Pinewood derby award ideas
Only a few cars can be the fastest. Special awards and a well-run awards ceremony mean a lot more kids go home happy, including the ones whose cars were slow but looked like a shark.
Free for up to 20 racers. Runs in Chrome or Edge, and keeps going when the Wi-Fi doesn't.
Speed awards
Most groups give places in each den, club or age group, usually first through third (Derby Dashboard can award one to five). If you run a championship final, the winner gets the top award; the app calls it Grand Champion, and you can rename it. It's also nice to read out everyone who made the final, not only the podium.
Special award ideas
Judge these while the cars are impounded, before any racing, so nobody's swayed by how fast a car turned out to be. A few that work well:
- Best Paint Job
- Most Creative
- Best in Show
- Most Realistic
- Funniest Car
- Best Theme
- Most Colorful
- Best Craftsmanship
- Racers' Choice, voted by the kids
- Best Car Name
Running the ceremony
- Lock the results. Nothing changes once the awards start
- Go one group at a time. Introduce each den or club, then reveal its places
- Count up to first. Third, then second, then first, each with a drumroll, the racer's photo and confetti on the big screen
- Fit in the special awards. Either before the places or after them, whichever keeps the room going
- End with the champion. Finish on the grand champion, then a thank-you screen
Certificates
Certificates are cheap and kids keep them for years. On the Club and Club Plus plans, Derby Dashboard prints award certificates as a PDF, so you can print a stack before the ceremony and hand them out at the end.
Questions
What awards should a pinewood derby give?
Places in each group, a grand champion if you run a final, and a handful of special awards like Best Paint Job and Most Creative, so more racers are recognized.
When should special awards be judged?
Before racing starts, while the cars are impounded, so speed doesn't sway the judges.
How many places should each group award?
Three is common. Derby Dashboard lets you award one to five places in each race.
Can we print certificates?
Yes. Printable award certificates (PDF) are part of the Club and Club Plus plans.
Sign-ups are coming soon
We're getting Derby Dashboard ready for more packs and clubs. Join the waiting list and we'll email you when it's your turn.
Ready for race day?
Create an account and set up your first race. Free covers up to 20 racers, and you can move up to Club or Club Plus from the app.