Pinewood Derby for the Jewkes started back
in 1972
David Jewkes story:
This is
where it all started..... This car is my First car back in 1972.
My first Cub Scout Derby. The memories that it brings being able to build
something with my father together.
We had fun building it. My dad has a nice garage to work in and he has a lot of
tools that made it fun to build with. He is very good at making many different
things, and loves to use his hands.
He showed me how to be safe when using all these tools and was very careful
doing it. One of the things I remember most is the painting part of it. I got to
paint my first car. He told me you must sand it smooth to get a good paint job,
and I kept asking are we done sanding yet cause I want to paint it, but no he
said you must sand more to make it smooth. After sanding and sanding, I finally got to paint it. I
picked red because all kids love red. You know it makes your car go
FASTER!
There was also a thing that I remember a lot in building my first car and that
was I
got to shoot a real gun for my first time. It was my Grand Fathers Bolt Action
22 Rifle. He took me down to a place were you could target practice and I got to
shoot it. We used the shells from the
ejected bullets to use on the car to make the exhaust pipes for the engine. Just
a great learning experience we had together.
We took 1st place in the race and that was very exciting for both of us for the
first time... I will never forget that. We were fortunate enough to win
for 3 straight years.
I enjoyed the painting part the most and now as I got to be older, I still enjoy
to paint these cars. Letting the Imagination run a little WILD sometimes but
that is the fun of it.
David / a1nogoslo
Glenn Jewkes Story:
Well here is the story about me,
Glenn, little brother 1977.
My brother just got done with a three year winning cycle in the
pinewood derby. Now I stepped in and it was going to be my turn to
start it all over again. I was at the shop every time my father and
brother built his winning pinewood derby cars, just watching and
wishing I could race one. but little did I know I was learning as
well.
The time was here, it was my turn to build a
car with my dad.
What is this??? Fathers can't help!!! Nooooooooooooooooo!!
I cried for days. The scout master said no father's can help, to
keep this on a fair playing field for everyone. "You all come
to my shop and build your cars here" he said. So after soaking
in my tears for weeks, it was time to go to the scout masters shop
to build my car. I will never forget my father words, " Glenn
you can do this, you have watched your brother and I build these
cars, you know how, remember just have fun and I love you."
So off I went to build my first pinewood derby car. Well I built my
car Its not very scientific but a simple wedge shape to keep the
weight back far and I thought it looked good. It was the only wedge
car built. Every other car the kids cut the back off on an angle.
Here is a picture of my first car.
The time was here, race day and my nerves where racing. My stomach
was ready to explode.
First race I won, then the second,
then the third, I could not believe it, I was winning all on my own,
my dad had a smile from ear to ear. Then came the final race.
They had a coin toss to see what lane we got to choose. I won the
lane choice. There were to lanes, blue or yellow, I picked blue for
1st place. We staged the cars and shook hands to wish each other
luck. They pulled the lever and they where off, down the hill they
went side by side. I could not bare to watch! I screamed
with excitement as I was watched my car pull ahead!
I won the race!!!
This was and always will be a memorable experience for me. My father
came up to me and said I knew you could do it son, I knew you could
do it... From then on our fathers could help us build our cars again
and we went on to win the next 2 years of my pinewood derbys.
Glenn / 2Fast4U
Over 30 years later the Jewkes Engineering line of products is now helping thousands of father/son/daughter teams win pinewood derbies all across the Nation.
