Pinewood!

It is the time of year again for Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. This is my son's last Derby, as it was also his Arrow of Light celebration, where he 'graduated' to Boy Scouts. I asked him if he wanted to go for looks, speed, or fun this last go-round, and he decided on fun. Wanted a 'Pikachu' car from Pokemon.

He's had some experience with the Sawstop, and since I can clamp things into the sled, it was relatively easy and safe for him to carve out the bulk of his block by himself. I cut the 'Pikachu' on the bandsaw, as well as one of the angle cuts I didn't trust his little fingers with. He came back in for sand and paint.

Anyways, I will spare you all 50 pages of build details, and give you the Pikachu car:

https://www.johnnyego.com/wood/2021P...pinewood33.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/wood/2021P...pinewood35.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/wood/2021P...pinewood37.JPG

We did not build this for speed, and I used the wheels and nails provided with no polishing or prep. Still, it was surprisingly fast, coming in 3rd place in his class of 8. He really wanted the 'Best in Show' award, but his arch rival made a 'Mario' car that won the contest of popular appeal among 5-11 year olds. He handled it with surprising grace, though, congratulating the winner for his victory without my prompting. He's definitely growing up.

One of the smarter things we do as a pack to channel adult zeal is to have the adults make test cars. This way we are not setting up the track with kid cars and risking damage or accusations of unfair advantage, and it takes some of the excess Dadness and focuses it in a more healthy direction. This year for test cars, I made a truck and a Mustang(ish) fastback.
https://www.johnnyego.com/wood/2021P...pinewood38.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/wood/2021P...pinewood45.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/wood/2021P...pinewood46.JPG

Our pack is 5 years old, and my son was one of the first members. It's grown to be a robust group in that time, and there are some good parents in the younger classes, so I suspect it will live on for a long time. Was a mixed feeling to set up the track for the last time, because for whatever nostalgia it holds, it is still heavy and tedious to adjust.

Crate I built for the track is still holding up pretty well after four years in school custody.
https://www.johnnyego.com/wood/2021P...pinewood41.JPG

Not a bad way to finish off the Cub Scout adventure.

Awesome. Nice work. Definitely the most original pinewood car I've ever seen. Fun stuff.

PS : it's always fun to read these sorts of posts from you.

I had our Packs track in my garage for years and was happy to see it go when he moved on to a Scout Troop!!!
He is in a Crew now and helped out o an Eagle project this weekend.
After Arrow Of Light he was the only Scout to move on.
He should stick with it.
Ah, good times.

Yup- Lots of fun! We had great fun with the derby.

My son is 15 and just finished Life- time to hunker down and get it done.

What impressive works from a great Scout dad and his son.! Congratulations. Kids and parents working and learning together is what it's about.

I'll never forget building and racing my Pinewood Derby car over 3 years. It started as a primitive wood block, four roof nails and some crude narrow plastic wheels. I carved it to the sleek rounded shape of the formula 1 and midget race cars of the early 1960's. I embedded a lead bullet in the underbody to meet maximum weight.

It didn't place first in the races but won for the sleek design and blue and yellow cub scout colors.

Every race car needs a tow vehicle. Nice work.

No mention of Baby Fark McGee-zax?

Fail.

Links great. I need to make some home gamer shit and can't work up the nerve because I'm not confident I can make it right

Just get started with the idea that your first attempt will be trash. That will relieve the pressure.

Cool Mustang! I remember those days, I always wanted to make a cool looking car and would always come in close to last, the last year I just said fuck it and made the exact car from the template that comes in the kit and won the local race and went to state and got 2nd place. Lol

Outstanding job dad, good for you and your son, these are the types of activities that help mold the foundation of good sportsmanship, while building a sense of pride.

Helping build a derby car, and attending my oldest sons first pinewood derby race was one of my fondest memories that I can recall, such a great time, and he won best in show. We got the boys in a pack down here almost immediately after moving, but unfortunately with the transfer in schools, this one being a much more advanced school district, we had to pull them out so they could focus on trying to catch up and get back on track (no pun intended considering the thread topic).

Johnny, you're a great dad and your son is lucky to have you.

Great Cub memories !!! I also had the pack track in my shop for years. I remember the rocket ships on the fishing line we had running down the hallway into the living room for practice haha.

Excellent thread. [Awesom]

Loved the derby, as a kid. Got the opportunity to judge "best looking" racer, for the pack, in Nederland. Good times.