District Winner & New Track Record - Thank You PDO.com!

HAB

Pinewood Ninja
Feb 16, 2017
40
19
8
54
upload_2017-4-3_10-38-22.png


In February he won his wolf den race and got 5th in the pack race, before we found this forum. After we found you guys and figured out some of the many mistakes we made we now have a District Wolf Winner, 3rd Place Wolf Best In Show, and New Track Record Holder! Thank you to all the guys that contribute here. The amount of information that is openly and honestly provided on this forum is awesome!
 
The smile says it all!!!!! Congratulations! Make sure to keep teaching him about the reasons why the car is now faster ... keep on teaching the STEM basics and it will be a great life lesson! ;) By doing this he will remain interested and you both will enjoy building next years cars.

You are spot on ....the guys here have been Soooooooooo helpful! Our district is in few weeks and we are anxious to see what improvements we have made since we found this site also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HAB
Congratulations guys! Your hard work paid off. Yes I agree this forum is the best. All of the people on here are super nice and don't mind sharing there tips and experiences. Good luck in the future.
 
Last edited:
The smile says it all!!!!! Congratulations! Make sure to keep teaching him about the reasons why the car is now faster ... keep on teaching the STEM basics and it will be a great life lesson! ;) By doing this he will remain interested and you both will enjoy building next years cars.

You are spot on ....the guys here have been Soooooooooo helpful! Our district is in few weeks and we are anxious to see what improvements we have made since we found this site also.
STEM? You must work for some form of youth development program. Here where I live there is Cen clear children services they use the STEM system.
 
STEM? You must work for some form of youth development program. Here where I live there is Cen clear children services they use the STEM system.

Actually I am just a dad that likes to teach the leaders of tomorrow at every opportunity I can. My son and others his age eat this stuff up! If you take a few moments and explain the why along with the science and engineering, it makes lots of sense to them.

I didn't have that as a child and was forced to learn things on my own. I decided that when we had kids I was going to try and do a lot of things differently that when I was a child. I grew up on a dairy farm and did learn a STRONG work ethic and that has paid dividends in life. There are many opportunities to help the young people of today and I have chosen to help where I can.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggie
Thank you for that. I can really appreciate a person with such a positive out look. This world needs more people like you. I can also relate. I too was not given very much in the way mentoring growing up, one parent passed away early and the other worked two jobs. There was not much time left in the day for teaching. I had to grow up fast.
 
Last edited:
Reggie - Thank you and No Worries! I too grew up without much of a male role model. Single mom, school teacher, two kids, working 2-3 jobs so we could have food on the table and clothes on our backs. First pair of name brand shoes were in the 9th grade and they were football cleats, first pair of Levi's blue jeans didn't happen until I was in the 11th grade (had been Sear's Rustler jeans before that). I was self taught in many things out of necessity. That said I feel I am better for it - drive, work ethic, desire to figure out the why and how, etc. If I wanted something I had to go and get it, nothing was handed to me. Learned to jump into things with both feet and by fully committed.

Didn't have a model of how to be a good dad, but I certainly learned many things NOT to do to as a father. I try to get my boys outside working in the yard on projects and building things in the shop as often as I can so they can learn how to work with their hands, use different tools, soundly/correctly build things, how and why things work together, etc. Also try to get them outdoors hunting, fishing, exploring, etc. as I didn't have many of those experiences until after I was in college.

The STEM programs are AWESOME, it helps get kids thinking outside the box, challenges them, and gives them the chance to learn things the would have otherwise had the chance to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggie
Like I said earlier this forum is the best. Not only can you learn to build the fastest pinewood derby car's with information from the fastest racers but also meet the nicest people.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Craven
Thank you for that. I can really appreciate a person with such a positive out look. This world needs more people like you. I can also relate. I too was not given very much in the way mentoring growing up, one parent passed away early and the other worked two jobs. There was not much time left in the day for teaching. I had to grow up fast.

Reggie,

Thank you for your kind words!

HAB,

I too owe an apology for getting off track! This is not about us, but rather about the the GREAT BIG SMILE on his face. I am really glad you had the opportunity to help make this memory for the both of you. He will cherish it for the rest of his life! Again, congratulations! :D
 
Dude! No apology needed!

I think its cool that three guys that don't know each other from Adam, that had similar childhoods, turned a suck situation into a positive one, and have similar ideas on what we want our kids to experience ran into each other on a Pinewood derby website of all places. I am still figuring out the pinewood derby thing, but hope to host a couple build nights for the cubs next year. For many years my giving back when I can has been co-directing a adult/youth fishing tournament series called Kids First Fishing. My involvement started with my daughter (who is now in college, and coincidentally was my first and only pine car build until this year for her 7th grade science class) and is now with my 7 year old and hopefully in a few years my now 4 year old will be in the boat with us.


upload_2017-4-7_17-27-56.png

upload_2017-4-7_17-22-8.png


The great big smiles on all the kids faces when they bring in even just one fish is priceless.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rickmc01
Nice! I love to fish with my boys in trout derbies or out on the banks of a beautiful lake. There's nothing better than that type of bonding with your children. I hope to continue the bonding with my eight year old in derby racing not just scouts but in league races as well. Thanks for sharing your story.
 
Last edited:
Well, it is a small world after all.... seems like I have heard that someplace before. :D Seriously ... the odds of us engaging in conversation here and having these things in common is almost unreal.

We also spend a LOT of time on the water every summer. We have an RV that we keep on a seasonal site at Voyagers National Park. This will my wife and my 22nd or 23rd year there. Our son absolutely loves it and has been asking about getting up there to go fishing again for about the last month now.

I beta test for a couple of marine manufacture's (Minnkota & Dual-Pro) and I enjoy it a lot. Working with the engineers on new product before it is released to the public and a little during design has been rewarding. I get to explain the concept and the why of the new features to my son who eats it up. :)

If either of you and your families decide to take a vacation at Voyagers National Park, definitely get a hold of me as I can point you in the right direction as to where to fish. I also would be happy to show you around.
 
View attachment 403

In February he won his wolf den race and got 5th in the pack race, before we found this forum. After we found you guys and figured out some of the many mistakes we made we now have a District Wolf Winner, 3rd Place Wolf Best In Show, and New Track Record Holder! Thank you to all the guys that contribute here. The amount of information that is openly and honestly provided on this forum is awesome!

Now you just need to come race at this year's Mid America Pinewood Derby -- you an send in your car to race and watch it live on the Video Feed - www.midamericadery.com