Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/educ/cubscout.zip/BETTER.ASC

Text File | 1985-11-20 | 8KB | 270 lines

                HOW TO RUN A BETTER PINEWOOD DERBY


One  of the highlights of any cubbing year is the Pinewood  Derby.
Excitement  runs high and the competition is  keen.   A  perennial
problem is how to maximize participation on the night of the  race
and  ensure ultimate fairness in the final outcome.   Pack  37  of
Niskayuna,  N.Y. conducted a Pinewood Derby this year unlike any I
have ever attended and with such success that we feel compelled to
share the technique with others.

In  my  eight  years of cubbing with my four  sons,  I  have  been
involved  in  many  father-son Pinewood  races.   Every  race  was
conducted on a tennis ladder type elimination with a second ladder
set up for the losers of the first heat.   In such a  system,  one
half the contestants are eliminated by the second heat.   Interest
in the race drops and discipline becomes a problem.   When a  four
lane  track is fully used,  the early loss of contestants is  even
higher.  There had to be a better way.

Pack 37 was fortunate to have Dr.  Dick Stearns as a participating
member.   Dr.  Stearns is a mathematician and a world authority on
game theory.   As pack master,  I presented him with the challenge
of  designing  a  race schedule for a four lane  track  that  will
maximize  participation,  assure that all cars will race  on  each
lane and race against as many other cars as possible.

His solution,  he claims, was simple.  I still believe what he did
was impossible,  but the results are fantastic.   Consider a field
of 20 to 30 cars.   With Stearns method,  which we'll consider  in
more detail later,  each car races against 21 other cars and never
against the same car twice; each car races on every lane and never
on  the same lane more than twice;   every car races seven  times;
and the winner is not determined until the last race.

Table  1  compares the Stearns method against the usual  two  lane
tennis ladder.  In the tennis ladder where each heat is settled on
a  best-two-out-of-three  basis,  the two finalists see a  lot  of
action  but unfortunately only 5 opponents and half the cars  make
only 4 to 6 runs down the track and meet only two opponents.   The
Stearns method is a winner from the standpoint of both  continuous
participation and maximum exposure.

In  Tables  II,  III and IV are the schedules for  Pinewood  racer
fields  of  24,  28 and 32 cars respectively.   Each  schedule  is
divided  into 7 rounds with each round consisting of from 6  to  8
races.   The  cars  participating in each race are  designated  by
number  and are assigned to a specific track for each  race.   The
schedules  in  the form of Tables II through IV  are  required  to
determine  at a glance the participants in any given race  as  the
competition proceeds.

The  schedules are presented in a second form in Tables V  through
VII  which allows the contestants to locate their race number  for
each  round  and  also  serves  as  a  running  tally  sheet   for
determining the winners.


With Tables II through VII in hand,  you are ready to consider the
details  of conducting the race.   The three  different  schedules
were   necessary  since  we  were  uncertain  of  the  number   of
participants which could have varied from 21 to 32.  Each schedule
is  adjusted so that the three highers number cars never race  one
another and races,  therefore,  will never involve less than three
contestants.

The materials needed to run a Stearns Method Pinewood Derby are:

a.  transparency of contestant sign up list
b.  transparencies of tables II through VII
c.  pens for marking on transparencies
d.  two overhead projectors
e.  two screens
f.  one four lane track
g.  scale, for checking maximum car weight
h.  registration table
i.  numbered stickers for each car
j.  numbered tags for each cub to wear corresponding to
    his assigned car number
k.  electric drill and lead weights for last minute weight
    adjustments
l.  spare parts for pit stops
m.  display table for all cars with display slots indicated by
    number on a long paper roll on table top
n.  portable PA system
o.  clip boards

On  race  night,  each car is weighed and adjusted to  within  the
maximum weight limit.   After the car is accepted by weight and by
whatever  other  standards  were  agreed  to  in  advance  (ensure
familiarity  early),  both the cub and the car are assigned  their
identification  number.   A  sticker  bearing  the  identification
number is attached to the car.   The cub's name is entered legibly
and in numerical order on a transparency of the contestants  sign-
up  list.   The sign-up list is cut from a transparency  of  Table
VII.   The  cubs then place their cars on the display  table  with
numbered slots which aids in the judging for design awards.

The race starter is supplied with a copy of either Table  II,  III
or  IV  depending  on  the  final  number  of   participants.    A
transparency  of  the  appropriate Table II,  III or  IV  is  also
displayed on one overhead projector or copies are provided to  the
audience.

The complete cub contestant sign-up transparency is attached to  a
transparency  of the body of the appropriate Table V,  VI  or  VII
respectively  as determined by the number of contestants which  is
displayed on the second overhead projector.   A person is assigned
to  mark  the winners of each race on the  overhead  projector  by
circling  the winner's race number associated with that round  and
to  enter  a  mark for each win at the far  right  of  the  table.
Everyone  is  then  able to follow the progress  of  the  race  by
contestant.



During  the course of each Pinewood Derby race,  four cubs are  at
the finish line waiting to retrieve their cars while four cubs are
directed  to  be on deck with their cars ready to go in  the  next
race and four more are anticipating being called on deck.   Out of
a  field of 28 cars,  which is almost 40% active  involvement  all
during  the Pinewood Derby,  discipline is no problem.   A  little
planning  in  placing  the  track  (center  stage  is  best)  with
occasional  vigil in keeping the spectators a reasonable  distance
from the track makes for enjoyable viewing by all.

The  1st,  2nd and 3rd place winners are determined by  the  total
number of races won.   In the case of a tie, a one on one race can
be conducted.  An example or race results are shown in Table VIII.
There  was  a three way tie for third place which resolved  by  an
additional sudden death race.

On paper,  the race procedure sounds a little complicated,  but in
practice  it  works quite smoothly and I highly  recommend  it  to
other packs.


By:  Marc P. Borom




































TABLE I


Two track tennis ladder

32 entries

drivers             runs          opponents

 16                 4 - 6            2
  8                 6 - 9            3
  4                 8 - 12           4
  2                10 - 15           5

Stearns method

32 entries

drivers             runs          opponents

 32                   7              21





































VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

registration


weigher

logger

stickerer


pit stop


driller

parts & weights


race


starter

finish judge

finish judge

logger

     clipboard

     view graph


Trophies  -  1, 2, 3, best in show