The Emerald-Wood Derby is a car race similar to the traditional pinewood derby race, with a few less restrcitions.

There are 3 different leagues in which to compete:

Hatchling League: Hatchlings include all Clover Kids (and younger).

Dragon League: All 4-H members, 4th through 12th grade, are in the Dragon League.

Elder League: Parents (you know who you are) that have just been itching to get into the race yourselves, now's your chance. The Elder League is open to anyone who is too old to be a Clover Kid or 4-H member.

There are two classes in each league.

Gravity: Just what it sounds like. Gravity does all the work after you let the car go. Fastest time wins.

Powered: The powered class is for cars with some method of propulsion besides gravity. The specifics are up to you. The car that stays on the track for the longest distance wins. If there is more than 1 car that meets this goal, then the fastest time wins.

Some notes on powered vehicles.

All cars need to use the wheels and axles from the standard Pinewood Derby kit (available at Hobby Lobby or most anywhere online). You can get the wheels separately or get them in a kit with a block of wood. The wheel width is fixed, but you can play around with the wheel base (length) all you want. Though, if you make the car too long, it won't fit in the starting area. Be as creative as you like when making your car; there are no limits except those mentioned above.

The track is a little rough. We lay it outside on the ground in sections, so there is some un-evenness and some potentially rough transitions between track sections. We currently have about 18 meters of track total, but are hoping to lengthen that if materials can be found. Below is a cross-section of the track, so your car can be designed accordingly. The start area is only about 35 cm long, so if your car's wheel base is longer than that, it will hang off the end of the track.

This is not some over-formalized event with dozens of rules. Have fun, be creative, be safe.

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