed off so fast, from a chain where I have PREVIOUSLY spent thousands of dollars that I was truly impressed (negatively). A very knowledgeable clerk at a mom&pop hardware spent 20 minutes on us notwithstanding a potential sale under $1.!!! He called a specialty hardware which had our product. Due to our urgent need, he sent us directly there. They had the specialized products we needed. We splurged & spent $6.88. Now why is it that Mega-chain has just lost another customer, and Mom&Pop just made a new one. Maybe 1 family doesn't matter; many individual families do. I hope others are & have been quicker to wise up than I have been.<br><br>Sorry about the rant. Anyway, we'll see how it goes tomorrow (8 hours & counting down).<br><br>Yours in scouting,<br><br>John