A car race is a random name picker dressed up as a grand prix. Every name gets its own numbered car and lane. Five red start lights come on one by one, the lights go out, and the cars race down the straight, swapping places until the first one crosses the chequered line. You get a podium for first, second and third plus the full finishing order.
It is a good fit for a projector, a stream or a meeting screen: choose who presents first, set a speaking order, or draw giveaway winners with runner-up prizes. Up to 60 cars fit on the track, and with a long list the lanes get narrower, so big groups are easier to follow in a few heats.
How to run a car race
- Type or paste the names, one per line. Each line is one car, numbered in list order.
- Pick a race length: short is about 10 seconds, long about 35.
- Press Start race. Watch the five start lights; when they go out the race begins and the camera follows the leader.
- When every car has finished you get the podium and the complete order. Copy it or race again.
Is the car race fair?
Yes. When you press Start, the page shuffles the cars with your browser's crypto.getRandomValues, so every finishing order has the same chance. That shuffle is the result. Each car then gets its own speed curve with bursts and slower patches, tuned so it reaches the line at its assigned moment.
The overtakes are real animation but they cannot change the outcome. Car numbers and lane positions have no effect either. Your list stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
Ideas for car races
- Decide the batting, playing or presenting order.
- Run a giveaway on a live stream with second and third place as runner-up prizes.
- Hold a championship: race heats of 8 to 10 cars, then put the heat winners in a final.
- Pick who drives, who chooses the music or who pays for coffee.
Frequently asked questions
How many cars can race at once?
Up to 60. Each car has its own lane, so with very long lists the cars and name tags get smaller. For a large group, a few heats of 10 to 15 cars are easier to watch.
Does pole position or car number matter?
No. The result is drawn before the start, with every order equally likely. Car number 1 has the same chance as the last car on the list. Use Shuffle lanes if you just want a different grid.
Does the race make sound?
Yes, a beep for each start light, an engine sound that rises as the race goes on, a horn now and then and a fanfare for the winner. Everything is generated in the browser and you can turn it off under the race settings.
Can the same name win twice in a row?
Yes, each race is a fresh draw. Tick Remove winner after race to take the winner off the list automatically.