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Pinewood Derby Mania!
These guys have a great system laid out for
organizing their Pinewood Derby. There's some great advice here, and you
not ask for a more detailed layout.
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THE "PWD" COMMITTEE
A successful and fun
Pinewood Derby is highly dependent on the work of the "Pinewood Derby
Committee." Begin to assemble this group of volunteers early in the Scouting
year. It is important to try to bring in several Pinewood 'veterans' to
maintain the continuity you get from 'experienced people' who know what
works (and what doesn't.) Conversely, it is very important to recruit some
'first-timers' as well. They'll be running the Derby in a couple of years!
The following job descriptions illustrate the responsibilities of each
functional position:
- Chairman :
This individual is responsible for all Committee coordination activities.
Strong organizational, motivational, and leadership skills are required
here. The Chairman will typically host two or three meetings in the months
prior to the Derby to collect and coordinate the status of all of the
other Committee members, and to assign/coordinate additional tasks. During
the races, the Chairman will also act as the behind the scenes coordinator
of the event, coordinating solutions to all unforeseen 'emergencies' should
(when) they arise.
- Master of Ceremonies :
The MC is the Committee 'mouth' during the Derby. He / she announces all
races and racers, all results, and all other general communications during
the event. The MC also presents all trophies, certificates, and medals to
event winners during and after the Derby. Your Cubmaster is a good bet for
the Master of Ceremonies.
- Rules Team :
This team is responsible for the creation, approval, and distribution of
the 'car construction' and 'race procedure' rules. Don not underestimate
the importance of doing a quality job here. The Rules Team can consist of
all interested Pinewood Derby Committee members. Key players in the
process is the Derby Chairperson, the Registration Team, and the
Trackmaster Team, even though all committee members can participate. To
learn more about rules and procedures, please visit our pages on
"Pinewood Derby
Rules."
- Sponsors Team :
The Sponsors Team is responsible to locate local businesses and
organizations that will contribute decoration items, 'giveaways,' and
raffle goodies. It is amazingingly simple to get community support for
your event. Remember though... if you are a BSA unit, and you plan to make
a profit from your race, a
Unit Money-earning
Application form (BSA A-136) must be filled our by the Unit, and
approved by the Council prior to accepting donations of 'goods' from local
businesses. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view this form. You can
download it FREE
here.)
- Construction Clinics Team :
You should run two car construction clinics prior to your Derby. The first
about 6 to 8 weeks prior to the races, and the second about 2 to 3 weeks
before. These are hosted by individuals that understand woodworking, tool
safety, and Derby car construction techniques.
- Pit Crew Team :
A team of individuals that come together during the race to assist with
wheel / axle lubrication and any car repairs that might be necessary
should cars 'fly' off of the track, or get dropped, etc. This is also a
good 'second job' for your Construction Clinics Team.
- Track Setup and Repair Team :
Also known as the "Trackmaster Team." Try to get at least one individual
to fill this role for EACH track used for your event. They assemble the
tracks and timers in the weeks before the race, and effect any repairs
that might be necessary. During the races the Trackmasters are also
responsible for keeping the tracks fast-and-smooth.
- Registration Team :
We typically require that cars be turned in for impound before our
Derbies. This occurs on a Friday and Monday afternoon one week prior to
the races. We have two individuals responsible for check-in, weighing, and
conformance to our rules on duty during this period. These individuals
MUST be very familiar with the car construction rules. This can be a
'tough' job!
- Starters :
Two to three individuals per track are responsible for staging and
starting cars, and ferrying cars from the 'finish-line' to the
'starting-line' during the races.
- Decorations Team :
These individuals are responsible for all Derby-day decorations. This
involves decoration acquisition from purchased sources, and locating
businesses that are willing to donate decorations. Auto parts and tire
shops are GREAT sources! On the eve of Derby day the Decorations Team is
responsible for arranging all event decorations. Check out their
handiwork
here!
- Finishers :
Two to three persons per track are responsible for working the finish-line
during the races. This job involves judging car finish order (as a backup
for the electronic timers) and ferrying cars to the start-line.
Check out our
"Finish Line Team."
- Refreshments Team :
This Team of two or three persons are responsible for the purchase,
set-up, and sale of snacks during the event. Typically, the Pack should
take in slightly more funds than their refreshments outlay.
- Crowd Control / Cub Escorts :
Our Den Leaders are each responsible for helping their Cubs with race day
logistics (and behavior.) They also help with some of the more difficult
lessons that Cubs learn about 'sportsmanship' during the races!
- Results Chart Team :
This year our "Results Chart Team" developed elimination charts based on
the
"Perfect-N"
method with each car racing the same number of times in each lane, and
each car racing the same number of times against each other car. This
method was used at three levels: the 'Den,' the 'semi-finals,' and the
'finals.' To report current race statistics to all participants and
families, our "Results Chart Team" developed a large felt-Velcro chart
that included a personalized Velcroed car symbol for each racer and
special areas for each Den and race category. As race data comes in from
the Finish-line Teams, they are reflected on the Results Chart. This
allows participants see what is coming up next and illustrates each Cub's
current status. This REALLY works well!
- Awards Team :
The awards team is responsible for developing an award program for the
races, and moving it through an approval process by the Cubmaster and
Committee Chairman. The awards person then purchases trophies and medals,
and coordinates the making of certificates. We award trophies for the six
fastest cars, medals for first thru third place in each Den, and really
nice personalized certificates, pins, patches, etc. for all participants.
- Cleanup Team :
All of our Committee members (and maybe some volunteer parents) help with
post-event cleanup.
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THE SCHEDULE OF PWD PLANNING EVENTS
This page discusses the planning events and
timeframes that need to occur in the months prior to your Pinewood
Derby. While you can do an OK Derby with only 45 days planning, you can
do a GREAT Derby if you take 5 months to plan it. Your boys will
remember it all of their lives!
Probably, the best time to start planning
for next year's Pinewood Derby is during this year's Derby. This is the
best time to observe what works and what doesn't. Take time to make
observations, and write a few things down to jog your memory for next
year. Also, please note that there is nothing 'official' about the
following schedule.
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Sign-ups for Pinewood
Derby Committee |
September
15th |
Done during School Night For Scouting, provide
a sign-up sheet for each Pinewood Derby Committee position you would
like to fill. See our pages on
"PWD Committee Roles and Responsibilities."
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1st Pinewood Derby
Committee Meeting |
November
10th |
Bring your new team together for the first
time. Go through introductions. Distribute phone numbers, e-mail
addresses, etc. Review last year's Pinewood Derby. What did we do
'right'? What do we need to do 'better'? Discuss roles and assign
responsibilities. Distribute draft rules, discuss / approve / modify
them. Discuss need for decorations / raffle sponsorships. Ask all team
members to get out there and shake the bushes for sponsorships.
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Distribute Pinewood Derby
Kits |
November
20th |
Hand out Pinewood Derby kits and "Official
Rules" at November Pack meeting. See our
"Deliver the Kit Skit"
pages for a unique and exciting way to hand out those kits!
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1st Pinewood Derby Clinic
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December
10th |
Provide 1st clinic to help boys and their
helpers get started. Use classroom to discuss speed tips and design
methods. Use shop set-up to rough cut car blocks. Bring official scale.
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2nd Pinewood Derby Clinic
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January
15th |
Get late starters moving. Answer tons of
questions. Bring official scale.
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Pinewood Derby Car
Registration |
January
23rd |
First weigh-in, registration / impound. Each
car must pass a technical inspection before it may compete. The
Inspection Committee should disqualify cars which do not meet the rules
as approved by the committee. If a car does not pass inspection, the
owner should be informed of the reason his car did not pass. Cars which
fail the initial inspection may be taken home for modifications and
brought back for the "Late Registration.'
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Pinewood Derby Car Late
Registration |
January
25th |
Second weigh-in, registration, and impound. For
late comers, and those that failed initial inspection.
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Pinewood Derby Event
Set-up |
January
29th |
Bring entire committee together for event
set-up. (Consider doing an "Adults Race" after set-up. You might even
ask for a a registration fee from racers to recover some of your Derby
expenses.)
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Pinewood Derby Event!
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January
30th |
"Gentleman, start your engines!"
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PLANNING AND EXECUTING A PINEWOOD
DERBY
Successful Cub
Scouting events, like the Pinewood Derby, require advanced planning and
lots of parental involvement. Listed below are sources of free
information that will guide you towards a successful event for the Pack,
and a fun experience for your Cubs and their families.
See our section entitled "Misc. Derby Supplies" for additional
planning accessories that can be purchased to assist you delivering a
quality program.
Many Pinewood
Derby's have come and gone over the last 4 decades. Learn where this
Derby 'stuff' came from, and who our forbearers were. (Our thanks to
Randy Worcester for this great research job!)
Conducting Pinewood Derby Races
"Aside from
assuring that everyone has a "rocking good time" (i.e. fun), plan pack
racing so that the fairness of the method is obvious, even to the most
casual observer. Results should be dependent only on The Cub, The Car,
and Chance, and not on anyone's arbitrary decision, such as chart
number assignments. Better yet... use an accurate, fair method...."
Roles of the Pinewood Derby Committee
A
successful and fun Pinewood Derby is highly dependent on the work of
the "Pinewood Derby Committee." Assemble this group of volunteers
early in the race year. These pages include job descriptions that
illustrate the responsibilities of each of a successful Pinewood
Derby's functional positions.
Derby Planning Event Calendar
This
page discusses the planning events and timeframes that need to occur
in the months prior to your Pinewood Derby. While you can do an OK
Derby with only 45 days planning, you can do a GREAT Derby if you take
5 months to plan it. Your boys will remember it all of their lives!
Pinewood Derby Rules
How
many times have you heard this question? The reason that the question
gets asked so often is because one can encounter considerable
confusion in interpreting the "guidelines" that are published in
several BSA documents.
Pinewood Derby Model Car Racing
A nice
Pinewood Derby Planning guide from the U.S. Scouting Service Project.
See their "Ten Steps to a Successful Derby" pages
Race Methods for a Shape N Race Derby
This
document describes ways to determine which derby cars are the fastest.
It should be useful to organizers of any similar race event (e.g.,
model sailboat or model rocket races), since it addresses logistical
issues that are applicable to any race event, and isn't tied to the
specific details of model car races like the Shape N Race Derby or the
Pinewood Derby.
The Night Before Pinewood
A skit
from Jay Jenkins. Jay says: "My den and I wrote this poem in 1994.
They performed a skit at a pack meeting based on it, but it would also
work as just a poem. They had a lot of fun with it, and it helped them
earn their Showman pin. I have received a few requests for it, so here
it is for anyone that would like to use it."
Pinewood Derby Songs and Yells
Part
of the fun of a big event like the Pinewood Derby is showing spirit
through participation. Most Cub Scouts have a few intense minutes in
the limelight of competition, but spend most of their time spectating
and rooting for their fellow Scouts. The entire experience can be
enriched with a little audience participation in songs, stunts, or Den
yells. Here are a few to get started.
Pinewood Derby Awards
Another page from the Ultimate Pinewood Derby Site includes some great
ideas on making every boy a winner!
Pinewood Derby Car Plaques from Stan
Each
Cub that brings a car to this Pack's Derby gets a plaque to take home.
This page describes the entire process of creating your own
recognitions for the hard-working Cubs in your Pack.
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These are "Sample
Rules and Procedures" from the good 'ol "Cub Scout Leader How-To Book" (BSA
No. 33832.) They are very simple, but can provide a good starting point for
your Committee to define a more comprehensive version. |
SAMPLE PINEWOOD DERBY RULES
All cars must pass the following inspection to qualify for the race:
- Width shall not exceed 2-1/4 inches.
- Length shall not exceed 7 inches.
- Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces.
- Axles, wheels, and body shall be from the materials provided in the
kit.
- Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
- No lubricating oil may be used. Axles may be lubricated with powdered
graphite or silicone.
- The car shall not ride on any kind of spring.
- The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices
- No loose materials of any kind are allowed in the car.
PINEWOOD DERBY PROCEDURE
- Each boy brings his car to the inspection table to have it inspected
and numbered.
- After inspection, the boy goes to the registration table where his
name and car are entered on the heat schedule.
- After registration and inspection, cars are brought to the starter's
table by dens.
- As each heat is announced, drivers place their own cars at starting
gate. Starter releases the gate.
- Judges at the finish line will determine results of the race. The car
whose nose is first over the finish line is the winner. Judges will pick
first, second, and third places.
- Winner of heat takes his car to the awards platform. After receiving
his ribbon, he goes to the spectator area to await his next heat.
- Losers of each heat take their cars to the starter for the second
running, which will determine the second-place car for the heat.
- If a car leaves the track, runs out of its lane, interferes with
another car, or loses an axle or other part, let it run in the next heat
if it can be repaired quickly. In the first heat of a den race, if a car
jumps the track, it is judged as finishing last.
- After first, second, and third place winners have been selected in
each preliminary heat, run as many quarter-final and semifinal heats as
necessary to determine contestants for the final heat.
- Den winners are determined first. The first three places from each den
will advance to the championship heats. The remaining drivers participate
in consolation heats.
TIPS ON PLANNING AND CONDUCTING DERBY
- Have a pre-race inspection of cars about a week before the derby to
catch all possible problems before race time. This minimizes
disqualifications and disappointments.
- Have a meeting prior to the derby to orient officials with their jobs.
- Use some type of board to post the derby's progress, such as with tags
on hooks.
- Some packs use an instant-developing camera to photograph the finish.
This simplifies picking the winners in a close race, and the photo can be
given to the winner.
- Consider using judges from outside the pack to prevent parent problems
when a boy doesn't win.
- Have some activity planned for about 15 minutes after completion of
registration, to allow time to organize den heats.
- Have some activity planned between den finals and pack heats to allow
time for organizing the next heats.
- Have enough ribbons and awards so that every Cub Scout can take home
an award.
Copyright ©, 1996, Boy Scouts of America, All Rights Reserved
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