The "Chewiest" Car

We just got home from the Pinewood Derby.  I just made my 12th car.  That's right.  I thought I had it down.  Like, bragging to D all day that "I've got this".  Not only were we going to have a clever looking car like every year, but ours was going to win.  I made the sleekest car I have ever made.  little g was stoked with me reassuring him so much.  But.....race after race he kept turning back to look at me and said, "Last place".  It was awesome.  Not.

So, I came home with a grumpy scout holding the "Chewiest Car" award.  Next year for sure.  :)

Dur-a-cell! Dur-a-cell!

J walked in from scouts a month or so ago with a box I've become very familiar with.  Like I've seen it twelve or so times in my home before.  But I've got it down now!

We keep it to a minimum around here.  No more asking neighbors for cuts or large drill holes for weights.  Nope.  All done right here in our very own kitchen.  Yip.  It's Pinewood Derby time baby and I still had another idea pop into my little head for this years car.

Here's a clue.  The copper top.

The one thing I hate about these cars though....putting on the darn wheels.  I chip off little pieces of wood every year while hammering in the wheels.  Well, this year one of the wheels was a little deeper than the others, so it didn't really roll while the other three did.  I pointed it out to D who thought he'd just pull the wheel up.  I must have turned my head just then because next thing I knew there were two huge pieces of car laying on the counter.  I can picture my eyes right now.  They must have been huge like one of those bush baby things.  I just stared at my car that I had finished whilst a portion of it had flaked off and was staring up at me.  I knew instantly what had happened.  I could just visualize it.  I then asked D, "Did you try to pry the wheel up?"  He then said, "Yes, and then it broke."  I took a deep breath and then ordered for the super glue to be brought over to me.  Time to play doctor.  No use in making a fuss over it all.  It still looked like my copper top when all was said and done.  I love you D.  Actually I'm grateful you don't really do these.  I think it would drive me nuts just watching.  No, I know it would.  I would need a his and hers car.  :)

It raced tonight.  And....it beat a couple cars.  In fact, every time our car was up for a race, the chanting would begin, "Dur-a-cell!  Dur-a-cell!  Dur-a-cell!

J left with the award, "Most Energetic".  We'll take it even though it's a Duracell not an Energizer.  Already plotting my next car in 2014.

The most edible

The last couple of days I've labored in the shop making yet another pinewood derby car. Ya, just me and my tools. Nothing like a handsaw in the kitchen. (I can't tell you how many times I've done that.) I think this is car #11. I'm about worn out. Oh no, not the labor part. Heavens no! lol Just coming up with 11 different cars over the years.

Anyway...this year I threw out the idea of just putting the wheels on the thing of wood and turning it in. J loved the idea and A was sold on it. I giggled and laughed thinking all was great but then remembered my reputation was on the line. I ran it by D but he was in shock at such a lazy excuse of a pinewood derby car. Ya, I knew better.

So, I thought and I thought. Finally, it came to me. I wouldn't have to do a single cut on this year's car. We would be making a 3 Musketeer candy bar for our car. It was ingenious. I got on it right away. How does one make a candy bar car one might ask? With a potato peeler of course.

No need for sanding for hours when you can just "peel" the top two corners off and then sand. It was brilliant. Then, it needed a bite taken out of it. So I drilled and I sanded until, "Oi la".

Bite mark, can of spray paint, a squirt of light tan for the foamy center and BAM! This year's Pinewood Derby Car that earned the award of, "The most edible".

It seemed as though people were shocked when they saw the 3 Musketeer win its first race. Not me. No way. I knew that I had made a sweeeet car. Don't you dare call it a Ding Dong or a Cup Cake or a Snickers! It's a 3 Musketeer. Know your candybars people!

And FYI, you always want one of my boys cheering for you. It's ridiculous!

11 down. 4 to go.

Boys, their sports and their toys

Our Saturday morning was a busy one. C and A had their last cross country meet. I'm very proud of them. It was a difficult yet great sport to be a part of. Not once did either of them ever complain about a single practice or a single teammate. It's a sport where they cheer each other on. It was great!


G and J both had soccer games and then had their pinewood derby. I told the boys to think simple. I didn't want to have to bug anyone for a single cut on either car. So we did a lot of sanding and I dug out a myter block and saw and cut it in the kitchen. They turned out great. G won the most original for his Sharpie car and J won the most creative for his Pink Pearle Eraser car. It's all about the cuteness with me. Who cares if they're the fastest. (J earned his Bobcat thus the whiskars)

My, I mean G's pinewood derby car

Okay, so it's not my car. I had fun making it though. I talked a lot of smack about how it would beat all of the other dad's cars. Well it did...in looks! I think we were about last place. But it's all about looks anyway, not who's car is the fastest. He he