How to Track Race Results for a Pinewood Derby
Setting up a pinewood derby for Cub Scouts is a lot of work, but there is no more important aspect to hosting a successful event than having a fair, transparent method for determining the winners. The goal is to offer a fun and entertaining experience for all competitors. But, in the end, the racing structure you choose should reward what your participants would agree is the best race car in the competition.
Things You'll Need
- Racing software (optional)
- Construction paper or poster board
- Markers or pens
- Electronic timer system (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide how you will determine winners. The simplest, though more potentially controversial, method is to have volunteer or official spotters at the finish line. With up to six race cars hitting the finish line at close to the same time, it is best that you only determine winners for each heat; it is too difficult to assess second and third place accurately for each heat. This is also the least expensive method.
You also may choose to invest in electronic timers, which use sensors to determine winners and can also be used to record times and places of each of the entries. Electronic timers can cost more than $150 per lane, however; not all scout packs can afford such an investment in what is often only an annual event. Larger scouting organizations may have these available to rent to host packs/dens.
-
2
Decide how you will compile the results. You can choose electronic software. There are a number of companies that offer pinewood derby software products, including DerbyMaster (enterprisingideas.com), RaceVIEW (raceview.com), and GrandPrix Sofware Central (grandprix-software-central.com). You will need a computer--and ideally a printer--at your host site to utilize this method.
You may decide to download a program written by other race organizers, some of which are simple spreadsheet programs. This link is a good source for those race sheet: wtrfrd.com/pack339/downloads.htm.
Alternately, you may just decide on a simple ladder bracket for an elimination tournament (see below). These bracket templates are used in many sporting events and can be found easily online and transferred to poster board before the event.
-
-
3
Decide the type of race structure for crowning your champion.
Elimination: This can be a single-, double- or triple-elimination method and is often a head-to-head competition. Single-elimination events will eliminate an entry after one loss and will crown a winner quicker. Double- or triple-elimination allows for a "bad race" or drawing a slow lane and also is more enjoyable and creates less pressure on the scouts (and their families). But it will take a little longer, so adjust your event accordingly.
Pools: Racers can be placed in a small group to compete, with the winner of that group moving on to the next round. Because there can be a disparity in lane assignments, it is best that multiple races are held in each pool--with the cars being placed in different lanes for each race--so that the impact of a bad lane can be negated.
Loss method: Keep track of the number of losses each entry has. Once a car has reached a set number of losses, they are eliminated from the competition. The winner is the entry which is the last one to have no losses. You must be certain that every car races the same number of times for this method to be fair.
Elapsed time method: If you are using timers, you can add times of individual cars to determine winners based on lowest elapsed times.
Rating method: All races are predetermined, and at the end, a rating or point system assigns values to an entry's finishes. The race car with the highest number of points is the winner. Each car needs to race the same number of times, and should start from each lane of the track once.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be sure that, whatever scoring method you choose, you inform all your participants in advance. This will help avoid confusion and reduce the chances for disagreements during the event.
Print out results in a timely fashion and post publicly. If you aren't using a computer program, use markers and display paper (or 3x5 cards) to display current results.
