I have recently been thinking about the great amount of time John spends supporting Professional Pinewood Derby activities, most of which involve no direct remuneration to him. For example:
1. A significant investment in equipment involved in the monthly races. E.g., Track purchase and maintenance, Video equipment, a significant amount of square footage in his home.
2. Significant time and effort to build and maintain this forum. Calculating and posting the race videos, calculating and posting the rankings, and lots of effort related to this area.
3. Everything involved in organizing the maintaining the races, in such a manner that there are events all over the country. This was a fantastic move, one which will grow, as other parts of the country or organizations decide to participate.
4. Major advancements in the creation or modification of derby parts that have had a major effect of reduced times, especially in the Stock Class.
5. I am relatively new to this sport, only slightly more than a year. John has been very helpful (all for free) in giving me loads of information on how to build a competitive car. AND, unlike many others, he has never led me down a false path.
6. He is very generous in allowing anyone to use his shop and track, and free with advice on solving your problems.
I am sure there are a dozen other items I could list (or you all could add), all for the advancement of this sport throughout the country. And over the years, he has also had to face significant criticism, attacks and antagonism from many and various outside (and some inside) sources. Yet he continues to prevail.
I doubt that there is anybody or any other existing organization that has done more for this sport, especially at the professional level, than John. And all at the same time, supporting a huge family.
Although I have occasionally purchased parts from other sources, I have attempted to buy everything possible from DD4H, which to the best of my knowledge, is probably his only (or at least his main) source of income. On this forum, I am probably preaching to the Choir, but that is a major way we can pay him back for all he does for us individually and for the sport. I recently wrote a PM to one of our members, saying that no matter how hard I try, I never seem to be able to get my axles and wheel bores to the same level of gloss as those done my John.
My hat is off to John. A helpful and unselfish colleague.
1. A significant investment in equipment involved in the monthly races. E.g., Track purchase and maintenance, Video equipment, a significant amount of square footage in his home.
2. Significant time and effort to build and maintain this forum. Calculating and posting the race videos, calculating and posting the rankings, and lots of effort related to this area.
3. Everything involved in organizing the maintaining the races, in such a manner that there are events all over the country. This was a fantastic move, one which will grow, as other parts of the country or organizations decide to participate.
4. Major advancements in the creation or modification of derby parts that have had a major effect of reduced times, especially in the Stock Class.
5. I am relatively new to this sport, only slightly more than a year. John has been very helpful (all for free) in giving me loads of information on how to build a competitive car. AND, unlike many others, he has never led me down a false path.
6. He is very generous in allowing anyone to use his shop and track, and free with advice on solving your problems.
I am sure there are a dozen other items I could list (or you all could add), all for the advancement of this sport throughout the country. And over the years, he has also had to face significant criticism, attacks and antagonism from many and various outside (and some inside) sources. Yet he continues to prevail.
I doubt that there is anybody or any other existing organization that has done more for this sport, especially at the professional level, than John. And all at the same time, supporting a huge family.
Although I have occasionally purchased parts from other sources, I have attempted to buy everything possible from DD4H, which to the best of my knowledge, is probably his only (or at least his main) source of income. On this forum, I am probably preaching to the Choir, but that is a major way we can pay him back for all he does for us individually and for the sport. I recently wrote a PM to one of our members, saying that no matter how hard I try, I never seem to be able to get my axles and wheel bores to the same level of gloss as those done my John.
My hat is off to John. A helpful and unselfish colleague.
