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Pinewood Derby Stories and Photos from Maximum Velocity
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Pinewood Derby Car
The Pinewood Derby race fast approaches in my son's Cub Scout den, so you know what that means for a handy guy like me: updating the homeowners insurance. I have all of the neat power tools a dad would need to make a classic Pinewood Derby car. And, I know how to plug every one of them into the socket. It gets tricky after that.
So, needless to say, when my son received his rectangular block of solid wood, four wheels, and four nails to hold the wheels in place, and he stared up at me with those hero-worshipping eyes that said 'what masterpiece are we going to build dad?' - I went right for the rules.
"What are you looking for?" my wife asked. "The rules on how much a dad can do to help build the car?"
"No," I answered. "The rules on how much a dad can pay to purchase one on eBay."
"Oh, won't that be lovely," she said. "I can hear it now. On race night, when the Cub Master goes around the room asking the boys what part they played in the design and build of their Pinewood Derby cars, our son can say that he typed in your credit card number? Maybe there's a patch for that?"
I got the point. I also explained I was inept with tools, but, she reminded me that our son had his hopes pinned on making a car, and as his father, it was my responsibility to help him realize that dream. So first, I tried the easy approach.
"What are we going to make, dad?" my son asked as we walked ceremoniously into the garage.
A wide, dramatic smile spread across my face (the same I used when telling him the doctor's shot wouldn't hurt). "This," I said as I pulled the uncut block of wood from the original box and held it above my head. My son's face sank. "A block of wood?"
"Yep," I said excitedly.
"We aren't going to cut it and sand it and put in a steering wheel?"
"We don't need to," I explained. "Now, don't scream for joy too loud and frighten the neighbors, but, this block of wood is really...now brace yourself...a RUNAWAY TRAIN."
His face brightened. "Cool! You mean a steam engine with cow catcher and smoke stack?"
"No, silly," I said, maintaining my enthusiasm. "I mean a box car with Southern and Pacific."
After my son stopped crying, I switched to Plan B: Making a sports car.
Several hours later, my wife walked into the garage. "You've been working on that car all of this time?" she asked looking at her watch.
I nodded. "All except the two times I drove to the Boy Scout store to purchase more Pinewood Derby kits."
She studied my efforts. "What are you making?"
"Guess," I said, holding up the near finished car.
"It looks like driftwood."
"Because it's smooth and sleek?"
"No, because it's bent."
Plan C called for sending my son to his grandpa's house with a new Pinewood Derby kit. They made a beautiful car.
Later, my wife told me that it was okay I'm not handy - she said there were plenty of good things I did with our son. She also said to look on the bright side.
A pinewood derby memory is an occasional part of the Pinewood Derby Times Newsletter. To subscribe to this free e-newsletter, please visit: www.maximum-velocity.com/subscribe.htm
