How to make a Pinewood Derby Exciting???

Feb 23, 2014
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I'll be taking over our Packs Pinewood Derby next year. And this year they powered through it as fast as possible. Seems like there could be a lot more we could do to make it fun for everyone.

What have you guys seen?

Thanks
 
Having a good MC with a mic treating it like a real race car event really helps get the kids involved. Taking time to show off a few of the cars. Especially ones that are more show and not likely to actually win a race.
 
I May Be Doing Our Packs As Well, My Opinion Is To Get The Kids Involved Get Them Excited And Make The EVent fun
 
Like ngyoung said, a good MC helps. It took some time but we had a fog machine and the MC announce the racers and their car names before we started. We had a guy bring in NASCAR tires and a bumper for pictures. One thing I'm doing next year will be to put the track up higher so everyone can see the race. We also have a projector to project the heat times on the wall.
 
our biggest issue is as you all implied....trying to not only get the kids attention but then KEEP it for the duration of the event....

Mid America is awesome (although I haven't been there but based on the description and pics and videos, there is a whole bunch of other stuff there to keep the kids going....lego cars, food booths, games etc. Now this is a HUGE event so it makes a lot of sense to have that....

Smaller packs where its just your own pack and boys and parents, probably not cost effective to do all the other stuff however so itll have to be centered around the race itself....

using that bullhorn, making the kids countdown, putting flashing lights that go off with a siren everytime a car breaks the track record, a small prize for say the winner of each race (something small and not expensive that kids like)....

I went to a party where there were games and the winner of the games got play money or tokens and at the end they could use it to "buy" stuff from a table of things....something like that might work....for each race, first gets 4 tokens, 2nd 3 tokens, 3 2 tokens, 4 1 token....at the end of the race each kids car should have raced 4 times so people can do the math....u then take your tokens and go spend it on a table on the side that has a bunch of small prizes .... this way every kid wins something no matter where they place....they can also share their tokens if they don't use em all which is good sportsmanship...you can also win tokens for other things like best in show for a variety of categories....most original, most KID made (LOL), most cub scoutish LOL...etc....now all the kids have a reason to want to race or make a cool looking car or both....of course the prizes must be of interest to the kids as well...this may take a bit more thought to come up.

I went to a recent golf tournament where last place actually got the best prize and first thru third were average! (keeps the sandbaggers who fudge their handicaps honest!) Maybe last 3 car places get to pull a prize from a grabbag which has say a bunch of small ok prizes, but also one big one...

How about a prize for the car that hits exactly a pre-determined time down to the .00xx...

Target Car practice! Make a car or cars with a big sail target on it and have it run down the track and groups of kids (4 at most likely) can try to hit them off the track with nerf balls and if they do the group wins a prize (depending on how many they get)....u can run this before, in between while switching dens, and after....and allow kids to make groups of 4 and each gp has one chance....throwing the balls from outside the roped off area....

Bulldozer run....put a nerf ball or other soft object blockade about 2/3 or the way down the track and see which cars can break thru and still make it to the finish line....again something done before or perhaps better, after their real race runs LOL....

How about after the races, you run a "reverse" car race with prizes that includes a trophy that is made to be upside down LOL...(someone might need to get a regular one and adjust it haha....and fact is our rail running cars or anyone making cars like it will likely be screwed up if run in reverse I bet while the "straight" running cars would be just fine LOL)....

For those that think this defeats the purpose of a competition if everyone wins something, the trophies are still reserved for the final placers in each den and pack so there is still that advantage.

open outlaw classes are fun for the adults.....I think u can try one of two ways....make it COMPLETELY open with no rules other than no flame rockets (which are dangerous LOL)....and see what happens LOL...for those that think the CO2 powered car would win, well ive seen a few of those to know that its 50 50 if it stays on the track and if it goes off that's a DQ run so even those are not automatic wins) that would be fun to see cars flying off the track and crashing (as long as the area is roped off and perhaps remove your expensive electronic finish line LOL)....or seeing what people come up with for external propulsion....or go the other way and give a preset kit to your parents and say u can only use a drill a saw and sandpaper and graphite and see what comes out of it and make first place a fun prize for the adults!

Just some ideas I had....I also have been asked to help next season so I am thinking about it as well here and there!

WK
 
If you can run the software for Dynamic scheduling- race will be super exciting, upwards of 80% of the kids will win a race and it minimizes slow car against fast car real quick. Might get all racers to pick up their own cars and place in the box or tray to be returned to the race area by an adult helper.
 
Definitely do not use the Stearns Method to run the event. It can have 25% chance of not choosing the fastest car on the track. But it makes parents happy because it runs in a time certain. Our district pulled this bone head move this year. The Lady announcing the finishers was so confused by the results that she had to triple check the goofy results.
 
Obsessedderbydad said:
Like ngyoung said, a good MC helps. It took some time but we had a fog machine and the MC announce the racers and their car names before we started. We had a guy bring in NASCAR tires and a bumper for pictures. One thing I'm doing next year will be to put the track up higher so everyone can see the race. We also have a projector to project the heat times on the wall.

Awww man! You gotta be kidding me! It is so nonchalant in this area that I want to move!
 
Play kids top 40 music during check-in. Don't forget to throw in a handful of rock'n tunes for the dads.

Slideshow of cool pinewood derby cars on the big screen to go along with the music.

DeryFX sound affects during racing.

With DerbyDMV software you can create drivers licenses for all the scouts.

Enter car names into the race software.

Add an open class for siblings and parents.

Award trophies for speed and design

Don't go cheap on the trophies and award plenty for rank, overall, design awards, and open class.

Take pictures of the cars of the design winners to display on the big screen during the awards ceremony, so everyone can see the winning cars.

Pick a good MC that makes it fun.

Buy a lift kit for the track so people past the first row can see the race.

Good communication with the parents prior to race day and after race day. Make sure everyone gets a copy of the rules, an information sheet with date, times, place, track info, and list awards. Give a handout with district race info to all the winning scouts that are advancing to the district race. Email standings and race reports to all parents after the race.
 
cygnus said:
Play kids top 40 music during check-in. Don't forget to throw in a handful of rock'n tunes for the dads. Slideshow of cool pinewood derby cars on the big screen to go along with the music. DeryFX sound affects during racing. With DerbyDMV software you can create drivers licenses for all the scouts. Enter car names into the race software. Add an open class for siblings and parents. Award trophies for speed and design Don't go cheap on the trophies and award plenty for rank, overall, design awards, and open class. Take pictures of the cars of the design winners to display on the big screen during the awards ceremony, so everyone can see the winning cars. Pick a good MC that makes it fun. Buy a lift kit for the track so people past the first row can see the race. Good communication with the parents prior to race day and after race day. Make sure everyone gets a copy of the rules, an information sheet with date, times, place, track info, and list awards. Give a handout with district race info to all the winning scouts that are advancing to the district race. Email standings and race reports to all parents after the race.

Can I come?

Keep it organized so the race can move swiftly. Every lul kills the buzz, too many and it's dead.
 
IAE Racing said:
Can I come?

As they say in Minnie-SODA . . . You Betcha! You're always welcome, IAE.

IAE Racing said:
Keep it organized so the race can move swiftly. Every lul kills the buzz, too many and it's dead.

+1 - Gotta keep things rolling or the little ones get restless.