34 replies to this topic

[Nato77]

The boy is all excited to start building his car for Cub Scouts this year (he's not the only one  ). Its kinda nice to do something with just your son. At almost 9 years old he's starting to have more of a interest in what I'm doing, which I'm appreciating very much.

So we went outside to the shed after supper to start working on it. Last years car had way to many hours in it. I did alot more than he did on it. So this year he's going to be doing most of the work to it. He made up his own design and helped cut the wood to get a rough form of the car.

 

Then we spent the next 1/2 hour or so sanding to get it nice and smooth.

 

The black and orange car is last years car. He did pretty good with it taking 1st place in the pack and 5th in the regional derby. In the regional there was only .004 of a second between 1st and 5th, talk about close.

 

So anyone else building or built a car with their son (or daughter) this year?

Edited by Nato77, February 23, 2013 - 10:11 PM.

[Texas Deere and Horse]

My 12 yr old is building one for her Awana Church Group. I will help her again this year, but it will be her design.

 

Wish your son Good Luck this year from me !!

[sacsr]

I remember those days.....it was just a few years ago and I was winning with my car! Great stuff, good to have some father -son time.

 

Picture down memory lane.....and yes that is me holding my derby car and trophy I won at Philmont Scout Ranch 400 years ago

 

 

 

Edited by sacsr, February 20, 2013 - 10:01 PM.

[sacsr]

Nate your son will remember winning many years from now. I am glad to see it is still around today! Thanks for sharing!

 

Brian best of luck to you and your daughter too!

[daytime dave]

Nate your son will remember winning many years from now.

 

I am sure he will.  I still remember losing all those times.  We had an eight lane track that was always full.  I think second place is all I ever got.

 

Thanks for this post.  It brings back some memories.  Mostly good ones too!

[Dieselcubmike]

ahh yes. The best thing I ever did with cub scouts. I always looked forward to pinewood derby year. In fact I might have a few unopened boxes laying around. The good ol days gone by. Best of luck to you guys this years

[Nato77]

When I was my boys age my dad and I built one for a church function. I don't remember it going down the track, but my dad said it never made it to the end, which disappionted him. So last year after the Cub Scouts did their race they let who ever wanted to race thier car race. With alittle reenginering to my car the boy and I raced each other and he didn't even have a car length on me  . That made my dad smile. I just hope someday I can see the same with my son and grandson.

[crittersf1]

I remember those days.....it was just a few years ago and I was winning with my car! Great stuff, good to have some father -son time.

 

Picture down memory lane.....and yes that is me holding my derby car and trophy I won at Philmont Scout Ranch 400 years ago

 

 

 

SoapBoxDerbyWinner.jpg

Scott you ain't changed a bit.

[Lauber1]

i remember those cars, won 1st place my first yr and a contested 2nd place the next one. I had the cars in a box in my closet for several yrs after, and the trophys on a shelf. My Dad and i built them out in his shop , and he set the axils and weighted them. I think my mom threw them out after i left for the army, and i dont really know where the trophys went to. That was 40 odd yrs ago.

[KC9KAS]

Good luck with your Pine Wood Derby car. I too remember the days...our group actually had a division for the dads cars....talk about competition!

There are so many "tricks" to making these cars fast......Hobby Lobby and other craft stores have an entire area for the Pine Wood cars.

[boyscout862]

i remember those cars, won 1st place my first yr and a contested 2nd place the next one. I had the cars in a box in my closet for several yrs after, and the trophys on a shelf. My Dad and i built them out in his shop , and he set the axils and weighted them. I think my mom threw them out after i left for the army, and i dont really know where the trophys went to. That was 40 odd yrs ago.

 

What is it with moms and throwing things out. My mom did the same thing 40 years ago when I left for the Army. My comic books and magazines and toys all went. Fortunately nobody wanted my 027 trains. I guess that she didn't think I was going to make it. Guys, don't let your wives do it to your sons.

 

The pinewood derby is a great time for fathers and sons to work together on a project. WARNING : Its usually pretty obvious when the dad has done the work. Let the boy do it. He will feel better about it. If he doesnt do it right and he doesn't win, he learns to listen. The life lessons are the important thing.

[backwoods]

i remember building them with my gragndpa in his wood shop i dont remember how i did at the race but i remember working with pa in the wood shop. then came the Co2 powered cars that were built when i was in 8th 9th 10th an 11th grade. it was a technology class in 8th grade in 9th-11th it was an aerospace class 1,2,3 the 3rd class was involved with the 2nd class its always fun making them and the Co2 powered cars as well

[MAV]

I remember those days. I wasn't in cub scouts but my boy was and has moved on up to boy scouts.  The pinewood derby is probably what kept him in scouts at the time. Now he really likes the camping and hiking outings. We always had a good time building the cars and racing them. Our troop always had an open to anyone class after the scouts was done and I always built a car for that and had alot of fun with it. I will try and post a couple pictures of our cars. 

 

1st year

Boy's 

Dad's

 

2nd year

Boy's

Dad's

 

3rd year

Boy's is the one with flames

Dad's the other one

 

4th and last year

Boy's yellow one 

Dads the black one.

 

 

Like I said we had alot of fun with it and is something that we will never forget.

[Toolpartzman]

The boy is all excited to start building his car for Cub Scouts this year (he's not the only one  ). Its kinda nice to do something with just your son. At almost 9 years old he's starting to have more of a interest in what I'm doing, which I'm appreciating very much.

So we went outside to the shed after supper to start working on it. Last years car had way to many hours in it. I did alot more than he did on it. So this year he's going to be doing most of the work to it. He made up his own design and helped cut the wood to get a rough form of the car.

 

 

Then we spent the next 1/2 hour or so sanding to get it nice and smooth.

 

 

The black and orange car is last years car. He did pretty good with it taking 1st place in the pack and 5th in the regional derby. In the regional there was only .004 of a second between 1st and 5th, talk about close.

 

So anyone else building or built a car with their son (or daughter) this year?

Well this isn't quite the same Nate, but when that youngster grows and expands on that hobby, this can result. My son is now a veteran ASE mechanic who started this project in fall. Eng, tran OH. We will be test-driving early next week-Its great to see those kids carry -on---

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[HowardsMF155]

Our church would sponsor a derby race, which then fed into regional, state, and national levels.  I started with the oldest boy, then started the next boy when he was old enough.  One year the boys were in the same class and ended up taking 1st and 2nd place.  We always won the church, and usually lost at the regional level.  Last year the younger son combined his science project with his derby car.  We built a timer track and experimented with different tricks to get more speed out of the car.  Not only did he win the science fair, he also managed to win the regional and we went on to the state level for the first time.  Lost, but it was a nice trip for just the two of us.  Tried to stop at a Lamborghini dealership on the way home in Greensboro.