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Organizing a Successful Pinewood Derby Event

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The tips below can help you plan a virtually trouble-free, completely fun day! For more complete information, click on the link above, 'Free Book - How to run the Pinewood Derby.'

When should we run our race?

The short answer is a week after your 'Tune-Up Night'. (See the next question.) The longer answer is that with the SuperTimer II/RaceManager system, the race is organized into distinct periods much like a hockey or basketball game. This allows for planned breaks. Several of our users have told us that they now organize their race around noon on a Saturday. This allows one of the breaks to be lunch--a painless fund-raiser that further contributes to the family fun experience that the best Pinewood Derbies can be.

What is a 'Tune-Up Night'?

Did you ever disqualify a car because it weighed too much? Did you ever have a car continuously jump the lane? Or have its wheels fall off? Waiting until race day to "test a prototype" is a dangerous and potentially very disappointing experience. The solution (and part of creating the positive racer/parent/organization experience) is to have a 'Tune-Up Night' about a week before the actual race. Set up SuperTrack and SuperTimer without the RaceManager. Let each racer get in line and race their car as many times as they wish making whatever changes they wish (OR NEED!) Set SuperTimer II up to give the times for each lane so each racer can hear the result of their changes. Adults call it 'Research and Development.' Kids call it FUN!

What are things to judge besides winners?

Most Packs run style contests as well judging things like fastest looking, most original, etc. Be sure you don't give an award to someone who purchased a pre-carved kit from a hobby house. We've seen Model T's, school buses (two kits, one on top of the other) and stretch limos (two kits, one in front of the other).

If by 'winners' you mean only first, second, etc., then be sure to read about our Team results as well as our new Teamwork Award that goes to the team with the smallest difference between their first and last place cars.

What are the rules?

There are no universally accepted rules. We always preach, "Educate and Innovate, Don't Legislate!" That is, make the rules simple and minimal, allow creative approaches and tell everyone about them. And, don't forget to think through the rules about the actual race such as, "What do you do if a car jumps out of its lane?" Here are some suggestions, but you should be aware that the rules you make for your race may not be in agreement with the rules at the next competition level. Be sure your rules can be easily enforced and think through how you will enforce them.

1. Set a weight limit and use a precision (not a Weight Watchers) scale. Will you allow the car to be modified if it is over or under weight? How often? A good idea is to set a "close enough" limit.


2. Set a length limit and make a box for each car to fit it so this can be measured quickly with no argument.


3. Provide the kits and insist the kits be used. Beware of pre-cut "look alikes" available from hobby shops.


4. If you build the Pinewood Track right and educate the racers, no car should ever jump the track. However, there's always somebody who doesn't get the word. So, a good idea for a rule is that if somebody jumps the track and doesn't interfere with another car, they get a "did not finish." If they did interfere, re-run the heat. If they jump again, get somebody to fix the car. (This is also known as "give the kid a chance to have a positive experience.")

What to do with an illegal car?

This has always been a thorny topic. We believe that in most cases the problem is with the parent and not with the racer. We believe the car should be allowed to race and (quietly) not allowed to win. No fuss. Take the parent aside and quietly explain the reality. Avoid embarrasing the racer in front of his peers. Don't forget, having a 'Tune-Up Night' gives everyone a chance and time to avoid ever having an illegal car.

If you still find an illegal car there's another choice. We've added a special function to our RaceManager Pinewood Software program. If you use a period (".") as the first character of a the racer's first name (e.g. .Bob), the racer will appear in all schedules and run all heats, but will NOT appear in any speed reports and will not contribute or detract from the result of any team they are on.