Pinewood Derby

Zack finally got to be in his first Pinewood Derby back in April. He wanted his car to be a great white shark, so we did the best we could! Zack helped design it, and Mom cut it out, then we painted it together and Dad put the wheels on. It was our first Pinewood Derby car experience, so we weren't very experienced in all the ins and outs of making the fastest or heaviest or most streamlined cars, and when we got to the church and weighed in, Zack's car only weighed 2.8 ounces (they can weigh up to 5 ounces!). We added some weights and pennies and quarters on the bottom and got it up to 4.9 ounces, but I think all the extra stuff ended up causing a bit of drag because it certainly wasn't the fastest car on the track! And the first time down, the tip of the fin on top was a little too tall and got it stuck in the timer thing near the end of the track! We clipped a bit off the tip with some wire cutters (it's amazing how prepared all the other scout families come to Pinewood Derbies! I guess you learn from experience!) and then the Great White was back in business and could at least get to the end of the track. Zack got to race about 6 different times. He came in 4th place (out of 4) every time except one, when he came in 3rd place, and he was as thrilled about that as if he had come in first! Maybe he didn't have the fastest car in the race, but he certainly had the coolest and most unique! It was a fun night, and I think we've even learned a few tricks for next year!