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winning when they achieved their goal.

During the actual night of the pinewood derby, the atmosphere is incredible. All the scouts finally have the chance to show off the car that they worked so hard on and see to and enjoy the work of others, too. If they have the right attitude, which parents and scout leaders have tried during the process to cultivate, they will spend the evening complimenting the other boys on what they have accomplished, rather than just focusing on whether they will win the actual race. Before the race actually starts, there is a line of inspectors that make sure all the cars meet the specific qualifications. The track is around thirty feet in length and is set in place as parents and friends gather to watch the cars race. Each scout has a chance to race; however, the decisions are made according to the cars with the fastest time.

After the racing, awards are given out, including the top three fastest times, the coolest design, the most creative, and extra awards that seem to be just so everyone can go home with a certificate and feel good about their achievement. In my pinewood career, I have never actually worked hard enough on my car's speed design to win one of the speed awards, but the experience was great anyway. Each phase of the pinewood derby seems to be for parents and children to be involved with each other, and for the scout leaders to develop a good relationship with the boys through their efforts helping them make the car and helping the evening be a great time.

After all the fun of the pinewood derby, there is one important thing left, and that what the scout does with the car that he built. I still have all four of my cars in a box somewhere - I hope I will forever. Every now and again I take them out to remember the fun brought by the pinewood derby. Some of my designs include a Domino's Pizza delivery car, a block of Swiss cheese (which won an award "The Cheesiest" - one of those extra efforts by the den moms to make me feel good, I'm sure), and a whale; these were admittedly NOT the most aerodynamic, but that never seemed to be the point. I never competed in the pinewood derby to win, or to beat the other scouts, my friends. Actually, I never placed beyond the bottom 3 places. That's because to me, the point is not to win. It is first to create a cool car that you'll always cherish. And second it is to have a great experience - important enough so that the boys and everyone involved will always remember it.

Learn more about this author, Jake Morrison.
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