Pit Stop Races

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What You'll Need:

• Several Rectangular Boxes (1 for each team)
• Scissors
• Brass Paper Fasteners or Craft Glue
• Glue Sticks (1 for each team)
• Paper Cups
• Construction Paper
• Markers
• Stick-On Numbers (if desired)

Preparation:

Before the party, or at the party as a group activity, decide how many teams you want to have and make a cardboard racecar for each one. Here's what to do to make each racecar:

1. Fold in the top flaps of the boxes and cut off the bottom flaps so that the boxes are open at the top and bottom.


2. Cut handles into the longer sides of the boxes so that the children can easily pick them up and carry them while they run around the "track."


3. Use the brass paper fasteners or craft glue to add inverted paper cups for headlights and a construction paper license plate.


4. Cut 3 sets of 4 construction paper wheels for each car. Each set should be a different color (i.e. 4 red, 4 yellow, and 4 blue per car).


5. Affix one set of wheels to each car.


6. Decorate the cars with racing numbers (stick on or hand-drawn), construction paper racing stripes, sponsor names, and other designs, as desired.


7. Lay out an oval race course on the grass or in an indoor area, and designate a pit area for each team. Put a glue stick in each pit.

At the Party:

1. Get the Pit Stop Races started by separating the children into teams (1 for each car you've put together) and assigning each a pit area to change tires and drivers.


2. Stagger the start lines with the first set of drivers lined up in front of their own pit.


3. At the start of the race, each driver runs around the course and back to his designated pit area while carrying his team's car.


4. In the pit, the crew (i.e. the rest of the driver's team) changes tires and drivers. To change tires, the crew must pull off the old wheels and replace them with a new set of a different color using a glue stick to attach the new wheels. (Note: Younger children may need adult pit crew managers.)


5. If a tire falls off on the track, the driver must pick it up before advancing.


6. You can signal drivers who have dropped a wheel by waving a yellow flag.


7. The first team to make all of their laps and tire/driver changes wins.