[Gathnet] Eliott's Pinewood Derby Car

[Jonathan Gathman]

Greetings Gathnetters,
   Feeling pretty numb keeping up with the family, and getting just the 
day to day stuff done.

   Still, every now and again, we've got something you might be 
interested in, and here's the latest.  Eliott built a pinewood derby car 
again this year, and you can see the results

   http://jonathan.gathman.org

   Eliott did not win any design award this year like he did last year. 
  For one thing, beauty is in the eye of the judges, and there were a 
lot of competitors out there (38 Ranger Kid Cars), but actually, I know 
that the judges at the Assemblies pinewood meets downplay cars they 
think the Rangers didn't do most/all of the work.  "Ranger Dads"... The 
problem with Ranger kids, is you've got to help them to some degree, 
because you don't want them using the band saw and power sanders before 
they're ready.  That's the rub.  Dad has got to do the cutting, but the 
final result can't look like dad did too much.

   Eliott's model car and design (all his) asked for fenders which 
curved up and over the wheels.  Having seen "Aunty Beth" do her carvings 
over the years, I knew that you can get the basic shapes cut in various 
ways, and use sandpaper for the rest.  I did do the initial cuts with 
the band saw and power sander, and worked with Eliott to carefully use 
some sharper wood carving tools to dig out the rest of the hood.  He did 
at least half.  The remainder was Sanding which Eliott did a lot of.  (I 
confess, he didn't want to put in the elbow grease to finish it off, but 
did do a lot).  Also, I wouldn't let the work stop until it was in a 
good position.  So I guess that's where I stepped over the line.

   Eliott, however, did all the design, drew the plans, chose the color 
and decoration scheme, drew the spots (I did try to help a bit with the 
cheetah on the side... drew a basic shape in pencil for him to follow, 
but that's no different than a stencil) Sanded, shaped and spray 
painted, etc.  But I think the results came out too good for the judges 
not to be suspicious.  Ce la vie.

   Anyway, I think it was a good project, because he learned what it 
took to make curved shapes in wood, a mystery to me for years growing 
up, despite Beth's astuteness at it ;), and he's got a car to be proud 
of.  Besides, now he and Josiah can race them side-by-side.

   If you want more pics, I put some pictures I thought the Church 
Bulletin would want (less emphasis on Eliott's work) at

   http://jonathan.gathman.org/Derby/index.html

Ciao
-- 
Jonathan Gathman
"Think, Speak and Do Well"
Urquhart Family Crest