My Last Pinewood Derby Car

Last night, my son and I finished his pinewood derby car. He's in his last year of Cub Scouting, which means this is the last car I will need to build.

These cars always raise my stress level. I know I'm supposed to emphasize the fun in making the car together. I'm sure that people who are handy derive great joy in sharing their skills with their son. But let's face facts. I'm not handy. I'm barely comfortable in working with power saws myself. So coaching my son in doing it leaves me remembering those movies they showed us in shop class when I was in middle school.

Each year, I give my son more of the car to do. This year, he helped cut the car on a band saw, sand it on a bench sander, drill the axles with a drill press, attach weights with putty, paint, and prep the wheels with steel wool. Mounting the wheels was my job.

Now the stress really builds. Tonight is "Pit Night" when we find out if the car meets specs. Sometimes we have, sometimes we haven't. I think we'll be ok tonight. Then the only thing left to do is race.