What do you do when your pinewood derby car is built for speed instead of looks? You get creative. Follow the story of our “Gouda Speed” pinewood derby car as we turned a simple wedge design into an award-winning beauty contest champion using Cricut masking, airbrushing, and a lot of perseverance. Along the way, we discovered that determination and creativity can turn even a block of wood into a life lesson.

We built a pinewood derby car called “Gouda Speed,” and it crushed the competition. By studying the rules, learning from rally car strategy, and focusing on weight placement, polished axles, graphite lube, and wheel setup, my son and I created a fast and legal winner. Here’s how we did it—and why the project was about more than just speed. 

Selling something on Craigslist or Marketplace is not just about listing an item—it is about building trust. In this post, I share my experience selling a custom small dump trailer in 48 hours by pricing it fairly, using honest photos, writing with personality, and creating a title that actually grabs attention. If you want to avoid tire kickers, sell faster, and get the right buyer to show up, transparency matters more than hype.