Pinewood Derby 2015

This is our family's first year in Cub Scouts (let's be honest, if a kids is in something, the family pretty much is too!), so this was our first Pinewood Derby.  I had heard about it over the years, since I teach elementary school kids, but this was my first experience.  I must say that it is a pretty fun tradition in Cub Scouts!

One thing that I really like about Cub Scouts compared to Girl Scouts is that family is included in pretty much every meeting and activity.  Ashlynn has really enjoyed participating in many of this year's activities, like the rocket launch.  Ashlynn didn't want to miss out on the fun for the Pinewood Derby either and participated in the sibling category.

If you are unfamiliar with the process, this is how Pinewood Derby works:

First, you cut the car from a block of wood.  We signed up to cut at our friends the Polancos' house, as they were one of the few places opened up to cut the cars.  Mark is experienced in woodworking so he was a nice helper

 Next you sand it, first with power tools and then by hand.

And maybe attach a spoiler.

Then you paint it. We just used craft paints and spray paint that we had around the house.

Then there were a couple of layers of clear coat (which we also had).

The car really came together on Wednesday when the wheels were added.  We heard, "Is this righty-tighty?" many times as Carter screwed in the wheels.

After, we used Papa's scale to check the weight and then added a weight to get close to the maximum weight of 6 ounces.

 Ready!

 A few days before the actual Pinewood Derby there was a cub scout meeting to check the cars' dimensions and weight and to judge for design awards.  At the meeting they had a real race car driver showing off his car.

 Many of the kids, including Ashlynn, got to climb in and sit in the race car.

 Here are some of the cars from the pack:

 The other activity for the evening was making a stand to display the car at home.  It was a neat idea!

Waiting for the race:

 The Pinewood Derby day was a fun afternoon.  Before the race, the kids got to ride on the "cubmobiles".

This year's theme was space.

Waiting for the race.

The cub scout races allowed every boy's car four times going down the track.  This was Carter's first heat.  His car didn't do so well.  We had said we weren't "in it to win it" but to just have fun with the process... but I think we'll put more research into it next year.

 Both kids were pretty interested in watching the races.

This is what a kid looks like after coming in last in all of his heats.  Yes, we weren't in it to win it, but losing every time is hard.

 But winning a rice crispy treat makes things better!

 Ashlynn was happy to hang out with her friend, Daphne.

 The final was between two fourth graders: Lucas and Dylan.

 Lucas won, but it was close.

After the cub scout races were the "renegade" races, which is the category Ashlynn raced in.  Because of time, they only raced those cars once.  Ashlynn's car came in second in her heat.

Can't wait for Pinewood Derby 2016!