Race Car Party

These ideas are from several readers.

Invitations:
Take plain white invitations and paint black squares on them to look like checkered flags.
Check out the Hot Wheels site...
HOT WHEELS  Check out their birthday club and party invitations.  They also have drivers license that can be made under games.

Decorations:
Cover the table with white butcher paper and draw roads on it.  Place matchbox cars and let the kids "drive" them around.  Make Road signs from construction paper to put on the backs of the chairs.  Use black and white checked wrapping paper to decorate tables.  Make road signs from poster board and attach them to stakes for the yard.

Cake: 
Two round cakes with holes cut in the middle.  Place the cakes and frost them to look like a figure 8 race track.  Cut the holes in half.   Place these on top of the track to create hills in the track.  Crushed Oreo's can be used for dirt.   Make small checkered flags and glue them to toothpicks that are painted white.   Use small cars on the track to make it look like they are racing.

Other Food Ideas:
Red Stoplights - red Jell-o jigglers
Or Stop and Go Lights - red and green jigglers
Graham Crackers with red, green and yellow M&M's to make stoplights.

Goodie Bags:
Decorate with with pictures from car magazines.  Give each child a computer made "drivers course certificate,"   matchbox cars, mini chechered flags, whistles, paper cars, car erasers and key chains.  Make drivers license on the computer, cover with laminate or use clear contact paper.

Games and Activities:
Bean bag toss: 
Make bean bags to look like tires.  Either toss them through an old wheel that is suspended or make a card board cut out of one.

Car Races:
Make cars for each child from computer paper boxes (or other).  Cover them with colored butcher paper, add 2" strip of black and white checked wrapping paper around the top of the box.  Use colored, inverted paper bowls as head lights (brads to adhere) and colored paper plates as wheels.
Now for the fun part.  Let the grass in your yard grow out a bit, then mow, before the big day, a race course design.  The kids are guaranteed to have a blast!...Clutterbuck Family

Red Light / Green Light:
Use their cars.  One adult is the light.

Pit Stop Relay Race:
Need:  Butcher paper with car drawn on it, a marker, rag or dry sponge, pitcher or plastic container for each team.  Strips of paper stating what needs to be done.Tape the paper to a wall at kid level.
On the paper strips list:
Change tire (draw tire) make two of these
Wash window (with sponge or rag)
Pump Gas (pour empty contain)
Change headlight
others that you can think of
The first in line of each team draws a slip, runs to the "car" performs the task and runs back.  The next in line does the same.

License Plates:
Need-craft foam cut to the size of license plates
Let the kids decorate them with markers, sequins, beads, etc.

Pass the Dump Truck:
Fill the back of a dump truck with wrapped presents.  Play music and when the music stops the child holding the truck gets to pick one gift and puts it in their goodie bag.   Continue.