Last night was the much anticipated Pinewood Derby. Nathan was so excited all month and kept taking out the box of wood and parts imagining the creation that would soon be speeding down the track in the cultural hall. When it finally came time to get started on the car, Nathan was wowed by Jake's skill with a dremmel tool and paintbrush. As we are a family very much motivated by last-minute pressure, on the evening of the big event, I was given the task of helping Nathan put last touch stickers on just hours before the race, since Jake had to be at work, and would be missing the event. Note to everyone with a Pinewood Derby in their future: this was not a good idea. Pretty much immediately after I picked the thing up, wheels were popping off - wheels that I wasn't even touching!! How is it that the wheels can make it through rigorous testing, yet I merely lay my hands on the car to carefully place stickers, and next I am looking at pieces of the precious creation in my hands?! These wheels were special wheels, by the way - they were engineered for "less track resistance" (ok, so what that really means is one of the wheels was strategically placed off kilter so that only 3 wheels touch the track at a time, thus creating less resistance and the ability to achieve more speed. Oh boy!) So, after enlisting the help of a neighbor, the car was back together and we were off to the
race. Here is Nathan leaving w
ith car in hand - he can't contain the excitement, especially since his car has all 4 wheels attached again. As we got to the church, Nathan ran up to anyone who would listen to show off his car! Mind you, everyone there either had their own car, or was supporting another car, but he didn't care - he was so proud of it, he needed to share. Watching him run around the gym with the car - I had visions of wheels popping off again, but somehow we made it to the beginning of the race without any more repairs needed. That lasted until the first time down the track. Apparently those specially engineered wheels may not have been restored to original condition because they were actually dragging on the track, and his car was having difficulty even making it to the finish line. Too bad Dad wasn't there for pit crew duty, because the tube of graphite (?) I was instructed to "puff" onto the wheels after each run wasn't helping, and Nathan was getting discouraged. Some of his leaders took pity on him and helped work on the car a bit and we started getting faster. In the end, he wasn't the fastest car, but he did ok and really had a good time. His car ended up winning the creativity award, and that was definitely good enough for him. He was also awarded his Bobcat last night and had fun "pinning" me. I love that he is so excited to participate in Scouts and all the fun things he will get to learn and do in the program.
race. Here is Nathan leaving w
ith car in hand - he can't contain the excitement, especially since his car has all 4 wheels attached again. As we got to the church, Nathan ran up to anyone who would listen to show off his car! Mind you, everyone there either had their own car, or was supporting another car, but he didn't care - he was so proud of it, he needed to share. Watching him run around the gym with the car - I had visions of wheels popping off again, but somehow we made it to the beginning of the race without any more repairs needed. That lasted until the first time down the track. Apparently those specially engineered wheels may not have been restored to original condition because they were actually dragging on the track, and his car was having difficulty even making it to the finish line. Too bad Dad wasn't there for pit crew duty, because the tube of graphite (?) I was instructed to "puff" onto the wheels after each run wasn't helping, and Nathan was getting discouraged. Some of his leaders took pity on him and helped work on the car a bit and we started getting faster. In the end, he wasn't the fastest car, but he did ok and really had a good time. His car ended up winning the creativity award, and that was definitely good enough for him. He was also awarded his Bobcat last night and had fun "pinning" me. I love that he is so excited to participate in Scouts and all the fun things he will get to learn and do in the program.
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