The FBC Awana Grand Prix is coming up!
 
 

Saturday, April 22, 2023 

Pits will open at 6:00 pm and racing will begin at 7:00 pm.We have plenty of kits available in the Awana office.    

Precut cars (indy, stock, & trucks) are $8.50 per kit, uncut blocks are $7.00 per kit.  These are available to purchase in the Awana office on Wednesday evenings.  Please stop by any Wednesday to pick up a kit and choose your favorite lucky number.We will have prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places in best design categories: car & non-car  and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places for speed this year:  1) Puggles/Cubbies, 2) Sparks/T&T,  and  3) Trek and older (this is subject to change depending on the number of participates registered for the different categories).  

There are lots of resources and inspiration on the internet regarding grand prix cars.  Look around and get inspired!  I am also attaching a file that may help with design rules and regulations.  Also, take a moment to read the below article that I found from a Christian Service Brigade Valor e-mail.  It is what the Grand Prix should be all about.
 
 

Awana Grand Prix FAQ

In addition, all the FBC youth including Christian Service Brigade, FBC youth group (all ages), FBC worship dancers, etc.  are welcome to join in on the fun.  In addition, please feel free to invite friends outside of FBC.  All are welcome.This is always a great time for immediate and extended family and friends!  Your kids will love to be encouraged and cheered on as their creations race towards the finish line.Hope to see you all there!!!P.S. One hint for all you newbies…bring graphite!
 

My Dad Built Me While I Built a Little Wooden Car

 

 

I have many fond memories of growing up in the Brigade ministry. A personal highlight for me was the annual StocKar derby at my church. My dad would work with me cutting, sanding and painting our masterpieces for the race. I learned a lot through the entire experience from preparation to race day. The process taught me valuable lessons that would carry me through to be the man I am today.

We’ve all seen the handy-man father reliving his childhood through his son’s derby car. The dad spends hours in the basement hunched over a tiny wooden block, while the son watches TV in the living room. Well, that wasn’t my experience. That might have been the experience of the kid’s who beat me on race day though. My dad certainly helped and guided me, but he let me take the lead. Most of the time this meant me walking away with a “participant” ribbon. In hindsight, losing was a lesson worth learning. The joy was in the process. The molten metal, power tools, and watching my dad work with his hands was the real reward. It took years to recognize this of course, but I’ll never forget the times I spent with my dad under the dim basement lights, planning and crafting the perfect car.

My cars were never particularly fast, in fact they were particularly slow. I specifically remember one boy who would show up with a true masterpiece every year. The paint job was immaculate, the design was aerodynamic, and it seemed to be motor driven on the track. His dad was an engineer and often put all other father-son teams to shame. At times I asked myself, “why isn’t my dad an engineer” as my car would crawl down the track. Now I wonder if that boy got to pick out his favorite Hot Wheels car at the hobby shop and test out his spray-painting skills against newspaper. I still displayed my ribbons and cars proudly on my dresser and eagerly awaited my chance for victory the next year.

Boys can learn a lot from books and school, but nothing is quite like working with your dad, side by side. I learned the ins and outs and dos and don’ts of tools and materials. My dad taught me how to approach a problem, come up with a solution, and not lose my cool in the process. It’s truly profound how a block of wood and some wheels can make such an impact, an impact I’ll never forget.