2010 Pinewood Derby Wrapup
Hi families of Pack 1776!
We hope you all had fun at today’s Pinewood derby festivities.
Lots of Thank You’s to all the volunteer parents:
PWD chairman- Joe M
PWD chairman- Russ D
PWD chairman- Harry B
2010 PWD announcer- Steve B
Food booth organizers- Jen R, Cathy V, Lisa C, Kim D, and Robert R
And all the volunteer parents who helped with the race setup & handling!
Last but not least, I’d like to thank Macey Z, who donated his time & efforts to make the super cool PWD Driver’s license.
Everyone’s time, energy, dedication and support for the pack are much appreciated! We are a volunteer organization & all the volunteers make this possible.
Again congratulations to the speed winners:
First- Alexander B
Second- Jacob L
Third- Brandon B
Also congratulations to the artistic winners:
Spirit of Scouting: JT F (Zamboni)
Most Realistic: Tie between Brian L (Wii) and AJ L (Speedy McQueen)
Most Similar to a Race Car: Kai P (Formula One Car)
Most Fun Car: Raghau M (Yoshi)
One of the fun things about a big group is not only sharing pictures, but sharing memories! If you took any pictures or videos from the event, please upload them to our Pack photo site (details here).
Cubmaster PWD notes:
When I take a moment to contemplate all the Pinewood derby cars, I realize that an awful lot of painstaking work went into each one. There is much creativity and ingenuity represented. I don't know, but I imagine that each car was designed to be the fastest. Of course, there was only one winning CAR, but I contend to say that all of the CUBS were winners. This is why we choose to give a trophy to all the participants.
Building the car helped bring dad and son closer together. Mom was proud of her son whether she gave him a hug of congratulations or comfort. The boys gained a better knowledge of competition; how to win, how to lose, how to be happy for a friend. The leaders, in the pride they felt knowing that each of their boys had done their best.
Yes, there are only winners!
Thank you all for helping to make the pack go and the Cub Scouts grow! Most of all, I hope all the families had fun with your scouts! Activities like this will make memories of a lifetime!
Congratulations to all of us winners!
Cubmaster Ed
Adventure Base 100 at Sacramento
Did you enjoy Adventure Base 100 at Sacramento this past weekend? Want a recap? Here you go ...
To learn more about AB100, go to their website. You can also subscribe to their cool videos on the BSA 100th years channel.
Amazing Pinewood Derby Cars
Looking for ideas for your pinewood derby car? Check out these amazing pinewood derby cars created by Boys' Life magazine readers. Get more, plus tips to make your car super-fast, at www.boyslife.org/pinewood.
Adventure Base 100 – Volunteers Needed!
Date: Thursday, January 21-24, 2010
Location: Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA
In celebration of the organization’s 100th anniversary, the National BSA is bringing a truly unique and interactive experience to our area, the Adventure Base 100.
Created specifically for the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th Anniversary Celebration, Adventure Base 100 is traveling the country to rally people of all ages to take part in “Celebrating the Adventure, Continuing the Journey.”
Adventure Base 100 is a unique, interactive 10,000-square-foot campus featuring immersive and exciting Scout-related experiences to provide a hands-on view of the Boy Scouts of America’s 100 year history and the difference Scouting has made in the lives of millions of youth.
Starting in January at the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, Calif., and ending in November in New York City, Adventure Base 100 will be rolling into more than 40 markets across the country. It will be in Sacramento from Thursday, January 21 to Sunday, January 24th. This is a joint effort with all the Bay Area Councils. Adventure Base 100 will be located at the Cal Expo.
We Need Volunteers!
The Mt. Diablo Silverado Council needs to provide volunteers to help provide manpower. This is the same weekend as the Council’s LEAD Training so it will be really helpful for volunteers who are not attending the training to volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering at the Adventure Base, please look at these job descriptions and then fill out this form and submit it to Dave Ishikawa as soon as possible. The MDSC contact is Valerie Ridgers 925-674-6155 or email.
PWD Car Kits & Upcoming Pack Events
Pack 1776 Families-
We hope you all enjoyed the Down & Derby Movie night & the tour of the Blackhawk Auto Museum at last week’s Pack meeting. It is truly one of the finest auto museums in the world. Hopefully it got all the scouts revved up for the upcoming Pinewood derby race!
For those of you who missed the last two Pack meetings, we passed out Pinewood Derby Kits to all the scouts. If you missed the meetings & want a kit for your Scout (free) or Sibling ($5/kit), send me an email & we'll arrange for your scout to get a PWD kit.
The PWD race is Sunday January 31.
Other upcoming events include:
- Friday Jan 15- Scout night with the Warriors
- Th-Sat Jan 21-23- Adventure Base 100 Tour - Sacramento
- Saturday Jan 23- L.E.A.D. training
- Saturday Jan 30- PWD weigh-in & impound
- Saturday Feb 13- Scout Day w/ Cal Bear Basketball
- Friday Feb 19- Blue & Gold Banquet Pack Meeting
Until then, the Pack 1776 leadership team wish all of you & your families are having a wonderful New Year!
Yours in Scouting,
Cubmaster Ed
Pinewood Derby Driver’s License Photos
Actual license may look different
The photos taken at Blackhawk Museum is now available on the Pack Photo Site. These photos will be inserted into a Pinewood Derby Driver's License template I made. I'll get these printed, laminated and to the pack on Derby Day.
Please check that the name spellings and den assignments are correct. There are 4 photos that I do not have the scout's name or den. Any help in identifying these boys would be appreciated.
Any scouts that missed their photo on the 10th can take their picture at weigh-ins on the 30th. It will be during the first 30 minutes of the scheduled weigh-in time.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Macey Z
Den 6
Adventure Base 100 Visits San Diego
Learn about the harrowing experience the Silverwood family faced that put an Eagle Scout's first aid training to the test. And, see how the Adventure Base 100 campus is getting kids excited about joining Scouting!
Looks pretty cool, doesn't it? And YOU CAN BE PART OF IT! Stay tuned.
Adventure Base 100: First Stop Pasadena
Adventure Base 100 starts its nationwide tour in Pasadena, Calif. in conjunction with the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade. Learn how Scouts Alex Krebs and Trevor Osaki are taking part in the big day and leaving a long-lasting impact by stewarding the environment in their communities.
Did the video leave you wanting for more?? Don't miss the photo album, and check out the Adventure Base 100 website for more information.
Adventure Base 100
The BSA 100th Anniversary tour will travel the country to rally people of all ages to join the BSA in “Celebrating the Adventure, Continuing the Journey.” Through interactive experiences, demonstrations, activities, and more, visitors will have an exciting and inspiring view of the history and future of the Boy Scouts of America.
Adventure Base 100 will enable the Boy Scouts of America to directly connect with millions of families across the country and invite them to join us in celebrating the adventure, and continuing our journey. The18-wheeler will travel from coast to coast, telling the story of Scouting at each stop. After passing through the dramatic entrance with its rustic archway, visitors to AB100 will be greeted by a sprawling campus of BSA-branded structures and activities:
- Traveling Lodge. This double-wide tractor’ trailer provides more than 1,000 square feet of immersive, multi-sensory Scout-related experiences.
- Go Dome. This multi-sensory, surround-sound, surround-vision immersion dome transports visitors to environments that epitomize the Scouting experience.
- Thrill Wall. Visitors will scale new heights on the outdoor rock climbing wall.
- Information/Recruitment Tent. This prominently placed opportunity will encourage non-Scouts to join Scouting and recruit adults to become BSA volunteers.
- Sponsor Tent(s). Key 100th Anniversary sponsors will be able to promote their partnership with the BSA and showcase products or social responsibility efforts (within defined parameters).
- BSA Store Tent. Visitors can purchase 100th Anniversary memorabilia and patches.
AB100 will make stops in 30 to 50 of the nation’s largest markets. Stops will coordinate with major cultural, community, or Scouting events that already draw large crowds. From the tour’s beginning at the Tournament of Roses festivities in January 2010 to the nation’s capitol in time for the National Jamboree, AB100 promises a fully interactive experience for millions. A tour stop is tentatively scheduled in Central Florida, in Daytona Beach, to coincide with the Daytona 500. The complete tour schedule can be found HERE.
Pinewood Derby® Planning Steps
Pack 1776 Scouters-
As you all know, we have our annual Pinewood derby race coming up at the end of the month. For those of you that are new to scouting or those who just need a refresher course, here are some planning steps that may help in making a Pinewood Derby® car. Remember, while Pinewood Derbies® gives a Cub Scout and an adult a project to complete as a team, we should encourage each scout to do as much of the car building as possible.
Step 1: Design the Car's Body
Choose your favorite design. Outline it onto your paper template or graph paper. Remember to maintain a width of 1-3/4 inches where the metal axle is to be inserted. Then outline the bare block of wood onto the paper. Keep the design simple enough to avoid overly intricate or detailed cutting.
Step 2: Shape the Car's Body
- When deciding how detailed you want your car to be, keep in mind the tools you have available: saws, drills, sanders, etc. Consider safety as well. Usually, the adult makes the major cuts with the power tools and then lets the youth file and complete the sanding.
- Check the axle grooves to ensure that each is at a perfect 90-degree angle to the car body. A car with untrue axles tends to steer to one side or the other, causing it to rub up against the side of the lane strip, slowing it down.
- Cut away the large sections of waste wood to get close to your etching of the final design. This makes it easier to shape and detail your design. It’s much harder to add wood if you overcut your original design.
- Do not forget to have a place for weight if you need it. Weight may be placed anywhere as long as it is not taped on and does not exceed the specifications.
Step 3: Inspect the Wheels
- Only the official wheels are acceptable.
- Wheels can be sanded to remove surface imperfections, but the treads must be left flat.
- Inspecting the wheels is important. Make sure all wheels roll freely and smoothly around the axle. Get a drill bit that fits just inside the wheel where the axle fits. This cleans out the roughness and burrs that cause wheels to not spin freely.
Step 4: Insert Axels
- Check each axle for a burr on the underside of the head.
- To let the wheels run as freely as possible, place an axle in a hand-drill chuck to hold it steady, then smooth the burrs with a fine emery cloth or file.
- To fine-tune your axles, polish them with jeweler’s rouge or fine emery paper. These items can be purchased at a local hardware store.
Step 5: Paint
After shaping and sanding your car to your satisfaction, prime it, sand it with fine sandpaper, and add additional coats of paint or a "skin". Do not glue details on yet.
Step 6: Install Wheels and Axles
Put the axles and wheels on the car, but don’t glue axles on at this point. Weigh your car, being sure to place the car and the accessories (driver, steering wheel, roll bar, etc.) on the scale.
Step 7: Add Weights
- The car may not weigh more than five ounces. Get your car as close to that weight as possible.
- If you do not have a scale, the U.S. Postal Service or a supermarket might weigh your car for you. Our Pack 1776 Pinewood Derby® Committee has an official scale for you to use at the weigh-in the day before the race.
- Weight must not be taped on. The car may be hollowed out and weight inserted to build it up to the maximum weight. Make sure it is securely attached or built into the body of the car so as to not fall off the car and onto the track.
Step 8: Test the Car
- Once weight is securely mounted, slip wheels back on. Place car on a long, flat surface, such as a floor, and give it a gentle push. The car should travel in a straight line for a reasonable distance (five to ten feet).
Step 9: Lubricate the Car
- Lube and mount the wheels permanently. Dry, fine powdered lube works best. Dust a little powdered lube in the hole of the wheel where the axle is inserted, some on the axle where the wheel rides, and a little at the axle head.
- Slide the axles and wheels onto the car and glue into place. Use an epoxy or nonresin glue, and make sure you don’t get any on the surface of the axle where the wheel rides.
Step 10: Accessorize the Car
Make sure accessories are securely mounted on the car. Add stripes and decals if desired.
Safety
To ensure the highest level of success and fun in your Pinewood Derby® experience, make safety your top priority. Here are some useful guidelines for maintaining safety:
- Gather your safety essentials: dust mask, goggles, and latex gloves.
- Wear eye protection at all times.
- Monitor Cub Scouts’ use of tools.
- Wear dust mask when appropriate.
- Work in a well-lighted and well-ventilated area.
- Consider wearing gloves when using sharp tools.
- Do not wear loose-fitting clothing.
- Do not melt lead; handle lead with care.
- Follow all safety rules and precautions listed on the tools and products you use.
- Keep your work area clean and organized.
Most of all, have fun with your scouts! Activities like this will make memories of a lifetime!
Yours in Scouting,
Cubmaster Ed
