Pine Wood Derby Models

- The Story of How I Went from Last to First -

Here are my "pine wood derby cars". I like to call them models though. Let me tell you how I got started building these types of cars. I first started making racers when I was about 5 years old when my older brother was involved in Boy Scouts. I tagged along and made a car. I learned some important design techniques on this car, never put a groove or notch in front where the wind hits it. The car never reached the finish line because the wind resistance was so great. So the next year, I attended a Royal Rangers Club. It is similar to Boy Scouts. I made a racer their and took 3rd place in the races. A few years later when I was10, I became involved in a program similar to Boy Scouts also called Calvinist Cadet Corps, or Cadets for short. The past two years I have been a Junior Counselor their. For the first two years I made racers. These were the next step in the evolution of my models. I began trying to model cars. In 5th grade (my first year at cadets) modeled a Mustang, and instead of using a spray can, I used a spray gun. The change in the finish was immense. I didn't place that year. In 6th grade I designed my own car. This was another step in the evolution - I painted the inside of the wheels silver, to resemble chrome, and I drew the windows in with a permanent marker. I didn't place that year either.
     Finally I decided that the races were just flat out to competitive. So in 7th grade, I decided to scrap the races all together and only go for design. So the first design only car was made in 1997. This is a model of a 1930 Packard. I browsed the Internet for pics of some old car, and finally stumbled across the site for The Packard Club. They were very helpful. They even gave me a close up shot of hood ornament to copy, but I never implemented it. After cutting the top off, I hollowed out the inside, using a combination of a Dremel multi-tool router, chisel, and drum sander (chucked into my drill press). I then cut the windows. I had planned on putting plexy glass in to use as glass, but my sister threw the pieces I had cut out away, so I scrapped that idea. I used rhinestones for the head lights, and even gave it white-wall tires. I took first in design.
     Then in '98, I moved from using exclusively pine to using maple and purple heart to make the bed, stakes, and slats in 1928 stake sided Dodge Graham. In August, I was walking around a popular ghost town in Northern California called Bodie. The second I saw this old truck sitting there, I knew that would be my next model. I had about 5 months to perfect just about every step in my mind before I built it. I took first in design again. I entered this one in the Del Mar Fair, the fair here in San Diego, and I got a first place ribbon there.
     Our neighbor rented their house out to their daughter and to her boy friend. Her boy friend - Chuck had 1954 Chevrolet Handyman. It was beautiful. I asked him for some pictures of it and began making it. I had planned on putting a fake engine in it, but I was unable to find one, so I glued the hood back on. I went to a two tone paint this year which I had a lot of problems with. I also kept track of my hours while working on this model. It took me 50 hours! The competition began to grow within my own club we had about 2 other contenders from my club, only one of them was in my category (D). And their were about 4 or 5 cars their competing only for design. This was a change from the past years. Before I had been the only one not competing in the races and only for design. But I won again.
     So here I am now. I have won 3 straight years, and this will most likely be my final year of competition. I still haven't decided what car I am going to make. I thought about making a Plymouth Barracud ua, but the wrap around fastback window, makes it to difficult. But I definitely want to make a sports car, probably from the 60's. Maybe I'll make a '65 Mustang. I also want to try making a convertible. Well if you have any ideas let me know. I have had two requests to make a model (for sell), but I don't think I would be able to sell it for a really good price. Because for one thing even after nearly perfecting the art, it still took me 50 hours, and it has sentimental value.
     Here are the pictures of the 3 cars with the trophies and the ribbon:

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