The Stuff Legends are Made of

The Pinewood Derby:  Where dreams come true or dashed to pieces

Fifteen years ago my dad's only son competed in his first and only Pinewood Derby.  A couple weeks before the big race dad was at a business meeting with some engineers from NASA.  He mentioned the upcoming derby and one of the engineers got a big smile on his face and quickly began to write down all the tips dad would need to know to build a winning car.  Then he got my dad's address so he could send him a mysterious substance of polymolybdenum (probably illegal and something only a NASA guy would be able to access) to spray on the axles.
So my dad and brother set to work, carefully following the instructions.  The night before the big race they quickly slapped on a coat of paint and went to bed with visions of victory running through their heads.  The next night the derby began and my brother's car raced over and over, down each lane of the track, taking first place every time, much to the chagrin of one of the other fathers who had actually paid an engineer to build his son a winning car.  My brother came home with the 1st place ribbon and his car has been proudly displayed in his bedroom ever since.
Marcus grew up hearing this story and has held the car reverently his his hands knowing that one day he too would race in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.  Last night Marcus's dream became a reality.
Marcus carefully selected the paint colors and sketched out what he wanted his car to look like and the work for Randy began.  Randy never does anything halfway and with help from the internet and a lot of tips from his wife, he quickly came up with some modifications for a fast car.  Randy knew he had high expectations to live up to and spent hours making the car perfect, while Marcus assisted and encouraged.
Unfortunately the derby was very anti-climatic.  The track wasn't ready and the first race started an hour late.  Kids were running everywhere, mothers visited in the back, and fathers gathered anxiously around the track making last-minute adjustments to the cars.  Then the cars were registered, weighed, and inspected.  One car, the fanciest car of them all, was under scrutiny by the judges.  The wheels had been sanded down too much which was against regulations.  The Dad threw a fit and the judges caved in, allowing the car to race.
Unfortunately for Marcus this car was unbeatable.  Marcus took a solid 2nd place but he was thrilled.  Marcus nervously placed his car at the start of the track while his friends began chanting his name over and over.  Clearly they expected his car to win and only his parents were a little disappointed in the outcome.  But eventually Randy and one of his sons will build the winning car.  We figure if all four boys compete in the Pinewood Derby, Randy will build sixteen cars.  The odds are in our favor and the legacy will continue.

The boys were horrified to learn the reason their dad was so good with a drill was all due to his dental experience drilling on teeth.  They had no idea that was part of his job.