Scheduling Methods for a Small Pack

[Jthompson]

We will be conductiing our first Pinewood Derby in February 2006. The pack consists of 34 Scouts divided reasonably evenly between ranks (7-10 per rank).

We have a 3-Lane track, electronic timing, and race management software.

What are recommendations from other packs for racing scheduling methods with this many Scouts? ...and lanes.

We are free to use any method since this is our first year.

[Scoremaker]

Our Pack has a Three Lane track to. We race two times on each lane. So you will end up with three heats. We also race everyone at one time so that you do not have wait for each rank. Do two heats and then take a break and have lunch. Then run the last heat. Then total up all the times and you will have your winner. Tigers, Wolfs, Bears, Weblos and Weblos 2. If you want to have a Pack champion take the top winner in each Rank and run them one time. Good luck and hope that your race goes smooth. Also talk it over with the Leaders what do they think.

[Stan Pope]

Do you have to have any specific results? For instance, do you need to qualify to district or council races? qualify overall or qualify by rank? This need would dictate your racing.

Think about whether you want to race by time or by heat points or, even, an elimination format. Talk to your committee on this, because time and points put emphasis on slightly different aspects.

Think about whether you can have the boys stage and retrieve their own cars. Do so if you can ... it changes them from spectators to participants. Also, it eliminates issues of staging inaccuracies.

Bring these answers back, and we can talk some more.