Blake after Grand Canyon Council Race 2008This story actually begins a year ago when Blake turned 8 and had his first Pinewood Derby race (April 2007). Blake and Dad worked really hard on a great looking and very fast car. Blake's first year he smoked everyone down the track and won every race. This was a total no brainer as far as who won, right? ... WRONG! Another cute boy was awarded 1st place even though Blake's car beat his car. It was a computer error and everyone knew who the real winner was even though Blake was awarded 2nd place.
Year number 2 comes (March 2008) and Blake and Dad prepare again for the race. Knowing what happened last year, the boys worked hard to make this a fast car. The race came and our pack decided to go a different race route than the other packs in our stake. Our pack borrowed a super fancy track and set in up OUTSIDE at a park surrounded by dirt. We were told this was going to be a fast race and we would be done in 20 minutes. SWEET! Well, we go through all the races and we carefully watch Blake's race times and the other kids. Blake won all the races and beat the boy from last year by fractions of a second, but still clearly won. The other boys are chanting Blake's name and cheering him on, giving him five as he walked by. We stood waiting with the camera ready to take the winner's picture when it was announced. Just then the Cub Master announces that there has been a computer glitch!! WHAT?? AGAIN??!!! Yes, it happened to us again! They had to re-race all the cars. By this point, an hour after the start of all this, all the kids who are watching are tired of sitting and waiting and start running around in the dirt ball fields, kicking up all kinds of dirt and debris.
When Blake's car races, it flies down the track and suddenly takes a huge jump in the air and drops back down crooked on the track and then bounces again. His car had hit a rock that had flown on the track. Blake's car never recovered. He went from 1st place to 8th place in a matter of seconds. He was baffled when they handed him the 8th place when he knew he originally beat everyone! I was so proud of Blake. He had excellent sportsmanship and didn't argue to anyone about the decision. (We waited until we got home and hashed it all out together! Cause trust me, Bill and I were fumed!!)
Blake and Bill decided to make a whole new car to race at the district race (April 2008) to go for some redemption. This car was not pretty and sleek. It was not painted, it was BURNED! Yes, they took a torch to it to really give this car character. Blake raced the car at district and won 3rd place in his age category. He was awarded a trophy and qualified to race at the Grand Canyon Council race in May.
The car was taken to the Council race, which covers all of Arizona (May 2008). Blake's car did AWESOME! It was "burning" up the track! Blake was originally awarded 2nd place. Of course there was a computer glitch... and he ended up with 3rd place! Totally cool, hu!?! Blake won a trophy, a shirt with his name on it, and aFULL SIZE MOUNTAIN BIKE!!! WoW!
Now that's what I'm talkin about!
