[URISP id=85916]
The Pinewood Classic Derby made its fourth appearance at Short Leash Hotdogs on Saturday, with more than 60 handcrafted cars competing against each other.
The Pinewood Derby was an all-day event with food, drinks and live music. There was an event for children earlier in the day.
This event in particular was created in 2014 just for adults, where creative cars with elaborate designs were made and then raced on a 40-foot-long track.
The designs of the cars were all different. Some looked like actual motor cars, but others were different. One had a man riding a surfboard. Others included tiny men on a Jamaican bob sled, a hairy dog and a double helix. One spelled out downtown Phoenix.
The races were separated by winning and losing heats with three cars going at a time.
“You got to just stay to the rules and build a fast car. That’s ultimately the grand prize, the fastest car to get to the finish line,” said event co-founder Doug Penick.
Each time the cars raced down the tracks, the crowd screamed with excitement as the cars crossed the finish line. The winners were happy, but the people who entered were content on just participating at all.
“I kind of just do mine for looks, so if you’ve looked at any of the cars I’ve done, there’s a lot of detail work, like I spend of lot of time on it,” said competitor Sean Chambers.
Tuft and Needles partnered with the derby and gave away a brand new mattress to the winner of the raffle. All of the proceeds from the raffle went to local nonprofit charity Food for the Hungry.
There were also awards given out for Best Spirit and Best Creativity and Craftsmanship. The loser got a toilet trophy.
Penick thought it would be a fun activity for the community that would bring them back to times in their youth.
“I just love this thing,” said Penick, “I partnered with the right people and we’ve been able to rely on Pinewood Derby working itself out because we all are working on it.”
Contact the reporter at jmcart11@asu.edu.
