Funny thing happened on the way to the winners circle...

Today was the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. Last year, Alan designed a car that looked like a wedge of cheese with a mouse on top. This year: a Mobile Defensible Position. (at least, that's how Jim described it to me when he was telling me about Alan's design) Everything about this car was designed by Alan. He picked out the Army man and built the design around him. He decide the color. He was the one that wanted the weights all around him...to look like sand bags.

So, today, we showed up at the designated place at the designated "Wolf" time. All the wolves were excited! The leaders had a complicated bracket system set up. (this comes in to the story at the end)

Everything was going GREAT! Alan's car was winning all of his heats...



Then he won a certificate for the "Best Military Vehicle." Unlike the cakes at the Blue and Gold dinner, they only gave out 3 "best" awards...so that's somethin...

Then it came down to the end. Alan had lost one race, but the brackets were set up for double elimination. It was pretty complicated for 25 or so "wolves." They called Alan up with two other boys to race. They sat Alan down, announced it was for 3rd and 4th, which was a little confusing since there were only 3 boys up there.

Alan lost. Then the other boy got up and went over to race for 1st and 2nd. They declared Alan the 3rd Place winner...

Here's his picture:

Then they realized that they didn't call up the 4th boy. They called him up and they raced the cars of Alan and boy and Alan lost. :(

Alan was a super-trooper about it. Not upset at all. It was the right thing to do, but that doesn't make it any easier...

So, he came in 4th out of all the Wolves. And he had the "Best Military Vehicle."


Here is a video of his first winning race:



Good job, Alan! We're proud of you!!