Pinewood Derby tracks

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Genuine Article
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Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Genuine Article »

How do wards buy pinewood derby tracks? I asked my bishop and he was as stumped as I am. Our ward currently rents one when the time comes, but it takes such a bite out of my primary budget I'd like to just buy a nice one and have it pay for itself in ten years in the interest of being thrifty. I can't set aside part of my budget every year and save up for one since Church budgets are typically "use it or lose it." I can't do a fundraiser for anything other than a youth camp. I know you can build a track yourself, but wooden tracks tend to be really heavy and bulky, which is why I have my eye on a nice four lane track made from ABS plastic. I know it can be done since my last ward had a state-of-the-art track, but I don't know where the money came from. Can I just ask everyone to chip in $20 bucks? I told my bishop I was tempted to buy a track myself and have the primary reimburse me over ten years, and he suggested I actually buy one, rent it out, and if it hasn't paid for itself by the time I move, sell it to someone else. I might do it. So, thoughts? Anecdotal stories? How do wards or stakes buy pinewood derby tracks?
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Tally M.
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Tally M. »

So, my dad says you can get donations, or apparently you can roll over some of the money if the bishop and stake president agree to it.
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Shrinky Dink
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Shrinky Dink »

How much do they normally charge to rent them? I just checked out a couple places and I had no idea that pinewood derby tracks were so expensive.
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Genuine Article
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Genuine Article »

I'm not 100% sure of the cost since we combine with another ward for cub scouts and they split up the reimbursements between us, but this year our ward paid around $140. Everyone else seems to agree it's a good deal since the guy who owns the track comes and sets it up and calls the races and I think even provides trophies. But when your annual budget is $550, parting with $140 of it (plus the cost of cars) in February kind of sucks. So far this year 40% of my budget has gone to boys representing 9% of my Primary. The track I want to buy is $1300, which, yikes, but I'm at least thinking long-term.
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Shrinky Dink
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Shrinky Dink »

Yowza! Maybe you could get the whole stake in on it, or maybe even get two stakes to share. Aren't the trophies a little unnecessary? I would think some ribbons would work just fine and cost a whole lot less. At least you have an idea of what you can charge to rent out the track to other stakes/wards once you have your own.

I think it would be fun, since 40% of your budget has gone to 9% of the kids, if you also held a girls pinewood derby perhaps later in the day. Or at least include the Achievement Day girls in the regular pinewood derby. (They still do Achievement Days right?)
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Genuine Article
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Genuine Article »

I'm definitely going to extend an invitation to the Activity Day girls to participate next year.
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Portia
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Portia »

Serious question: will Pinewood Derby still happen if the LDS Church pulls out of the Boy Scouts?
Genuine Article
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Genuine Article »

Portia wrote:Serious question: will Pinewood Derby still happen if the LDS Church pulls out of the Boy Scouts?
Probably not. If boys want to do Cub Scouts they'll have to join a school group. I'm glad you brought that up. I should really wait for a decision from the Church before I try to overthrow the renting plan.
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Portia
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Portia »

Genuine Article wrote:
Portia wrote:Serious question: will Pinewood Derby still happen if the LDS Church pulls out of the Boy Scouts?
Probably not. If boys want to do Cub Scouts they'll have to join a school group. I'm glad you brought that up. I should really wait for a decision from the Church before I try to overthrow the renting plan.
Yeah, sounds like the wisest course of action.

I was genuinely befuddled about the angry PR letter: the policy has some fairly clear religious exemptions, so.
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Whistler
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Whistler »

I'm so happy that you're thinking about building your own. I get a little upset about cub scout budgets too.
Zedability
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Re: Pinewood Derby tracks

Post by Zedability »

I was confused too; I'm kind of waiting on the official GA statement to see what plays out.
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