Used Items Church looking for a track

[Jon]

This may seem like a huge thing to ask for but I believe God is able. I attend a small church in a small community. We have seen many churches in the cities around us hosting pinewood races at their churches. Being in a small community as a small church being able to afford the tracks is not something that comes easy. Therefore I am here to humbly ask if there is anyone who may have a track with a timer that they may not be using anymore. If there is would anyone be willing to donate if for our church. We believe we could use an event like this to not only have time to minister to the young kids that we bus in to church on Wednesday’s in hopes that it would also lead to an opportunity to possibly reach out and minister their parents as well. I know this is a lot to ask so I would be humbly grateful to anyone who could find it in their heart to help our small community church. God Bless we are located in central Mississippi.

 

[TWarwick07]

Best of luck with your search, if nothing turns up you could consider the option of having someone host the race for you i know some people on the site do offer that service. You could also look into local scout troops for a loaner

 

[Jon]

Best of luck with your search, if nothing turns up you could consider the option of having someone host the race for you i know some people on the site do offer that service. You could also look into local scout troops for a loaner

Thank you so much. We are considering looking to our scout group which my son is a part of. The only concern our church has is if something were to happen to it while we were using it there is no way we could afford to replace it. But we are very optimistic that one way or another we will make it happen.

 

[TWarwick07]

My daughter is in girl scouts and when they have had races the boy scout troop who loaned the track is always there setting up and managing the race, i am sure they would do the same. And it would save you the work of set up and tear down

 

[Vitamin K]

Depending on your resources and time available, perhaps building a track would be a viable option?

Wayne's This and That has plans for a track here (scroll down for the 4-lane version): http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/pinewoodderbytrack

And a reliable electronic timer can be constructed from an Arduino with plans here: http://www.miscjunk.org/mj/pg_pdt.html

 

[TWarwick07]

VK , that plan for a cheap homemade track is really good. Better than the plastic track my local girl scout council used last year.

 

[Jon]

Depending on your resources and time available, perhaps building a track would be a viable option?

Wayne's This and That has plans for a track here (scroll down for the 4-lane version): http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/pinewoodderbytrack

And a reliable electronic timer can be constructed from an Arduino with plans here: http://www.miscjunk.org/mj/pg_pdt.html

Thank you I may try that if we can’t find one

 

[davet]

Jon, last Oct. my small church put on our first pinewood derby workshop and races. There weren't any other churches in the area doing it so we used it as an outreach. It went really well. We had 3 workshop days and then the race on a Saturday afternoon. We rented a track from the author of the Northern Star Council rules and the head of the NSC Council race. His crew will travel around our area with one of their tracks and run the entire race. We MC'd it and provided the trophies. They charge on a donation basis. You pay whatever you can afford. I know this isn't an option for you so far away but there may be someone that travels in your area with a track. We have 2 different people that do it in my area.

Maybe a Craigslist ad for someone willing to run the race for you. Try calling those other churches in your area that have racing and see what they do. It's possible one of them is renting a track with a crew. You could contact local scout troops or Packs and see if they wanted to bring their track and operate the race as an activity that their kids could get credit for. You could take a free-will offering to give to them.

 

[Richard C. Moeur]

Jon, what is your location? I know of a Pack in our Council that has two used tracks (no timers, though) that they are willing to donate to a deserving group.

 

[Jon]

Jon, what is your location? I know of a Pack in our Council that has two used tracks (no timers, though) that they are willing to donate to a deserving group.

Hi Richard I apologize for being so late in replying. Life has been extremely hectic as of late. I am located in the small town of Caledonia, Ms. I do realize that this is quite a distance from your location. However I can assure you that we would be extremely grateful for anyone who would help us with this. Thank you so much.