Pack Winner

About 3 months ago the parent committee for Pack 338 started to plan the annual Pine Wood Derby for the cub scouts. About 2 months ago the committee bought derby car kits for all the boys in the pack. About 1 month ago the wood skills shop on base held pinewood derby car workshops for Dad's and boys to work on the "perfect car". Today pack 338 held their Pine Wood Derby Race...and one Tiger cub won the pack final race to become the 1st place winner for pack 338. H WON !!!!!!

When we knew about the race Sam & I talked about the car, how we wanted it to fun for H , and we wanted him to do the work to feel proud of his accomplishment. We knew there would need to be planning and time and some guidance. This was H's first Pine Wood Derby. We wanted it to fun and encouraging for him. I remember when my brother built his derby cars how he fiddled and worked hard to get the cars just right. I remember when T was a Bear cub and raced his first car. Now it was H's time. Sam went to the workshop with H, and marveled at the planning. H knew exactly what he wanted, he drew the shape on the block of wood and worked with the wood skills helpers to cut it just right. Sam & H talked about weights and how to drill the holes just right. H came home a month ago so incredibly proud of his smooth shaped wooden car. H was excited to tell me he sanded it and got to drill holes and he knew he was going to paint it green.

Over the next month H worked on more sanding, more planning, and finally painting his car. Green H's favorite color, very green. H then wanted gold and silver stripes, he even used masking tape to make the stripes. H put 3 coats of green on the car. Then he put number stickers and his weights and tires.

The day of the race H was so excited he even decided it needed it's own box. H borrowed a shoe box from P and raced out the door to our car to the race. Our hope for the race day was that H would have fun and enjoy cub scouts , laugh, play and just be a 6 year old boy. H hoped to laugh,play and see his friends cars. Really just pure fun. Everyone weighed in and there were minor adjustments to cars adding weight taking weight off and last minute tweaks. Four weigh ins later I felt we had it I was ready to hand it over to the official and H wanted the race to start, however Sam felt it needed one more touch. Sam reminded H about the wheel workshop they had gone to. H ran over and added the final touches to the wheels they learned about and excitedly ran off to sit with his friends. My friend Lona & Laughed a little at the dad's and the boys and all the hustle and bustle around the cars.

The Tiger Cubs were the first to race, H won each race 1st place. The amazing pictures Sam took capturing the emotion and excitement are priceless. H was sitting with his friend s and they cheered for him they talked and jumped, called out and laughed. I mean it was pure joy and happiness, not just H but all of his friends. To see a group of 6 year olds so excited about the races and their cars it was amazing kids juts being kids pure fun. It was just gravy that H won 1st place. The races went on the other dens raced and more boys came to watch everyone was laughing and screaming and having fun, exactly what this should be was fun. The laughter was contagious and everyone just felt happy to be. Siblings brought their cars and raced in a fun race, Dad's who made their own cars were racing and having fun. The day marched on and pizza was shared. Then came the finals.

H was the 1st place winner for Tiger cubs, Then there was a Bear, Wolf, Webelo I and Webelo II winner. The Webelo's are 4th & 5th graders and for the Webelo II's this is their last Pine Wood Derby in 2 weeks they will cross over and become Boy Scouts. Five boys including H were standing up front ready to race against each other. They had several final races to eliminate to 3 cars. Race after Race H's car beat the others, once it even jumped the track and there was a re-match. Every race his friends cheered more, the boys were genuinely kind and showed good sportsmanship. H won all the finals and took the title H's car was 1st !!!!! he won the pack 1st place !!!!! his friends surrounded him and they hugged and cheered and were just kids having fun one Saturday . The feeling of laughter and fun was infectious and everyone cheered laughed and smiled. I can't think of anywhere I would have rather been. I was so proud of H. Not simply because he won 1st place but, because he shared his joy with his friends, he laughed and tried his best, he had worked so hard. H had earned this all on his own I couldn't have been any prouder. I was incredibly proud of the spirit of the event and how he embraced it, he was just happy to share it all with his friends. H received cheers and kind words for this I am so grateful. H is on cloud nine and so excited he can't wait to go to the district and represent all of his friends !

District Derby here We Come...... the unstoppable Tiger cub and his green car named " The Green Dragon"

after the race we took the whole family for ice cream to celebrate his win, P hugged on him and told him he was proud of H. S gave hugs and kisses and smiled for H. The "Green Dragon" went back into it's box waiting for the next race. H was a happy kid.