Design Judging Article
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 10:21 am
Derby Talk is a forum for Pinewood Derby, Awana Grand Prix, Kub Kar Rally, Shape N Race Derby, Space Derby, Raingutter Regatta and other similar races where a child and an adult work together to create a race vehicle and a lot of fun and memories
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Unfortunately, I hear about that going on quite often. It ignores the fact that this should be a joint project of a child working with an adult, not the child alone. Besides, I have hosted many a workshop and seen some kids that can make incredible cars that you'd think an adult built. Their car would get disqualified at many races due to the misperception.
Personally, I think that sucks, not to have awards for design. Speed is only one aspect of the race. To ignore design is to stifle creativity and basically says that design doesn't matter at all. Not everyone can (or wants to) make a fast car but they can make a really cool looking one. I'd rather get them at the race instead of them staying at home.Speedster wrote: ↑Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:21 pmTruthfully, I like the District in our Erie council where every scout is invited to bring his car to the District race and display it. There is no voting and no trophies given for design. This gives every scout a chance to experience a District activity, make new friends, and see everyones car who has chosen to attend. That District not only saves on trophies but probably sells more refreshments than any other District. No, it is not my District.
Personally, I have no issue with that, because as a race coordinator, I want max participation for future races. If a few racers haul in most of the trophies, that can discourage other racers from even wanting to participate. I can understand the point of view of a parent, but as a race coordinator, to me that is a secondary consideration.Vitamin K wrote: ↑Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:28 pm Maybe this is just my bias as one of the dads whose kids usually lead the pack in speed, but I think disqualifying speed winners from design judging is kind of wrongheaded.
Yes, I get that you want to distribute the trophies to more kids, but really, if the kids won, they won. Why penalize them artificially? What kind of message does it send? Don't be too good?
We have done a variation of that. If the racer is in the top design and top speed lists, we ask the racer which award they would prefer. We've actually had racers go for a lower design trophy over a higher speed trophy, since they had already won higher speed awards in the past.
Yep. When I've been involved in coordinating the design judging, I've tried to emphasize both of these points to the judges.gpraceman wrote: ↑Fri Mar 23, 2018 1:45 pmUnfortunately, I hear about that going on quite often. It ignores the fact that this should be a joint project of a child working with an adult, not the child alone. Besides, I have hosted many a workshop and seen some kids that can make incredible cars that you'd think an adult built. Their car would get disqualified at many races due to the misperception.
Yep. I've seen a number of kids get really excited about the design of the car, who really couldn't have cared less about speed. Incorporating both speed and design awards broadens the appeal of the derby.
As a race coordinator, I'd rather just present more awards if the rare "double dipping" means that not enough kids get awards. I don't like seeing design awards turned into consolation prizes by making only the losers of the race eligible for design awards.gpraceman wrote: ↑Fri Mar 23, 2018 1:45 pmPersonally, I have no issue with that, because as a race coordinator, I want max participation for future races. If a few racers haul in most of the trophies, that can discourage other racers from even wanting to participate. I can understand the point of view of a parent, but as a race coordinator, to me that is a secondary consideration.Vitamin K wrote: ↑Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:28 pmMaybe this is just my bias as one of the dads whose kids usually lead the pack in speed, but I think disqualifying speed winners from design judging is kind of wrongheaded.
Yes, I get that you want to distribute the trophies to more kids, but really, if the kids won, they won. Why penalize them artificially? What kind of message does it send? Don't be too good?
That's at least better than turning design awards into consolation prizes. I've known a number of kids who would have preferred any design award over any speed award. And vice versa, of course, but usually those kids don't invest enough time into their cars' design to win an award.gpraceman wrote: ↑Fri Mar 23, 2018 1:45 pmWe have done a variation of that. If the racer is in the top design and top speed lists, we ask the racer which award they would prefer. We've actually had racers go for a lower design trophy over a higher speed trophy, since they had already won higher speed awards in the past.
It's to bad that pack's can submit there best of show winner's .. to a page set aside in the magazine.. and or magazines.gpraceman wrote: ↑Fri Mar 23, 2018 10:21 am A good read.
https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/ ... r-judging/