RIVET / THE PIT-WALL ARCHIVE
Ask the Derby archive.
Rivet, the red-helmet Race Shop pit coach, searches Soapbox Speed Lab's Derby archive and knowledge base while keeping every useful source beside the answer.

PIT COACH + ARCHIVE CURATOR
Start with the question. Leave with the sources.
Ask about rules, build plans, setup procedure, Derby Tech history, racers, cities, tracks, or race records. Rivet searches the indexed site and source registry first. When an AI model is available, it composes a source-grounded explanation; without one, the archive search still returns a useful answer.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PIT WALL
Begin with a real job.
Choose one to open Rivet with the complete question, or write your own in the archive drawer.
ANSWER + EVIDENCE
The citation is part of the answer.
Rivet does not hide whether an answer used AI or archive-only search. Every response keeps its mode visible and links into the records it actually checked.
Question Where should I start before aligning the spindles?
Example answer Establish the rule and car state first, then verify the fixture, record the untouched load map, triangulate the chassis references, and check the axle plane. A spindle reading cannot repair an unverified upstream reference.
WHAT RIVET WILL NOT PRETEND
A helpful answer is not a rules ruling.
Independent
Rivet is a Soapbox Speed Lab feature, not an ISBD or NDR official, inspector, or representative.
Source-grounded
Answers come from the indexed archive and knowledge base. Source links remain available for direct review.
Rule-first
The current official rule book, division plan, event instructions, race officials, and inspectors outrank every summary here.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the primary material.
- ISBD Rule Book - linked for the 2026 World Championship Official PDF currently linked from Race Week resources; the file itself says revised June 2025.
- ISBD race divisions and build plans Official division descriptions, age bands, weights, plans, and Legacy information.
- Derby Tech bibliographic leads Secondary bibliography for issues still missing. Retained for the runs that have not yet been located.