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Why Do You Have a Pinewood Derby?

Have you ever considered the question, "Why Do You Have a Pinewood Derby"? I know I hadn't until I ran across a posting in the DerbyTalk Forum (http://www.derbytalk.com) that posed that question.

My immediate response was, "To have fun building and racing cars". I suppose this purpose is okay, but it is not the only possible reason for holding a race. Other reasons to hold a derby can include education, competition, parent involvement, and others.

Why do you need to have a purpose for the event? Because effective events have a purpose, and all of the promotion, activities, and awards are focused on reinforcing that purpose. Seriously, if you have no purpose, then why have the event?

Can the event have more than one purpose? I believe so, but I recommend limiting the number of goals you are trying to achieve. Trying to meet one or two goals can be accomplished; trying to reach more goals is a recipe for failure.

In this article I will suggest several possible reasons for holding a pinewood derby race, and provide some ideas as to how these purposes can be reinforced through the event promotion, activities, and awards. My goal is to convince each of you to determine your purpose(s) for holding a pinewood derby race, and to make sure the race actually achieves the desired outcome.

REASON 1 - EDUCATION
Holding a pinewood derby race for the purpose of teaching the children in the organization is certainly a reasonable goal. But you must first decide what exactly you want to teach and whether the children are old enough for the topic.

Some teaching possibilities include: woodworking, physics, and machine tool use. Generally, this race purpose is best for older children.

Woodworking


- Promotion
o Focus on craftsmanship and modeling
o Offer 'Show Division' (cars not raced) and 'Race Division' (optional)
o Prizes downplayed

- Activities
o Wood tool training
o Workshop for car body building
o Field trip to professional wood shop

- Awards
o Best shape
o Best car model
o Best non-car model

Physics Principles

- Promotion
o Focus on how cars perform
o Actual event can be time trials to test theories
o Prizes optional or downplayed

- Activities
o Demonstration of basic physics principles
o Car configuration experiments
o Field trip to science museum

- Awards
o Fastest car
o Best use of weight
o Most consistent times

Machine Tool Use

- Promotion
o Focus on precision
o Offer 'Show Division' (cars not raced) and 'Race Division' (optional)
o Prizes optional or downplayed

- Activities
o Machine tool training
o Workshop for wheel/axle prep
o Field trip to machine shop

- Awards
o Best craftsmanship
o Most consistent times

REASON 2 - COMPETITION
If the purpose of your event is simply a competition, then you can choose between holding a serious race, or a less serious race with a focus on sportsmanship. I believe serious racing should only be held for adults (corporate races, WIRL, etc.), whereas with children the focus should be on sportsmanship.

Serious Competition

- Promotion
o Focus on making the fastest car
o Win 'Bragging rights'
o Identify prizes (make them worthwhile)

- Activities
o None required, but a workshop could be made available

- Awards
o Fastest car
o Best Design

Sportsmanship

- Promotion
o Focus on building a fast car
o "Do your best"
o Help a friend
o Build as a team
o Downplay awards

- Activities
o Sportsmanship lesson
o General building workshop

- Awards
o Fastest team car
o Best design, selected through participant voting (be careful that this isn't a popularity contest)
o Sportsmanship awards for helping, encouraging, etc.

REASON 3 - PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
In some groups, getting the parents involved is an important goal. Since pinewood derby racing appeals to most Dads (and some Moms) it can be a way to get more parental participation.

- Promotion
o "We need you" theme
o Consider using pre-cut cars to minimize the need for tools
o Consider offering a parent car and a child car, and let them race against each other
o Pass out simple 'how-to' information
o Downplay awards

- Activities
o Offer several workshops, parents required at workshop

- Awards
o Fastest car
o 'Child beats parent' awards
o Best Design, selected through parent voting

REASON 4 - FUNDRAISING
A pinewood derby can be a good fundraiser, but I don't recommend the event as the primary pinewood derby race. Instead, hold a regular pinewood derby race with a different purpose, and then hold a second race as a fundraiser. Get companies to sponsor the event by providing food, prizes, etc. Then charge a somewhat large entry fee (this is where your funds come from) and give out donation receipts. You can also ask companies to sponsor one or more entries, which can be built by members of your club (make sure to put the company name on the car).

- Promotion
o Allow entries from both inside and outside the organization
o Hold the event at a shopping center or a large store

- Activities
o Hold planning meetings to make sure the event runs smoothly

- Awards
o Provided by sponsors
o Fastest car
o Best design

REASONS 5 - RECRUITING
Since pinewood derby events are very exciting, if done properly your main race can also serve as a recruiting tool.

- Promotion
o Promote the event in the community (bulletin boards, local papers, libraries, schools, etc.)
o Hold the event in a public place (store, shopping mall, park, etc.)
o Have enrollment table with literature at a prominent place at the event
o Provide cars for guests to race in a fun race. Give a prize to everyone entered.

- Activities
o Hold planning meetings to make sure the event runs smoothly
o Hold a workshop to build extra cars for guests

- Awards
o Fastest car
o Best design
o Prize for all guests

REASON 6 - JUST FOR FUN
One of the best reasons to have a pinewood derby race, especially the first race for your group, is 'just for fun'. Basically, the event is organized to be exciting and enjoyable for all. The competitive aspect is downplayed (or non-existent).

- Promotion
o Promote the event as a fun time for all
o Decorate the venue in a festive manner
o Downplay awards, or promote silly/fun awards

- Activities
o Hold workshops
o Consider simpler kits that require less preparation
- Awards
o Fastest car and slowest car (optional)
o Best design, selected by participant voting
o Series of additional certificates such as 'Fastest Looking', 'Coolest', 'Silliest', 'Best non-Car', etc. Try to have a certificate for everyone.

CONCLUSION
So, what is your reason for holding a pinewood derby race? I know that this next year I am going to carefully select our purpose, and then focus the event on that purpose. I hope that you will do the same.

Read More at: Pinewood Derby Times Volume 6, Issue 6

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