Memories of Another Blue & Gold Car
Stock Car Racing History
TMC, The first Pinewood Derby held in my home town (66 or 67) was my last year in Cub Scouts. I wanted to build my car by my self and being our first time out I did not know all the trick things that made a car fast but it was sharp. Shaped like a midget car and painted blue with a #4 on it like dad's race car, even got a ribbon for Best Appearing. Then can race time, mine was the last to leave the gate, it just did make it down the incline before a wheel feel off and it stopped half way along the flat part of the track. Never made it to the finish. I had to go collect the pieces alone while everyone else was at the finish line. My first personal experience with loosing a race, yuck! Dad was as embarrassed as I was, maybe more so when you here the rest of the story.
The next year I was a Boy Scout and my brother, Keith stepped up to represent the family in the Derby. This time dad helped build the car. Even built a track in the basement to test on. Shaped like a wedge and painted to look like the STP turbine car #40. It was fast too. Won the first race and kept right on winning all the way to the State Title. Went right far in the Nationals as well but I can't remember how far he got. Keith did help build the car but dad made sure there was not a repeat of my performance.
This is where I wish I knew how to put up one of those smiley faces that is winking at you.