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Most people would say my son's first pine wood derby was a clear loser. My son had just been diagnosed with learning disabilities when his pack had been given their blocks of pine and told to build a race car. Cody's father was, and still is, a workaholic, and was not available to help Cody build a car capable of racing. It was up to me, a tool klutz with no understanding of the pine wood derby to help my excited son. Cody drew a picture of what he wanted his car to look like and picked out his racing colors.

An elderly neighbor,Mr. Jackson, the father of five adult sons, helped with the wheels, and had lots of suggestions to gain speed.
on the night of the derby, Cody's father was, again, at the plant, working voluntary overtime.
The race was held in the elementary school cafeteria. Cody was excited about playing with his friends, and "doing good" at the race.

We both kept one eye on he cafeteria door, hoping his father would, come to his senses and join us at the race.

His father did not attend the race.
Cody's car came in dead last in all the heats. He didn't seem to be disappointed. He kept talking with his friends about how he painted his car and how his mom and Mr. Jackson helped him build the car.
In the final race of the night, it was Cody's unbalanced car against the Cub master's son's sure-fire winner.

As expected, the Cub master and his son took home the first place trophy.

True to the Scouting philosophy that every boy is a winner, the boy scout pack leader pulled out a coupon for a free free hamburger and fries basket at McDonald's and presented it to Cody, his prize for being the "Cubbiest" racer.
Cody was so excited about his prize. It didn't matter to him that he was actually the loser. He had fun gluing and painting his car. It didn't' matter that his car wasn't as fancy as the other cars.
Cody graciously invited Mr. Jackson to join him at McDonald's. He invited me along, but said that I "would have to pay my own way". The coupon was only for him and Mr. Jackson.

Cody did not enter the derby the next year, but did build a car for his own play use. In his last year of Cub Scouts, he built a race car for his sister, giving it to her as graciously as a brother can give something he would prefer to keep. "I wasn't going to race it anyway," he said in an offhand gesture to her excited thanks.

When Mr. Jackson died a few years later, Cody placed his first, and only, pine wood derby car in the coffin for his friend "to play with when he gets to Heaven."

Learn more about this author, Nita Frazier.
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