Pinewood Derby 2024
Niles Bolton Associates’ Pinewood Derby event returned for the third year with 10+ entries from our NBAers! Each participant pulled out all the stops in both determination and design. Creativity with the car designs ranged from an airplane representing DYE | NBA Aviation and a propeller-powered car “The Conestoga Wagon” by Jake Gamberg who at any NBA race finds a way to work around the rule book, where the only rule is no fire or pyrotechnics.
This year’s awards included 1st and 2nd Place for the fastest cars, Best in Show and Most Unfortunate. Kyle Maharajh and his son claimed first with Danny Fernandez coming in second place.
1st Place - Blackwing
Kyle Maharajh & Son
2nd Place- ACME
Daniel Fernandez
“People’s Choice” Award - Nerd Meister
Meredith Beard & Juanne-Dae Thomas
“Most Unfortunate” Award - Bone Appetit
Admin Team
NBAers voted on the “People’s Choice” award throughout the days leading up to the competition. There was a debate about whether the votes were for the favorite design or the most likely to win. In the end, we all agreed Nerd Meister achieved both! Sadly, the “Most Unfortunate” prize went to the car that traveled the least distance however, what the Admin team’s “Bone Appetit” car lacked in speed they made up for in team spirit by dressing up to match the theme.
A photo finish between “ACME” and “Winner”
The slow motion video being reviewed by the unofficial official referees
For the first time in NBA pinewood derby history after two races that were too fast for the human eye to catch, there was a photo finish race between “ACME” and “Winner”. The cars raced down the track at the exact speed and tensions rose as the unofficial referees reviewed race footage (a slow-motion iPhone video on both the top of the finish line and along the side. After much deliberation, “ACME” was declared the winner and then proceeded to the final where the car lost and earned second place.
Congratulations to all the winners and shoutout to DYE | NBA Aviation President Mercer Dye’s long-time friend, Roy Garren, for letting us borrow his 40-foot-long derby track! Fun fact: Roy’s daughter, Alexa Garren, is a national competitor in the All-American Soap Box Derby! She represented Georgia in the 2022 World Championship placing 3rd in the Rally Super Stock category, as well as heading to Germany to compete for the 2024 World Champion title. Gook Luck Alexa! Our aviation studio is very proud to be one of her sponsors!
