2012-13 Pack 368 Pinewood Derby

[John Crocker]

Our derby is not until January, but I've got a lot of travel coming up, so my younger son and I went ahead and built this.  His idea was to have a "Green Latern Racer", he's really into the Green Latern Superhero.  Found a cool canopy at the LHS and put this together.  The front wing should give us a split second advance on the other cars.  Probably one of the better paint jobs we've ever done, its metallic emerald green and glows in the sunlight.

[FLOYD CARTER]

Many years ago, I was a temporary Boy Scout Troop Leader.   We also had Pinewood Derby races.  However, I quickly noticed that "Daddy-built" cars always seemed to win.  Well, when you have access to lathe, mill, and unlimited access to "trick" parts, you will always win. 

Whenever there is a kid-contest of any sort, dads just can't keep their hands out of it!

Floyd

[John Crocker]

Well, it was his design, and he helped with the cutting, sanding, and painting.  The canopy we found at a hobby store.  It supposed to be a Dad/Son project, which is what it was. 

[Douglas Ames]

I think the BSA gave up on enforcing BOM years ago.

[Dan McEntee]

  Make sure it fits in the box that some packs use as a go-no go gauge for wheel base and over all length. I have one I made for the Dad's class when Sean was in Scouts that looks like a classic upright midget racer. Nothing aerodynamic about it at all, it it went undefeated when raced. Nothing special done, just a straight rolling car with attention to details. Used only common house hold and hobby items to build his car and mine that year. Beat out all the McDonnell Douglas engineer dads and such. I'm too tired to type and tell the details, but I have talked single Moms into winning cars at the hobby shop using what they have around the house. Nice looking car, bet he's real proud of it and he should be!
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[john e. holliday]

My son wouldn't let me help, or to tell the truth the scout leader wouldn't let us help.  All the boys met at his house for several weeks and did their own cars.   Even the scout leaders had their cars in the comp.   Now my grandson last year asked me to cut his car out on the bandsaw.   Then he didn't finish it as he built another car at the leaders house with the other boys doing theirs at the same place.  The leader had one of the other dads help his son.

Anyway the car looks great.  But, as done at last years race the grandson competed in,  the best looking car did not win.  Very proud young man was holding his  car and award, telling the effort he went thru to get it built straight.

[John Crocker]

"But, as done at last years race the grandson competed in,  the best looking car did not win.  Very proud young man was holding his  car and award, telling the effort he went thru to get it built straight."

This is usually the case, as it should be.  There are good looking cars, and there are good running cars, rarely are they the same car.