The Red Racer

This Saturday, Peter participated in his very first Pinewood Derby.

We were all very excited.  He and his dad spent several weeks getting the car ready.

Daddy came up with the design (or more accurately, found a design he liked on the internet and downloaded it) and did the sawing but Peter helped with the painting, adding the weights and measuring the car. 

I think Dan probably had more fun than Peter and I'm assuming that's because when Dan built his Pinewood Derby car as a little boy, his father probably had more fun than he did.  I think it's a tradition all across the country - the Boy Scout doesn't really get to make his own Pinewood Derby car until he has a son.

The Tiger Cubs had 14 members participating and each Cub got to race in 4 timed heats.  Then the computer scoring system determined who had the fastest times in all of the heats and determined the standings.

Peter won 3 out of 4 of his heats and placed 4th overall.  Unfortunately 4th place didn't get a medal or a trophy...only a ribbon...which everyone got for participating.  He was disappointed but didn't cry like he did at the Rain Gutter Regatta.

Even though he didn't cry, there was a lot of sulking and muttering and ground kicking.  So I asked him if he had fun racing the car.  He said yes.

I asked him if he enjoyed building the car with Daddy.  He said yes.

I told him I was proud of him for congratulating Colton (his BFF who did win a medal) without me having to tell him to do so.  He said he was glad he did that too.

Then I told him he was a winner anyway.

"But I don't feel like a winner Mommy," was his response.

But you are kiddo.  You are.