[This is part of the series: A List of Things I Remember About Living In Saudi Arabia.]
In Saudi Arabia, I remember having pinewood derby car races too.
It was another thing we did as part of the Boy Scouts.
We cut on a block of wood to make it as aerodynamic as possible, sanded it until it felt slick to the touch, and then finished it with wheels and a coat of paint.
I painted mine black, naturally.
We raced the cars on a track setup in the compound theater.
I lost a few practice races because I wanted my car to go backwards, but I turned it around at my dad’s insisting and won every race after that.
And I got a first-place medal.
Did I benefit from my fighter pilot dad being eager to help me design my car with his degree in Aerospace Engineering?
Well, I say I won it all on my own.
But it’s possible he helped.
