Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

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SirStorm
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Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

Post by SirStorm »

In our organization we have 2 Honors (Patches or Badges if you will) for Pinewood Derby. The basic is build and race A car with other classwork related to woodworking and wheel prep and sportsmanship and how it relates to our Christian life.

The Advanced honor goes a bit deeper into all of that, but the actual CAR requirements are to build 3 cars. One simple, one complex and one non-car car (themed).

I should also point out the age groups are 5-7th grades 8-12th grades and staff (low participation here)

The argument being presented by some clubs is it is NOT FAIR to enter more than one car.

The other clubs (pointing out not just me) argue the completion and high point of building the car is THE RACE. All 3 cars should be eligible to race.

New this year is the Championship Race covering all clubs for Northern California. This is why a new sprit of standardizations of the rules has come to pass. The Championship Race will be the winners of the local races and will not exceed 100 cars.

I would like opinions to be limited to "your actual feelings" and reasons backing up that position.
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FatSebastian
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Re: Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

Post by FatSebastian »

SirStorm wrote:I would like opinions to be limited to "your actual feelings" and reasons backing up that position.
Considering that there is a constraint on the number of cars at the Championship level, limiting the number of entries per person seems reasonable at that level. I would suggest the following compromise. At the Club level, all three cars may be raced and awards given by whatever methods the Club sees fit. At the Championship level, advancing contestants must choose one of their three cars to race (presumably the fastest). It should be an easy thing for the builder's three cars to be raced directly against each other at the local level to determine which is most qualified for Championship-level competition.
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SirStorm
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Re: Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

Post by SirStorm »

To clarify, there IS NOT a maximum number of cars at the Championship.

The stated total is the "expected" total. There are 2 large preliminary events planned and a few small local preliminary events. It may be a larger event in a few years.

So, don't let your answers be dictated by "limiting the number of entries", this is not the issue at this time.
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FatSebastian
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Re: Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

Post by FatSebastian »

SirStorm wrote:There are 2 large preliminary events planned and a few small local preliminary events.
Because the activity seemingly intends to promote "Christian life", the decision should be considerate of Biblical principles. Because some clubs are claiming that running multiple cars per racer is "NOT FAIR", there may be a greater potential to create hard feelings or offence to others with that option. Beyond this, the organizational structure, the program goals of Pathfinders to be addressed by the question are not entirely clear to me personally.

Are there "local Club" (church) races? If so, does the "new spirit of standardizations of the rules" intend to legislate how local Clubs operate their races or choose their advancing winners? Or is the question simply about whether any individual should show up with more than one car at the Championship race?

This description of the Pinewood Derby - Advanced Honor (which may or may not be accurate) suggests that only a single car needs to compete:
11. Participate in a club, district, or conference sponsored Pinewood Derby event with a current car.
What program goal(s) are met by an individual racing three cars at the Championship level rather than racing one's "best" car?
Last edited by FatSebastian on Sat Oct 20, 2012 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

Post by gpraceman »

What about entering the extra cars in an open division? Then only one car is competing within that racers' age group.
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Awana Grand Prix and Pinewood Derby racing - Where a child, an adult and a small block of wood combine for a lot of fun and memories.
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SirStorm
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Re: Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

Post by SirStorm »

:) :)

Yes I understand. This is a first attempt at this Championship Race thing.

Our organization has not had a Championship for about 15 years. The venues dwindled to one main event open to all clubs an a smattering of individual clubs. Our club is hosting a 2nd event this year with money backed by the Northern California organization. They have divided the territory in half, one half attends the EASTERN race the other attends the WESTERN race. There might be 2 or 3 individual clubs. Those details are still getting worked out. Then the winners will meet at the Championships. As to the definition of "winners" that hasn't been nailed down but looks like 1st 2nd and 3rd from the different classes.

Hmmm, that may be more cars than I thought.

<<<<Your point may be more right on that I originally thought.>>>>>>
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Re: Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

Post by Darin McGrew »

Do the three cars need to be built in the same year? Or is the intent for someone to build 3 cars over 3 years, building a different type of car each year?

FWIW, we expect each person to enter only one car, but there have been people who built additional cars for someone else, and that someone else enters the car that was built for them. For example, we've had fathers build cars for very young kids and enter both their own cars and the cars built for the very young kids. And we've had kids finish their cars quickly, and then build a second car for their mother, or for other family members.
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SirStorm
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Re: Your opinion on mutiple cars per racer

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The requirement for the Advanced Pinewood Derby Honor appear to read as 3 cars in the same year (season). One simple, one complex, one non-car car.

We (those setting up the rules for the Championship Race) are kicking around the idea of using the 3 classes to offer a race for each type of car.

Stock class - must use provided slots and minimal wheel and axle prep <simple car>
Pro Stock class - extended wheel bases and more wheel and axle prep allowed <complex car or non-car car>
Pro Modified class - extended wheel bases and radical wheel and axle prep <complex car or non-car car>

One car per race, for those fulfilling the requirements of the Advanced Honor. Then, in the event of one child winning more than one Class, the child decides which class they are going to the Championship with. The runners up then fill the slot vacated.

The total number of Advanced Honor participates are very very low at this time. Our approach may have to be adjusted if this becomes a popular trend.
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