So, what are some practical ideas to keep these cars out of your race? These ideas were gleaned from those mentioned in other threads. Hopefully, there are some ideas here that you can implement to help keep any eBay cars from showing up in your race. Not all ideas will work for every organization, so implement the ones that will work well for your organization.
- Make sure that your rules specifically state that the car must be kid built (with the assistance of an adult).
- When car kits are handed out, rules should also be handed out and explained.
- Have all kids and their parent/guardian sign a form that they understand and will comply with the rules, especially the kid built (with adult assistance) part. This would be more effective if done when the rules are handed out and explained rather than after cars are built.
- Stamp or brand each block with a hard to reproduce mark and require that all cars must have the mark in order to be checked-in. Though, this can limit the design possibilities for the builder.
- If your organization doesn't provide one or more workshops with needed tools, materials and guidance then you should. IMO, if an organization does not do this, they are failing their members, especially the novice builders.
- Make workshops mandatory.
- Turn regular meetings (den meetings, club nights, pack meetings, etc.) into workshops.
- Require racers to bring a photo of the unfinished car to check-in.
- Scrap the traditional hand out kits and come back later with the built car. Hand out the kits (maybe even pre-cuts) on race day, give racers an hour or two to build the cars with the provided tools and materials and then hold the race.