Join us in the woods and show off your Boy Scout ingenuity! Yes, we know this is absurd, but also great fun.
We'll provide beer and meat commensurate with the number of people who can make it, but we ask guests to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Children are absolutely welcome (ours will be there), but if you'd prefer to enjoy a few beverages in peace, that's good, too. We'll do our very best with parking, but if you can carpool, please do. If you can Uber, even better. The party ends when the beer is gone or Meg falls asleep.
As for the derby: we asked all guests or couples in attendance to make a good faith effort to make and bring a car. It will be more fun if you do. If it's really not your thing, that's okay, I guess, but... please? Everyone that attends can enter a car, so that means couples can work together or decide to duke it out instead.
The Rules
There will be trophies for the winners, plenty of trash talk, corn hole, food and all kinds of summer merriment after the race, but here are the guidelines for your car. Last year the date was bad for a lot of people, but if we Ask me if you have questions.
The standard BSA Pinewood kit is literally a block of wood and some wheels. It's less than $5 and can be purchased here: https://bit.ly/2GUHxCx among other places. There are many many kits you can buy on Amazon or at Michaels that give you a starting shape but Hobby Lobby has by far the most stuff to play with. Just make sure kits are BSA approved. I know some are more comfortable in a workshop than others (and have access to better tools), but shape is only half the battle. Getting weighting right is really the key and anyone can play with that. Here are the rules:
Width shall not exceed 2-3/4 inches
Length shall not exceed 7 inches.
Weight shall not exceed 5 ounces.
Axles, wheels, and body shall be from the materials provided in the kit. Additional wheels can be purchased separately.
Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.
No lubricating oil may be used. Axles may be lubricated with powdered graphite or silicone. We’ll have some for everyone to use.
The car shall not ride on any kind of spring.
The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting devices.
No loose materials of any kind are allowed in the car.
Pre-shaped car kits may be purchased, but pre-weighted cars made by others may NOT be entered. The kit itself may cost no more than $20. (Pre-weighted cars are significantly more expensive)
The Champs
2019: Angela Niven
2018: Justin Willits & Amber Miller
