Post by WIRL on May 15, 2004 21:07:44 GMT -6
Hello Everyone,
I am Jennifer Jacobs, Co-Director of WIRL. My husband Steve is the other Co-Director. We have started WIRL (Woodcar Independent Racing League) to promote open Pinewood Derby-style racing with a nationwide circuit of events. This will surely be a slow process, but we have been thrilled with the positive and enthusiastic response we have received so far.
The idea of WIRL actually started around 1997, when our son joined the cub scouts and Steve became a scout leader for several years. Helping to organize the annual Pinewood Derby became a highlight of the year, and we noticed how much enthusiasm for the activity was evident. The first year Steve and Evan spent a lot of time on the car. A few weeks before the race, they learned of a sibling division. Steve quickly threw together another car and, you guessed it. "Krissy Car" which was painted pink and orange, smoked the competition! We believe it would have won the whole event if siblings were allowed to compete in the finals.
Soon other activities led Evan to resign from scouting, but we kept the cars over the years and remembered how much fun is was to participate. We slowly became convinced that Pinewood Derby style racing could become a major pasttime outside of scouting, and finally decided to take the leap into WIRL. We call the cars "woodcars" because we do not wish to infringe on the scouting concept, but rather be a complementary organization.
Besides Steve's brief stint as a scout leader, he is also a second degree black belt in Okinawan Shorei-Ryu karate. In the past, he has served as tournament director and judge for many tournaments around the southeast. That experience has been quite helpful in developing race event procedures for WIRL. He has also become quite the expert on track fine tuning in the last half year. His latest project is the new shipping box design. His "day job" is Purchasing Agent at an Atlanta hotel, (but might a full time WIRL Director be in the cards?) That is his aim.
I am a graphic artist and designer and my duties with WIRL include designing the website, certificates, logos, trophies, and other items. I also will usually be the one to answer emails and post announcements on the message boards.
In addition, Kristen, our daughter and proud owner of "Krissy Car" works the camera at WIRL Builder's Cup Races. She does a great job with the equipment limitations right now, but this fall she will begin study in television producton. That should improve the future video quality of WIRL substantially! She also does some work on the car photos.
Evan's job during WIRL events is as "runner" , which is simply bringing the cars back. Evan is also a talented budding computer programmer and is currently working on software to manage the WIRL races and points tracking.
Thanks for the support, and be assured we are working hard to improve and grow WIRL into a national organization.
I am Jennifer Jacobs, Co-Director of WIRL. My husband Steve is the other Co-Director. We have started WIRL (Woodcar Independent Racing League) to promote open Pinewood Derby-style racing with a nationwide circuit of events. This will surely be a slow process, but we have been thrilled with the positive and enthusiastic response we have received so far.
The idea of WIRL actually started around 1997, when our son joined the cub scouts and Steve became a scout leader for several years. Helping to organize the annual Pinewood Derby became a highlight of the year, and we noticed how much enthusiasm for the activity was evident. The first year Steve and Evan spent a lot of time on the car. A few weeks before the race, they learned of a sibling division. Steve quickly threw together another car and, you guessed it. "Krissy Car" which was painted pink and orange, smoked the competition! We believe it would have won the whole event if siblings were allowed to compete in the finals.
Soon other activities led Evan to resign from scouting, but we kept the cars over the years and remembered how much fun is was to participate. We slowly became convinced that Pinewood Derby style racing could become a major pasttime outside of scouting, and finally decided to take the leap into WIRL. We call the cars "woodcars" because we do not wish to infringe on the scouting concept, but rather be a complementary organization.
Besides Steve's brief stint as a scout leader, he is also a second degree black belt in Okinawan Shorei-Ryu karate. In the past, he has served as tournament director and judge for many tournaments around the southeast. That experience has been quite helpful in developing race event procedures for WIRL. He has also become quite the expert on track fine tuning in the last half year. His latest project is the new shipping box design. His "day job" is Purchasing Agent at an Atlanta hotel, (but might a full time WIRL Director be in the cards?) That is his aim.
I am a graphic artist and designer and my duties with WIRL include designing the website, certificates, logos, trophies, and other items. I also will usually be the one to answer emails and post announcements on the message boards.
In addition, Kristen, our daughter and proud owner of "Krissy Car" works the camera at WIRL Builder's Cup Races. She does a great job with the equipment limitations right now, but this fall she will begin study in television producton. That should improve the future video quality of WIRL substantially! She also does some work on the car photos.
Evan's job during WIRL events is as "runner" , which is simply bringing the cars back. Evan is also a talented budding computer programmer and is currently working on software to manage the WIRL races and points tracking.
Thanks for the support, and be assured we are working hard to improve and grow WIRL into a national organization.