FOGwood Derby?

[tbellemare]

I have been throwing around this idea with another of out members, and Iamnothim...

We thought it might be fun to have a FOGwood derby, which will be sort of like a Pinewood Derby from the Cub Scouts.

I'm taking this poll to determine a level of interest.

It seems like it might be fun to have dealers across the country (maybe farther) participate and run local events, which will ultimately lead to a Grand Champion. The whole concept is to engage woodworker/craftspeople in something that is competitive in a nice way and will help a charity or two...

The current loose concept is to have entrants donate some money for the privilege of competing and the money all goes to charity. My personal thoughts are the money should go to the American Cancer Society and the Cub Scouts.

I will elaborate with more details of how we envisioned this.

Tom

 

[crazydave789]

okay here's one to throw in - I don't think I have the plans anymore but woodworker magazine made a go cart powered by a battery drill with forward and reverse. belt drive IIRC

with the progression in batteries and drills now that could be interesting

 

[sancho57]

Tom,

Sounds good to me. I think the international guy may need to know what a pinewood Derby is and the car specs. Meaning it's not a soap box derby.

 

[Stephen B]

Tom,

Sounds good to me. I think the international guy may need to know what a pinewood Derby is and the car specs. Meaning it's not a soap box derby.

[size=14pt]
Tom and Ron, have a look at this -
http://www.racvenergybreakthrough.net

I had Primary age students entering the PushCart division of this from around 1993 - 2004 when I was teaching. From what I know a pinewood derby cart is just more enclosed than -

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Or is it what we called a Billy Cart when I was a child; front and rear axle joined by a length of wood, rope stearing and basic seat? Pram or just ball bearing (excellent for speed) wheels.

In the Breakthrough, the secondary students have a 24hr event with either Human, Solar/Battery or Hybrid powered vehicles. The 'vehicle' goes continuously with around five drivers interchanging. Must be a mix of genders in each team, unless from a one gender school.

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[size=18pt]Who knows what Tom's excellent idea could grow in to -
'The Festool USA . . . . . .'  [smile]
[size=8pt]
[member=10147]jobsworth[/member]  [member=2298]Tom Bellemare[/member]

 

[tbellemare]

This whole thought was based on the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby, whereby the scouts purchase the official $5 kit containing a block of pine, nails, and plastic wheels.

They turn that block into a car that races down a track against other cars.  They receive a merit badge for participating.

Tom

 

[rmwarren]

This whole thought was based on the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby, whereby the scouts purchase the official $5 kit containing a block of pine, nails, and plastic wheels.

They turn that block into a car that races down a track against other cars.  They receive a merit badge for participating.

Tom

Man, do the video's on that site bring back memories!

RMW

 

[Gary in Texas]

Tom,

You WOULD come up with a pine derby event a few days after I cleaned out the shop and disposed of a pine wood derby kit I've been hanging onto for, uh, let's see, like....16 years.  LOL...

Brings back a lot of good memories.  We were living in Norway and both of my sons participated.  I was one of the cub leaders, and had all of the boys sketch out how they wanted their cars to look like, and I along with other dads guided our sons hands on the bandsaw to cut out the shapes.  They were absolutely thrilled.

On the day of the tournament, both of my son's cars made it to the final, only to be beaten by the troopmaster's car, not his sons (LOL - it was VERY obvious who had spent a lot of time on this car.... and it was the boy's work).  It is inevitable that some dad's have to "participate".

Now that I'm recollecting past "projects", note that I'm still upset that my son's rubber band car only got a "B" in 11th grade...  I, uh, we, put a lot of work into that design!!!!  My wife banded me from the shop when the eldest son and his school project classmates design and built their catapult....  It took all I had in me not to go out and help those boys.....

Gary

 

[teocaf]

great idea Tom,
My son is Bear Cub this year.  Here are some pics from the pinewood build he's been working on.  Unfortunately there are problems with the track at his troop so they may not get the derby in this year.  The red car is from last year when he was a Wolf Cub.  He got a little more ambitious with the shape this year--more of a formula 1 look.  I help him with some guidance on the overall design process and setting up the tools, but I like for him to do pretty much everything else.

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[tbellemare]

I like the F1 look!

That's very cool that he's doing it...

Tom

 

[Kev]

So this doesn't offer an opportunity to put LS3 crate motor to good use?  No .. I don't have one tucked in the corner anyway [big grin]

Cool idea.

 

[iamnothim]

Tom passed away Wed Dec 23, 2015  after battling bone cancer since April 2015.
He loved this idea but lacked the strength.  It sure would be neat if we could make this happen.