Just got back from a weekend in Round Rock, Texas attending Aidan's first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby, held in the gym of Aidan's elementary
school. Rules are fairly simple. Each scout must use the official Boy Scouts of American car kit which is nothing more than a block of pine wood, four plastic wheels, and four nails which serve as axles. The Scouts are free to carve, cut or sand the wood into any shape they wish, paint in any color, add stickers and other attachments. When completed, it must weigh no more than five ounces. Since the track is all gravity based, the closer a car is to max weight the faster it will go, all other things being equal. Aidan's car weighed in at 4.9 ounces.
Measuring about 40 feet in length, the track was machined aluminum, allowing two cars to run side
by side. Cars are released simultaneously; this track had electronic timing which automatically posted time and winner of each heat. Each pair of scouts got five rounds of two heats each, for a total of ten runs. Aidan's car won 8 out of his ten heats. Even though trophies were awarded for first, second and third place, it isn't about winning or trophies. It was about having fun, being a team, planning a project and executing the plan. That's what scouting teaches in its various activities. In this activity, they also learned about gravity, momentum, weight, balance, and friction.
Proud to say that my son, Adam, is assuming the role of scout master for Aidan's den. Adam's uniform includes a woven red, white and blue patch directly over the pocket, which indicates that he is also an Eagle Scout.
What a great weekend! Pround of my son and grandson.
Blessings,
Ken
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