Derby Derby Derby

OK, I'm off my soapbox in regards to the issues I was miffed about a few days ago relating to Cub Scouts and now it's all about the cars, the track and my boys.

So as I mentioned, they all had their own individual ideas about what they wanted to design their car to look like. Jacob went for the race car look. He penciled the design onto the block of wood and got to work cutting it out. The paint job was all his own too-

Gregory went for a non-car car. Confusing? He cut his out in the design of a skateboard!

And Eric, while still thinking about witnessing the space shuttle launch in November, went for the Space Shuttle design!

The whole running of the Pinewood Derby is actually a pretty precise operation. Computers are used to measure the speed and record each car as they cross the finish line. This wood track that our pack uses is the oldest track used in the district and one of the few left made entirely out of wood.

Eric's car is in the far right lane, crossing the finish line first.

This image shows the results from one of the heats. Each car ran 6 heats, one time per lane. The computer randomly selects who will run each heat and this particular heat had Gregory and Jacob running together. Last year we got lucky and all three boys ran in the same heat, but not this year.

And while watching the heats is fun, it's more fun to see how the kids entertain themselves. Luke spent his time crawling around on his hands and knees pretending to be a kitty cat and enjoyed hissing at the older boys. Thankfully they thought he was funny.....for a while....but Gregory found him annoying from the get go. He was giving Luke a 'talking to' in this picture-

Laurel shadowed Catalena and thought she needed to run the video camera for her. Catty was very patient and gently pried the camera out of her hands on several occasions.

After all the heats were run it was on to the results....Shwooo..... Jacob finished second in the pack and first in his den. He received a certificate for 'Best Sports Car'.

Eric finished fourth in the pack and first in his den. He received a certificate for 'Most out of this world' car.

Gregory did well but didn't place high enough for a trophy. Thankfully he was a very good sport about it. He did win a certificate for 'best car that isn't a car'! Sadly, but yet not SO sadly, only Eric will participate next year in the derby, as Jacob and Gregory will be Boy Scouts!