_For our family the first race of the year occurred this past Saturday at the Brownsburg fire department training center.  David ran his pine wood derby car in Pack 391’s 2012 race.  While there was no dirt, no motors, no big haulers, or even checkered flags for that matter, the competitors were just as serious.  David ran four heat races, which he placed 2nd, 1st, 3rd, and 3rd.  In the last race, the top three were only separated by fractions of a second.  Unfortunately, he did not make the finals, but I was proud of his effort.  Going into the project, I told him that he had to do the work, and I would coach him.  He designed the shape, cut most of it out with my coping saw (without breaking the blade I might add), painted it, and filed and polished the axles.  I installed the axles because it was beyond the capability of an 8 year old.  In fact, it was beyond my capability because I broke the car installing them.  We had to glue it back together.

I am not sure he learned the lesson I wanted him to learn.  I wanted him to learn skills in car building, the pride that comes with doing things yourself, and that hard work pays off.  However, the amount of work done by the other dads was significant.  There were some good cars.  One person even commented how they were impressed with how well his car ran because it was obvious he did the work.  What lesson did the boys really learn that my dad can build a good car?  Fortunately, he did not seem bothered by it.  I think I was more than he.  I stressed to him how proud I was that he did it himself, but I am not sure if it sank in.  If nothing else, he learned that not everyone will play by the rules.  It is true in my racing and every other form of racing.  For that matter, it is true in life.

Picture 1: Logan cheering on David
Picture 2: David's car (third from the left in the back row)
Picture 3: David finishing 3rd in his 3rd heat.
Picture 4: David's car lined up for his second heat race.  He won this race.