Pinewood Derby - The Pit Crew
| Category: | Pack Events |
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| Notes: | For race day at the Pinewood Derby, ideally right after check-in or before the first heat. Works for any pack race: Pinewood Derby, Raingutter Regatta, or Space Derby. For more race-day minutes, see also before-the-starting-line, finishing-with-pride, losing-with-grace, and pinewood-derby-built-by-your-own-hands. |
Every year at the Pinewood Derby, it happens to somebody. A wheel pops off at check-in. The car comes in a hair too heavy. A fender cracks in the car on the way over.
And every year, I watch to see what happens next.
Real race cars have pit crews. When a car comes in with a problem, the crew doesn't stand around and stare. They jump in. Somebody grabs the tools, somebody holds the car steady, and somebody figures out the fix. In just a few seconds, the car is back in the race.
Tonight, every Cub Scout in this room is on the pit crew. If you see somebody whose car is in trouble, offer to help. Hold the car while they fix it. Lend them your extra weight. Share your glue. Say, "Don't worry, we'll fix it."
Yes, even if that Scout is racing against you.
Think about it. Would you rather beat a car that couldn't race? Or race a car that's at its best, and know you helped it get there? Real racers want the race to be fair. Real Scouts want everybody to have a chance.
Somebody's going to win tonight. But the Scout who helps a rival's car get to the starting line is a winner no matter where their own car finishes.