Race Day Order of Events

Day of the Race - Order of Events

Be sure the room is completely set up and electronic elements are in working order before people start to arrive.

Racers should be instructed to arrive 30-45 minutes before you plan to start the races. Do not instruct them to come early, but rather set the time for them to arrive to be early.
Each racer as he arrives will want to go to the Repair station to do final touch up and lubrication to their cars. Make the races as fair as possible by urging every driver to lubricate their wheels!!
The car then must pass inspection at the qualification table. Qualification forms are printed from the database to help in this area. Those at the qualification table must be very familiar with the Rules and regulations page in this book. Every car will be carefully weighed, then checked for size by carefully setting the GO-NO-GO box over the car. If the box sets on the table over the car, it is not over size. The cars must also be checked for the use of proper wheels, axles, and wood block. Also check the cars for illegal use of washers, bearings, starters, etc. A good rule to keep in mind is that the wheel hubs must rub against wood or painted wood at the car. Anything else would be considered a bearing. Do not let anyone break any of these rules with their car no matter how neat the car is. It will make it impossible for you to enforce any rules. If this rule can be broken, why not others?
If a car does not qualify, it must go to the repair station to be brought into conformance with the rules. The repair station should be equipped with a few hand tools, glue, and power drills for repairs. Cover the table with scrap plywood to protect it form glue, drills, etc. Also have only careful men run the power tools. Power drills can be very dangerous if not used properly. I have heard of some nightmares at the repair station even with grown men in charge.
As soon as a car qualifies, it should be carefully transported to the pit area. The pit area should be divided into as many sections as you have race categories. Each of these areas should have a way to keep the cars from rolling off, and a numbered space for each car.
When all of the cars have arrived and are in place in the pit area, the design judges can start their job. The judges use the forms printed from the database, judging one category at a time. The head judge will take the scores for each car from all of the judges and add them up to find the first, second, and third place winners in each race category. The judges fill out the design winner’s form (found in this book) for each race category. These forms are individually placed in a sealed envelope and labeled for the category. When the announcer calls for the secret envelope for that category, it is presented with much drama and eager anticipation!
When all cars are qualified, begin your program with your own combination of prayer, songs, pledges, racing sounds, etc… It is good to have the Gospel presentation early in the event to have everyone’s attention. See the Gospel message samples in this book for some help in preparing a message.
During the event it is nice to have refreshments for everyone. One good way to do this is to give everyone a free ticket with all of the refreshment items listed on the ticket. Every one gets one of each item. The items are checked off the ticket as it is used. These tickets can be easily made on the database. Do not allow anyone to get up for refreshments during the message, but make them available at all other times, or pass out tickets directly after the message.
After the message the races can begin. Start each race category by inviting all of the racers for that category to come forward to be recognized. They each should receive a participation ribbon, patch, or pin. (Custom Grand Prix pins and patches can be purchased from Commander Ed’s Custom Products. See details at www.commandered.com)
Use the overhead tournament chart printed from the database to organize the races. Announce the numbers for each race and have the racers sit in special seats at the end of the track. While the racers are taking their special seats, the pit crew and the official starter will be positioning the proper cars on the proper track lane. Track lane colors are indicated on the overhead chart. Meanwhile the finish judges are resetting the electronic eye. (An electronic eye is the best way to judge, because many races will be too close to call by human eye. Electronic eyes with timers are not a good idea, since they can cause unnecessary confusion.
At the end of each race, the finish line judges determine from the electronic eye the places of each car. The judges indicate the winner by raising the color flag for lane the winner raced in. Second place is indicated the same way. The chart keeper must record the results in the ( ) of the tournament chart. He is then able to appropriately assign cars to future races.
The tournament chart developed by the database is easy to use and builds excitement as you approach the last race. The top three cars will be in the last race, thus bringing the tournament to a climax in the final race.
At the end of each tournament, invite the winners to bring their cars to the front to be presented their awards. It creates excitement if you can build three boxes of graduated sizes for the winners to stand on like the Olympic winners. Take pictures of the winners and their cars.
Now have the secret envelope brought forward with the winners of the design contest. Build excitement as you read the 3^rd place winner, then 2^nd, then 1^st. Treat the design winners just as you did the speed winners, with awards and photos.
Repeat the above steps for each category, until all categories have raced. If you want to determine the overall winner of the day, you can race the top winners from each category for one final race. It is recommended that other races not be allowed to take place. If the outcomes are different, the official results may be questioned.
Write down what went well, what needed improvement, and any creative ideas you want to remember for next year.
Give a report to your congregation

Day of the Race - Order of Events

Be sure the room is completely set up and electronic elements are in working order before people start to arrive.

Racers should be instructed to arrive 30-45 minutes before you plan to start the races. Do not instruct them to come early, but rather set the time for them to arrive to be early.

Each racer as he arrives will want to go to the Repair station to do final touch up and lubrication to their cars. Make the races as fair as possible by urging every driver to lubricate their wheels!!

As soon as a car qualifies, it should be carefully transported to the pit area. The pit area should be divided into as many sections as you have race categories. Each of these areas should have a way to keep the cars from rolling off, and a numbered space for each car.

When all cars are qualified, begin your program with your own combination of prayer, songs, pledges, racing sounds, etc… It is good to have the Gospel presentation early in the event to have everyone’s attention. See the Gospel message samples in this book for some help in preparing a message.

The tournament chart developed by the database is easy to use and builds excitement as you approach the last race. The top three cars will be in the last race, thus bringing the tournament to a climax in the final race.

At the end of each tournament, invite the winners to bring their cars to the front to be presented their awards. It creates excitement if you can build three boxes of graduated sizes for the winners to stand on like the Olympic winners. Take pictures of the winners and their cars.

Now have the secret envelope brought forward with the winners of the design contest. Build excitement as you read the 3rd place winner, then 2nd, then 1st. Treat the design winners just as you did the speed winners, with awards and photos.

Write down what went well, what needed improvement, and any creative ideas you want to remember for next year.

Give a report to your congregation

Now have the secret envelope brought forward with the winners of the design contest. Build excitement as you read the 3^rd place winner, then 2^nd, then 1^st. Treat the design winners just as you did the speed winners, with awards and photos.