Hey guys, The Duck here! We had our pack's 2019 Pine Wood Derby this Friday and Saturday, and here to give you the full details. Warning, it's a long story, but felt like sharing while it's semi fresh on my mind! Why? I want to do this for EVERYONE that shared any helpful tips or help with me and my kids. No need to read if not interested, but promise it will be interesting. You can skip ahead to the juicy parts if you want of course. First a few notes:
1. Hopefully no one here was in this Derby, but in case they were, I mean NO disrespect along the way, no complaints. Things happen how they will. This is just the facts from my point of view.
2. This belongs more in the General Pinewood Derby discussion. Why am I sharing here? This is where I got all my help and have posted solely here in my journey, so I felt it best to leave it here.
3. We race on a 49 foot bestrack with electric starting gate, digital timer, etc...it's in good condition. One lane was slow this day, as will be noted.
4. I'm not good with math! So I will only be mentioning two decimal points! For this track, 3.72 and below seemed fast. 3.69 really fast and that was our goal.
5. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience! This was ALL about my kids, and not me. I'm not disappointed in any way. They had fun, so we won without even racing! They learned, the cheered, they helped at every turn...it was a great experience. I'm all about my kids, they are the part of my life that matters most, and above all, I do NOT live through my kids. I live FOR my kids. The could have come in last and I couldn't have been prouder.
6. Spelling is not my strong suit, so ignore any miss spelling, wrong words, or other errors. Forgive me in advance.
That being said, here we go....
Check In - 6:15-7:30, Friday, February 22nd, 2019
Check in started at 6:15 and ran to 7:30. They were to start the older packs races after that. Two this evening, and then the adult sibling race. I arrived fashionably early, not too late, at approximately 6:30..which wasn't early at all now that I think about it! I had planned to arrive at 6:15, but of course ended up with last minute tuning and prep. First impressions. The line was abnormally long! I'm talking 30 deep long. Second impression. Line is moving slow. Third impression. There are a lot, and I mean A LOT of parents hammering on there cars with hammers (CRINGE) and going at them with Dremels. Let me go back and say our pack has strict rules. The basics are graphite, 5 ounces, 4 wheels touching, wheels flat, no wheel work at all, have to be stock.
So I get in line. I'm standing there for 20 minutes, move up only a spot or two.
Let me go back and say I've had nightmares about check in for two nights, it's kept me up, seriously. I've been worried so much. My worst fear is to get to the front of the line and have to do surgery on a finely tuned car, killing it's speed! I had a bad feeling about this check in, and with good reason.
It should have clicked with me, the slow long lines, the unusually large amount of parents working on there cars. Finally it DID click with me. They are being horribly strict this year! Much more so than last. I panic. Holy cow, I've got to check my cars again on there equipment. I've already done this on my setup multiple times, but just to be safe...
Check weight, cars are all good. For the wheels, I had tested these cars multiple times, and all four wheels rolled. On just barely, but it rolled.
I should go back again, the one that just barely rolled? I had SO much trouble with this car. It was my daughters. The body is a super thin wedge with pockets cut for tungsten weight in the back. I couldn't afford tungsten and used melted lead, but that's ok. Not in the cards this year. Immediately with my daughters car, the back corner broke off! I'm sure you know, cars can be incredibly thin and light! But something as up with this car. Maybe the grain of the wood? It was made identical to my son's car, but much more brittle. So the back corner was broken, I couldn't start over. I glued it back in place and you couldn't even tell I had done so! We have to use the original slots on there cars, but the holes for the axles were still drilled, so we used the slots but had correct imperfections with the correct angle and cant. Hope that makes sense. On my daughters car, the wall between the axle slot and the weight pocket was incredibly thin. So I was extra careful when inserting her axles...
Broke again! Basically one half of of the wall was just gone, it was super thin at the bottom and died upon contact with the axle. Crap. This is going to kill my daughters speed. Keep in mind, this was with the help of my kids. Then the same back corner that had broken earlier, the area around the axle hole broke! Again, keep in mind, this was too late to do anything about. I have worked for 2 months on cars! When they saw how fast daddy's car was at tech day, they insisted on having one made like his. Also, at tech day, my daughters car was faster than my sons! He was upset and I was determined to make two cars made exactly alike! So they wouldn't know who would be faster: An even playing field. My daughter, I'll call her P for time's sake, P's car had broken 3 times already! And in a critical location! They were turning out FAR from even.
Flash back to check in. So one of her wheels, on my even surface it rolled. On there's? Nope. It was a flat marble surface much better than the one I had. With a heavy heart, I performed surgery on P's wheel. I was careful, and finally it touched. 3 broken pieces? One surgery? This car is dead in the water. The Duck clan's hope is now firmly in my son, B's car.
Get back in line. There was a second line, but only open to the den's racing that night. After they all checked in, they opened it to the rest of the field. HAPPY DAY! This line was much shorter! I jumped lines. Big mistake. I don't recognize the guys checking people in. Who are they? Uh oh...it hits me, they are officials from the district sent to over see the check in process. And they are meticulous! I referred to them as the Check In Nazis, but do so lovingly. I get what they are doing, but think they are being TOO strict. The main thing they were doing is checking that all wheels were flat. Not just flat, but FLAT. If they were not flat at all, fail. They would place a car on the marble surface and roll it back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Seriously, for at least 2 minutes! My heart officially made the leap to my throat. There are no way P's and B's cars are passing.
It's my turn now, I'm literally sweating. They ask me for my forms. My forms? They are right...here? Where are they? They aren't in the top of my car bag where I left them! I look all over.
"I'll be right back, I misplaced them."
I run to my car, secretly ecstatic that I had put off the inevitable eyes of the Check In Nazis! Turned my car upside down, nothing. No where to be found. What to do? Check in ends shortly. Do I have time to run home and find them? No. So I go back in and hope they have extras. We were told they wouldn't and to bring them in. Then it hits me. In a panic, I weighed my cars. My forms were on top of my cars, so I had to take them off to weigh my cars! Of course! I go back to the weigh station, and there they are. Not long left now to check in!
I begin to walk back to the Check In Nazi table...wait. I glance back at the other check in table. The line is much longer. It is manned by familiar faces, smiling people I know. People that were NOT Check in Nazis. Yeah, I'm going with that table! So I get in line, though it is longer. I get to the front just in time. How did I end up being the last person to check in? I got here so early! He look's at B's car, I'm nervous. He passes it! YES! And then... P's car, the car that NOTHING goes right for. Failed. One wheel had to be straighter! Too much angle. It was at an angle on purpose. I had to do it that way, because when I repaired her car after the third time it broke, it drifted about 14 inches over 4 feet! It was the only way I could fix it. That and painstakingly adjust the back wheel with no axle hole or slot. This was the wheel that was giving me trouble and causing such bad drift. I knew P had no chance at this point. We just needed to get it together and prepare her to be disappointed by her dad. I had a talk with her and warned her her care would be much slower than B's. It broke my heart.
What to do? I'm in a panic. I ask him if he's sure, that I've had trouble with this car and had to leave it like that. That it had broke three times. He is sure. At this point, they are closing down. I do what I had to do. Grab the car and pull the wheel downward in it's slot. It moves slightly, won't pass. I do this two more times, finally I think he feels sorry for me and passes me! Thank goodness, have no hope in the car at this point with all that has gone wrong.
That's when he looks at me and says "There are no rail riders allowed, it's illegal." What? What??? Where was THAT in the rules? It wasn't. I poured over the directions when I got home. No, it wasn't. How can you band Rail Riders? Has anyone ever heard of this? It's the first time I have. Both B's and P's car ARE Rail Riders of course, but well within the rules! Of course, me being a kind person and non-confrontational, I said nothing.
There are no rules for the Adult/Sibling Derby outside of it has to weight no more than 5 ounces. So I pass without trouble.
End of check in. I'm confident in B's car, no hope in P's. I do break the news to her when I get home. Now to the Adult Derby!
Adult/Sibling Race - 9:15, Friday, February 22nd, 2019
Hopefully I won't be as long winded now. You've got the setup, the long part.
I'm excited for the Adult Derby. I've spent a lot of time on here getting advice, and doing research. But manly because ReecesDad hooked me up! He did all the hard work. I knew it would fly. I wanted to arrive a little early, scout the track and see what times Scouts were putting up, so I got there at 8:55, 20 minutes early. I walk in and am immediately greeted with an announcer saying "Well it's about time Duck showed up!"
What?
Then I'm surrounded by people asking me what I did to my car. What's it got in it. Why it's so fast.
What?
There are three cars sitting on the starting line. Announcer says it's the last race of the night.
What? I'm confused at this point. Last race of the Scouts? But there are no Scouts sitting there to watch there car run!
Cars run, they shut it down. Still confused.
Then it hit me, they had started without me, way early! I looked at the schedule, I was early! They had finished the Scout races and decided to go on with the Adult/Sibling Derby. I didn't even get to see my car run. I knew I did good by what people were saying. Keep in mind, there are no rules outside of 5 ounces, but I could tell there was a bit of bitterness to the jokes, not accusing me of cheating, just thinking I did something I shouldn't have. Have a feeling rules may change next year.
So I did win first place with an average of 3.5836. Second place had an average of 3.6775. So I won easily, just wish I could have seen it. I'm a calm, go with the flow person, but was very upset they ran it early, before it was scheduled. I think it was the wrong move. Even if they did, they should have called me and told me I needed to be there! Wasn't cool.
Not only did I win, but I broke the track Record.
Scout Race 1 - 10:20 Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
Finally the time had arrived! We arrived our customary 15 minutes early. 10:05. Race starts at 10:15. B is among the first racers. WOW, blistering time! 3.68 range! The next closest racer was 3.74. He has a fast car. And then...3.71. Why so slow?
Now, I should mention there is a slow lane with our track this day. Lane 1. It's not just slow for one car, but for EVERY car. If you run a 3.69 in lanes 2 and 3, you'll have a 3.71 in lane 1 every time. Happened all day, every time. He did OK there.
Each Scout races 6 times in his round. Next time up, same thing. He is super fast, faster than any time of the day, but is inconsistent. I know He's going to have to get lucky if he has a chance of winning the Pack.
He easily win's his Den though. On to Pack level.
Scout Race 2 -11:25, Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
This was a historic race for our Pack. It was the first Girl's race ever for us! I was very proud of P for being part of it. I figured she would do OK at the den level, maybe mid field, with all the problems we had with her car.
And then the race starts. First run 3.69s! What? Next closest is 3.75. Wow, that was unexpected. I'm sure it would be like B's car, and just be inconsistent. Next race? 3.68.
P's car was AWESOME. It was consistently the fastest car on the track. It lost 1 race all day, and that was because she was in Lane 1 racing the next fastest car in Lane 2, the fastest lane. And it was by a nose.
She easily wins her Den and has among the top 3 averages of the day! They are all so close, it's too close to call.
Semi Finals - 12:35 Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
Here are how the Semi-Finals are set up. Top three scouts from each den get to race. Total of 24 races. Each races get to run 6 laps, 2 in each lane. Top 4 in each Semi-Final advances.
P is up first. I'm scared for her. She has wound up with the two other fastest boys, they were slightly better than her. She easily beats them both! Her care is on FIRE. It's clearly the best car. She wins 1st, and advances to the finals.
B does good as well, places 2nd and earns his place. He is still inconsistent. He needs luck to compete. Maybe luck will be with him.
Finals - 1:15 Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
This is it, for all the marbles. Top 8 races in a pack of 100 scouts! Fastest of the fast. The finals are set up so each car only runs 3 races, one in each lane. Lane 1, slow lanes, 2, fast lane, and 3, somewhere in the middle.
There are two cars with a realistic chance. My daughter, and another kid. There cars are close, but P has beat him every step of the way!
Race starts. Her competition has a decent run in the third lane. And then in the second? Fastest time of the day! 3.68s. My heart sinks. Of course his time was slower in the slow lane, but decent for that lane. P's turn. Third lane, good run. Second lane. This is where it's going to be decided. Her competition had the fastest time of the day here! P? Lights flashes and starting gate drops. You can tell it's a good run, leaves competition in the dust!
How good. 3.67s!!! Fastest time of the day! Only car to reach the .7s!
This means all she needs is a 3.74 our better. They set the cars up. Lights start to flash, this is for EVERYTHING. I know she has it, so proud of her. Gate about to drop and...
Lights go out, track dies. Someone tripped over the chord! Well that killed the anticipation. They work to get it back up. It's good to go! Race back on. She easily cruises to a 3.70 for the win!
But wait for it. Because of the power outage, they have to re-run TWO races. I'm not sure why just two, why why why? But that's the decision. What does this mean? Wipe away P's best score of the day and best score over all. I'm calm usually, but inside I'm not happy.
She still has a chance. They set up....3.68, just under the other boys! She did it! She easily cruises to a nice score in lane 1 that is also better than her competition. RACE OVER. P WINS! First ever girl champion in the pack!
They call up all the kids to award the trophies. I'm all smiles, so is P and my wife and kids (except B, who is not happy his sister beat him!)
Getting ready to hand out trophies! Yay! But wait...just as they go to hand out trophies, when the power was killed, 5 cars had one score wiped out and instead had a 10 averaged in! EVERYONE knew who the winners were, they should have just handed out trophies and announced winners! Everyone knew P had won.
But they put their heads together and decide the BEST solution is to have another race. Really? The race will be between the 4 fastest cars with the fastest time of the day, no even going on average. P is in it, so is B! He has a chance. That fast time earlier got him in the finals.
I'm still not happy with this solution, by the way, and a bad feeling starts to sink in. I'm cursed with bad luck, and sometimes it rubs off on my family. SERIOUSLY, if it can happen and it's bad, it has happened to me.
Set up is 4 cars, each car gets 3 runs, one in each lane.
B goes, he has a good time, and a slow time, and a decent time. Still inconsistent. P and her competition are racing. Two fastest cars of the day, P obviously faster. She posts a better time than him in Lane 3. So far so good! Now it is Lane 2. He posts a decent time, not great. This has been Ps BEST lane, the one she posted the fastest time all day! I'm not worried about it.
Then the curse of bad luck strikes again.
3.71. Her slowest time of the day. The ONLY slow time of the day. Picked a bad time to happen. Seals it. Had a great time in lane 1, but couldn't make up the difference.
After winning 2 times, she settles for 2nd. Fastest car all day except on a run that shouldn't have been run. That's the way it goes.
Benjamin took 4th.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm VERY proud of both of them! They did great and their hard work has paid off. And again I thank everyone here for advice. But I won't lie, it does sting a little she didn't get 1st place when she obviously won it! I'm sure it wasn't the intention, but it almost seems like they ran the race until she lost and the boy won. I know that's not true! We are happy with 2nd, but feel were were robbed.
I'm completely shocked by her patchwork car! I can't believe it did so good. Goes to show, sometimes you just need a little luck. But sometimes, when you need a little luck, it's the bad kind that finds you.
1. Hopefully no one here was in this Derby, but in case they were, I mean NO disrespect along the way, no complaints. Things happen how they will. This is just the facts from my point of view.
2. This belongs more in the General Pinewood Derby discussion. Why am I sharing here? This is where I got all my help and have posted solely here in my journey, so I felt it best to leave it here.
3. We race on a 49 foot bestrack with electric starting gate, digital timer, etc...it's in good condition. One lane was slow this day, as will be noted.
4. I'm not good with math! So I will only be mentioning two decimal points! For this track, 3.72 and below seemed fast. 3.69 really fast and that was our goal.
5. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience! This was ALL about my kids, and not me. I'm not disappointed in any way. They had fun, so we won without even racing! They learned, the cheered, they helped at every turn...it was a great experience. I'm all about my kids, they are the part of my life that matters most, and above all, I do NOT live through my kids. I live FOR my kids. The could have come in last and I couldn't have been prouder.
6. Spelling is not my strong suit, so ignore any miss spelling, wrong words, or other errors. Forgive me in advance.
That being said, here we go....
Check In - 6:15-7:30, Friday, February 22nd, 2019
Check in started at 6:15 and ran to 7:30. They were to start the older packs races after that. Two this evening, and then the adult sibling race. I arrived fashionably early, not too late, at approximately 6:30..which wasn't early at all now that I think about it! I had planned to arrive at 6:15, but of course ended up with last minute tuning and prep. First impressions. The line was abnormally long! I'm talking 30 deep long. Second impression. Line is moving slow. Third impression. There are a lot, and I mean A LOT of parents hammering on there cars with hammers (CRINGE) and going at them with Dremels. Let me go back and say our pack has strict rules. The basics are graphite, 5 ounces, 4 wheels touching, wheels flat, no wheel work at all, have to be stock.
So I get in line. I'm standing there for 20 minutes, move up only a spot or two.
Let me go back and say I've had nightmares about check in for two nights, it's kept me up, seriously. I've been worried so much. My worst fear is to get to the front of the line and have to do surgery on a finely tuned car, killing it's speed! I had a bad feeling about this check in, and with good reason.
It should have clicked with me, the slow long lines, the unusually large amount of parents working on there cars. Finally it DID click with me. They are being horribly strict this year! Much more so than last. I panic. Holy cow, I've got to check my cars again on there equipment. I've already done this on my setup multiple times, but just to be safe...
Check weight, cars are all good. For the wheels, I had tested these cars multiple times, and all four wheels rolled. On just barely, but it rolled.
I should go back again, the one that just barely rolled? I had SO much trouble with this car. It was my daughters. The body is a super thin wedge with pockets cut for tungsten weight in the back. I couldn't afford tungsten and used melted lead, but that's ok. Not in the cards this year. Immediately with my daughters car, the back corner broke off! I'm sure you know, cars can be incredibly thin and light! But something as up with this car. Maybe the grain of the wood? It was made identical to my son's car, but much more brittle. So the back corner was broken, I couldn't start over. I glued it back in place and you couldn't even tell I had done so! We have to use the original slots on there cars, but the holes for the axles were still drilled, so we used the slots but had correct imperfections with the correct angle and cant. Hope that makes sense. On my daughters car, the wall between the axle slot and the weight pocket was incredibly thin. So I was extra careful when inserting her axles...
Broke again! Basically one half of of the wall was just gone, it was super thin at the bottom and died upon contact with the axle. Crap. This is going to kill my daughters speed. Keep in mind, this was with the help of my kids. Then the same back corner that had broken earlier, the area around the axle hole broke! Again, keep in mind, this was too late to do anything about. I have worked for 2 months on cars! When they saw how fast daddy's car was at tech day, they insisted on having one made like his. Also, at tech day, my daughters car was faster than my sons! He was upset and I was determined to make two cars made exactly alike! So they wouldn't know who would be faster: An even playing field. My daughter, I'll call her P for time's sake, P's car had broken 3 times already! And in a critical location! They were turning out FAR from even.
Flash back to check in. So one of her wheels, on my even surface it rolled. On there's? Nope. It was a flat marble surface much better than the one I had. With a heavy heart, I performed surgery on P's wheel. I was careful, and finally it touched. 3 broken pieces? One surgery? This car is dead in the water. The Duck clan's hope is now firmly in my son, B's car.
Get back in line. There was a second line, but only open to the den's racing that night. After they all checked in, they opened it to the rest of the field. HAPPY DAY! This line was much shorter! I jumped lines. Big mistake. I don't recognize the guys checking people in. Who are they? Uh oh...it hits me, they are officials from the district sent to over see the check in process. And they are meticulous! I referred to them as the Check In Nazis, but do so lovingly. I get what they are doing, but think they are being TOO strict. The main thing they were doing is checking that all wheels were flat. Not just flat, but FLAT. If they were not flat at all, fail. They would place a car on the marble surface and roll it back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Seriously, for at least 2 minutes! My heart officially made the leap to my throat. There are no way P's and B's cars are passing.
It's my turn now, I'm literally sweating. They ask me for my forms. My forms? They are right...here? Where are they? They aren't in the top of my car bag where I left them! I look all over.
"I'll be right back, I misplaced them."
I run to my car, secretly ecstatic that I had put off the inevitable eyes of the Check In Nazis! Turned my car upside down, nothing. No where to be found. What to do? Check in ends shortly. Do I have time to run home and find them? No. So I go back in and hope they have extras. We were told they wouldn't and to bring them in. Then it hits me. In a panic, I weighed my cars. My forms were on top of my cars, so I had to take them off to weigh my cars! Of course! I go back to the weigh station, and there they are. Not long left now to check in!
I begin to walk back to the Check In Nazi table...wait. I glance back at the other check in table. The line is much longer. It is manned by familiar faces, smiling people I know. People that were NOT Check in Nazis. Yeah, I'm going with that table! So I get in line, though it is longer. I get to the front just in time. How did I end up being the last person to check in? I got here so early! He look's at B's car, I'm nervous. He passes it! YES! And then... P's car, the car that NOTHING goes right for. Failed. One wheel had to be straighter! Too much angle. It was at an angle on purpose. I had to do it that way, because when I repaired her car after the third time it broke, it drifted about 14 inches over 4 feet! It was the only way I could fix it. That and painstakingly adjust the back wheel with no axle hole or slot. This was the wheel that was giving me trouble and causing such bad drift. I knew P had no chance at this point. We just needed to get it together and prepare her to be disappointed by her dad. I had a talk with her and warned her her care would be much slower than B's. It broke my heart.
What to do? I'm in a panic. I ask him if he's sure, that I've had trouble with this car and had to leave it like that. That it had broke three times. He is sure. At this point, they are closing down. I do what I had to do. Grab the car and pull the wheel downward in it's slot. It moves slightly, won't pass. I do this two more times, finally I think he feels sorry for me and passes me! Thank goodness, have no hope in the car at this point with all that has gone wrong.
That's when he looks at me and says "There are no rail riders allowed, it's illegal." What? What??? Where was THAT in the rules? It wasn't. I poured over the directions when I got home. No, it wasn't. How can you band Rail Riders? Has anyone ever heard of this? It's the first time I have. Both B's and P's car ARE Rail Riders of course, but well within the rules! Of course, me being a kind person and non-confrontational, I said nothing.
There are no rules for the Adult/Sibling Derby outside of it has to weight no more than 5 ounces. So I pass without trouble.
End of check in. I'm confident in B's car, no hope in P's. I do break the news to her when I get home. Now to the Adult Derby!
Adult/Sibling Race - 9:15, Friday, February 22nd, 2019
Hopefully I won't be as long winded now. You've got the setup, the long part.
I'm excited for the Adult Derby. I've spent a lot of time on here getting advice, and doing research. But manly because ReecesDad hooked me up! He did all the hard work. I knew it would fly. I wanted to arrive a little early, scout the track and see what times Scouts were putting up, so I got there at 8:55, 20 minutes early. I walk in and am immediately greeted with an announcer saying "Well it's about time Duck showed up!"
What?
Then I'm surrounded by people asking me what I did to my car. What's it got in it. Why it's so fast.
What?
There are three cars sitting on the starting line. Announcer says it's the last race of the night.
What? I'm confused at this point. Last race of the Scouts? But there are no Scouts sitting there to watch there car run!
Cars run, they shut it down. Still confused.
Then it hit me, they had started without me, way early! I looked at the schedule, I was early! They had finished the Scout races and decided to go on with the Adult/Sibling Derby. I didn't even get to see my car run. I knew I did good by what people were saying. Keep in mind, there are no rules outside of 5 ounces, but I could tell there was a bit of bitterness to the jokes, not accusing me of cheating, just thinking I did something I shouldn't have. Have a feeling rules may change next year.
So I did win first place with an average of 3.5836. Second place had an average of 3.6775. So I won easily, just wish I could have seen it. I'm a calm, go with the flow person, but was very upset they ran it early, before it was scheduled. I think it was the wrong move. Even if they did, they should have called me and told me I needed to be there! Wasn't cool.
Not only did I win, but I broke the track Record.
Scout Race 1 - 10:20 Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
Finally the time had arrived! We arrived our customary 15 minutes early. 10:05. Race starts at 10:15. B is among the first racers. WOW, blistering time! 3.68 range! The next closest racer was 3.74. He has a fast car. And then...3.71. Why so slow?
Now, I should mention there is a slow lane with our track this day. Lane 1. It's not just slow for one car, but for EVERY car. If you run a 3.69 in lanes 2 and 3, you'll have a 3.71 in lane 1 every time. Happened all day, every time. He did OK there.
Each Scout races 6 times in his round. Next time up, same thing. He is super fast, faster than any time of the day, but is inconsistent. I know He's going to have to get lucky if he has a chance of winning the Pack.
He easily win's his Den though. On to Pack level.
Scout Race 2 -11:25, Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
This was a historic race for our Pack. It was the first Girl's race ever for us! I was very proud of P for being part of it. I figured she would do OK at the den level, maybe mid field, with all the problems we had with her car.
And then the race starts. First run 3.69s! What? Next closest is 3.75. Wow, that was unexpected. I'm sure it would be like B's car, and just be inconsistent. Next race? 3.68.
P's car was AWESOME. It was consistently the fastest car on the track. It lost 1 race all day, and that was because she was in Lane 1 racing the next fastest car in Lane 2, the fastest lane. And it was by a nose.
She easily wins her Den and has among the top 3 averages of the day! They are all so close, it's too close to call.
Semi Finals - 12:35 Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
Here are how the Semi-Finals are set up. Top three scouts from each den get to race. Total of 24 races. Each races get to run 6 laps, 2 in each lane. Top 4 in each Semi-Final advances.
P is up first. I'm scared for her. She has wound up with the two other fastest boys, they were slightly better than her. She easily beats them both! Her care is on FIRE. It's clearly the best car. She wins 1st, and advances to the finals.
B does good as well, places 2nd and earns his place. He is still inconsistent. He needs luck to compete. Maybe luck will be with him.
Finals - 1:15 Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
This is it, for all the marbles. Top 8 races in a pack of 100 scouts! Fastest of the fast. The finals are set up so each car only runs 3 races, one in each lane. Lane 1, slow lanes, 2, fast lane, and 3, somewhere in the middle.
There are two cars with a realistic chance. My daughter, and another kid. There cars are close, but P has beat him every step of the way!
Race starts. Her competition has a decent run in the third lane. And then in the second? Fastest time of the day! 3.68s. My heart sinks. Of course his time was slower in the slow lane, but decent for that lane. P's turn. Third lane, good run. Second lane. This is where it's going to be decided. Her competition had the fastest time of the day here! P? Lights flashes and starting gate drops. You can tell it's a good run, leaves competition in the dust!
How good. 3.67s!!! Fastest time of the day! Only car to reach the .7s!
This means all she needs is a 3.74 our better. They set the cars up. Lights start to flash, this is for EVERYTHING. I know she has it, so proud of her. Gate about to drop and...
Lights go out, track dies. Someone tripped over the chord! Well that killed the anticipation. They work to get it back up. It's good to go! Race back on. She easily cruises to a 3.70 for the win!
But wait for it. Because of the power outage, they have to re-run TWO races. I'm not sure why just two, why why why? But that's the decision. What does this mean? Wipe away P's best score of the day and best score over all. I'm calm usually, but inside I'm not happy.
She still has a chance. They set up....3.68, just under the other boys! She did it! She easily cruises to a nice score in lane 1 that is also better than her competition. RACE OVER. P WINS! First ever girl champion in the pack!
They call up all the kids to award the trophies. I'm all smiles, so is P and my wife and kids (except B, who is not happy his sister beat him!)
Getting ready to hand out trophies! Yay! But wait...just as they go to hand out trophies, when the power was killed, 5 cars had one score wiped out and instead had a 10 averaged in! EVERYONE knew who the winners were, they should have just handed out trophies and announced winners! Everyone knew P had won.
But they put their heads together and decide the BEST solution is to have another race. Really? The race will be between the 4 fastest cars with the fastest time of the day, no even going on average. P is in it, so is B! He has a chance. That fast time earlier got him in the finals.
I'm still not happy with this solution, by the way, and a bad feeling starts to sink in. I'm cursed with bad luck, and sometimes it rubs off on my family. SERIOUSLY, if it can happen and it's bad, it has happened to me.
Set up is 4 cars, each car gets 3 runs, one in each lane.
B goes, he has a good time, and a slow time, and a decent time. Still inconsistent. P and her competition are racing. Two fastest cars of the day, P obviously faster. She posts a better time than him in Lane 3. So far so good! Now it is Lane 2. He posts a decent time, not great. This has been Ps BEST lane, the one she posted the fastest time all day! I'm not worried about it.
Then the curse of bad luck strikes again.
3.71. Her slowest time of the day. The ONLY slow time of the day. Picked a bad time to happen. Seals it. Had a great time in lane 1, but couldn't make up the difference.
After winning 2 times, she settles for 2nd. Fastest car all day except on a run that shouldn't have been run. That's the way it goes.
Benjamin took 4th.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm VERY proud of both of them! They did great and their hard work has paid off. And again I thank everyone here for advice. But I won't lie, it does sting a little she didn't get 1st place when she obviously won it! I'm sure it wasn't the intention, but it almost seems like they ran the race until she lost and the boy won. I know that's not true! We are happy with 2nd, but feel were were robbed.
I'm completely shocked by her patchwork car! I can't believe it did so good. Goes to show, sometimes you just need a little luck. But sometimes, when you need a little luck, it's the bad kind that finds you.
