Derby Car Races

The timed honored tradition of Boyscouts is the Derby Car Races. This is an ideal time for a father and son to work together to compete in a friendly competition with other scouts. The really unique part about this experience is that it isn’t about simply building the fastest car. Instead its about spending time with your son, showing him how to use tools, like a drill, a hammer, pliers and learn how to paint the car and mount the tires. Then there is the excitement that these youngsters have on the day of the competition. The experience not only teaches them valuable craftsmen skills, but they also learn how to play by the rules and learn how to be good winners and losers.

My name is Timothy McCallan. My son is a Webelo Scout and together we have built Derby Cars for 5 years. We originally didn’t do well in the first two years but we learned the secrets and have placed in the top 3 positions, 3 times in the last three years. One of the reasons why I participate in this competition is because its a great way to have fun for the kids and teach them life lessons. The fathers and I are Dads having fun as well because for us as Dads we love watching the kids learn and laugh. Kids learning is front and center in this competition because many of these kids haven’t had the opportunity to work with tools or wood prior to this competition.

That was true for me, Tim McCallan, and TJ. While making our Derby Car, I had to teach TJ how to use a power drill. This can be a scary experience for any father, because a power drill can slip and cause a lot of damage or even injury. We didn’t have any mishaps while TJ was using the drill. The key to his success was to find a light weight drill, use a sharp bit, and drill a small pilot hole for him. That way when it was TJ’s turn to use the drill, he didn’t have to worry about starting the hole himself.

My son learned about sanding using multiple grits of sandpaper to round the edges and then make it smooth enough for paint. While most kids can figure out how a file works on their own, it takes parental guidance to show them how to use the tool to grind down certain edges and smooth them out. He also learned how to paint the car and mount the tires on it. There was only one finishing touch left to go, and this is the secret to building the fastest car.

The secret to making the fastest car is to balance the 5 oz. of total weight (the limit to the cars weight) to the front of the Derby Car. The car itself, has to balance on a pencil when the pencil is placed 1.25-1.5 inches in front of the back axle. This can be quite a challenge for anyone, which is why it takes both father and son to work together on this. When everything was said and done my son was excited to go to the race and see his friends with the car we built together. They cheered each other on and TJs car placed in the top 3 of 55 kids. It goes without saying that this was a truly special moment in both of our lives. He has kept each car for the last five years and they are special memories of the time that we have spent together, creating memories one Derby Car at a time.