Pinewood Derby 2013

Saturday was one of the highlights of the Scouting year for my little Cub Scouts.  Pinewood Derby Day!  Ben's last and Josh's first.  {sigh}  I feel like I was just blogging about Ben's first and Zac's last!  The years do fly by, don't they? 

Ben and Josh had a great couple of weeks putting their cars together.  From design to assembly, Adam tries to help only when asked and only with things the boys can't do for themselves, like scroll sawing.  Ben was so determined to have a super fast car this year and tried all the tricks and tips to get it there: aerodynamics, wheel alignment, graphite, etc.  Josh started out going for cool design, until he saw the smooth sanded finish of Ben's...and then he re-cut his.  We don't own a scroll saw, a fact that makes Adam glum every year about this time, but thankfully, we got a little help from Chad Murdock's tool cache, an added bonus for Adam and I because it meant we got to hang with the Murdocks too.

Josh and Ben were having so much fun, Luke decided he wanted to make a car too, so Adam took him to buy a kit, and bought himself one while he was at it.  Luke's and Adam's cars wouldn't be raced in the Derby, but they had a good time designing and putting together their cars, and after the Derby they had a chance to send them down the track one time.

The Pinewood Derby never fails to disappoint.  What a fun activity!  The boys all get so excited watching their cars run and I am always impressed at the goodwill and great sportsmanship that is displayed.  Josh ended up placing 2nd in the overall races!  He was so excited and we were really happy for him.  He gets to race in the Stake Finals next weekend.  Ben ultimately came in with a tie for 7th, but won the award for Best Trick Car because he had put so much weight in the back of the car that it popped wheelies.  He was a little disappointed that he didn't place in the top three, but had a great attitude about it and was genuinely pleased for Josh.  We did have to chuckle a little at the irony: two years ago, he placed 1st in his first Derby, without even really trying to make a good racer (kind of like Josh's 2nd place finish this year); this year he put in so much effort and then came 7th.  Oh well!  There really is no guarantee when it comes to a block of wood on wheels!  Unless, that is, you are a Cummings and your dad is a Rocket Scientist.  Those Cummings boys always have fast cars!
 
The boys had a ton of fun.  Hannah and Jen, out for their annual visit, were able to share the good times with us, and our neighbor, Gabi, who Ben invited to come watch, came as well!  A great time was had by all!