Run a pinewood derby without a timer
Plenty of packs and clubs race without an electronic finish line. Derby Dashboard turns a judge's call into fair heats, accurate standings and a clean awards show.
Free for up to 20 racers. Runs in Chrome or Edge, and keeps going when the Wi-Fi doesn't.
How judging works in the app
- Watch the finish. A judge stands at the finish line, eyes level with the track
- Tap the order. On the Race step, tap the lanes in the order the cars crossed. There are buttons for a tie, a car that didn't finish, and undo
- Check close calls. With a camera at the finish line (on the Pack and Pack Plus plans), step through the replay frame by frame and slide a judging line across the finish
- Save and move on. Save the heat. The standings, the big screen and the next heat update right away. Need a do-over? Clear the heat and race it again
Tips for a fair race without a timer
- Run every car in every lane. Lane differences cancel out, so a slow lane doesn't decide anyone's place.
- Score by place points, not times. Without a timer there are no times to average, so points for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each heat keep it simple and fair.
- Make the finish easy to see. A high-contrast finish line and good light help more than you'd think. Judge from the side, at track level.
- Use two judges for close finishes. If they disagree, re-run the heat. Kids rarely mind racing again.
- Add a camera if you can. A webcam or laptop camera pointed at the finish line settles arguments, and the replay is fun to watch on the big screen.
Should you buy a timer?
An electronic finish line is nice, but it isn't required for a fair race. Timers usually cost a few hundred dollars or more, and plenty of groups race happily without one.
Derby Dashboard doesn't connect to timers yet. We're actively working on support for USB track timers, and it's coming soon.
Questions
Is judging by eye really fair?
Yes, when every car runs in every lane and you score by place points. Each car faces the same lanes and the same competition, so small judging differences even out. A camera replay settles the very close ones.
What do we do with a tie?
Mark it as a tie when you tap the finish order, or clear the heat and race it again. Both are one tap in the app.
Who should judge?
Pick one or two adults who aren't parents of racers in that heat, if you can. Rotate them between dens or clubs so no one gets tired.
Sign-ups are coming soon
We're getting Derby Dashboard ready for more packs and clubs. Want to hear when it opens?