Gualala Arts Winternationals Pinewood Derby

Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
at the Gualala Arts Center

Due to high demand, we are hosting a "Gualala Arts Winternationals Pinewood Derby" race on Saturday, January 19 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; entry fee is $5.

Thanks to fundraising efforts of Mike "Bone Daddy" Thomas of Bones Roadhouse, entries will again be racing on the new aluminum track donated and first used last summer. This high-end track includes an electronic timing system displaying immediate finishing order, race times and scale miles per hour for each race.

Youth and those young at heart will be able to design and build their very own custom car to race. Classifications include 8 and under, 9 to 12, 13 to 18, and 18 years and older for racing. There will be racing trophies for First and Second place for each class presented at the award ceremony immediately following the race, along with a Best Time Overall trophy. There will also be a Vintage class that is open to racers of any age, but cars must have been built prior to 2013. Vintage class will not be eligible for the Best Time Overall trophy.

Cars must pass inspection to qualify for the race. Inspection will be from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. with the first race commencing at 2:00 p.m. Car kits can be purchased from Gualala Arts or from any Scouts headquarters (Scout Shop, 1000 Apollo Way, Suite 106, Santa Rosa). Kits may also be purchased online or from other stores, but must be Pinewood Derby Approved. It will consist of a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axles. Detailed qualification requirements can be found on the registration form.

Download the Pinewood Derby Registration Form or pick one up at Gualala Arts Center. Submit your application ASAP as registrations are accepted as space permits.

Inaugural Gualala Arts "Winternationals"
Pinewood Derby Race

January, 2013

2013 Winternationals Pinewood Derby entrants

The inaugural Gualala Arts "Winternationals" Pinewood Derby race was held Saturday, January 19, at the Gualala Arts Center Coleman Auditorium. There were 41 racecars entered in four classifications. First and second place trophies were awarded in each race class, along with a Best Time Overall trophy for the fastest car in all classes except Vintage, and a Most Creative Car award. The trophies and participation medallions for all racers were provided through contributions from Bones Roadhouse, Waterman Racing, Jack's Gualala Pharmacy, Dave's Gualala Video, Jon and Teresa Olivieri and Team Susalla. All racers also received participation certificates.

The 8 Years and Under and 18+ Years classes both had the most entrants with thirteen racecars competing in each class. The 9 - 13 Year class had nine entries, followed by four entries in the Vintage class. Caitlin Huse was the day's big winner, taking home both first place in the 8 Years and Under class and the Best Overall Time trophy.

8 and under and overall speed winner Caitlin Huse


Caitlin Huse's Winning 8 Years & Under and Best Time Overall racer

The most number of entries, 11 cars across all race classes, as well as the loudest cheering section came from Bob and Roxanne Claflin's "Team Claflin" racing team, which included their own entries and several from their extended family. Marco Claflin represented Team Claflin well by taking home first place in the 9 - 13 Years class and second place in the Vintage class. Zidane Koller took first place in Vintage using the same car that took overall honors in both the 2011 and 2012 Gualala Arts Auto Show Pinewood Derbies. Waterman Racing's Alan Ricioli, who helped set up the track before the weekend's racing, repeated his 2012 win in the 18+ Years class with his new-for-2013 entry.

Race Results by Class
(Average time and scale miles per hour for four heats)

Download Complete Race Results

Best Time Overall (all classes except Vintage)

Place	Racer	Time (sec.)	Scale MPH
1st	Caitlin Huse	2.6511	191.6

8 Years and Under

Place	Racer	Time (sec.)	Scale MPH
1st	Caitlin Huse	2.6511	191.6
2nd	Zander Greco	2.6645	190.6
3rd	Brandon Huse	2.7115	187.3

9 - 13 Years

Place	Racer	Time (sec.)	Scale MPH
1st	Marco Claflin	2.6692	190.3
2nd	Dylan Freebairn-Smith	2.6707	190.2
3rd	Alexis Cervantes	2.6951	188.5

18+ Years

Place	Racer	Time (sec.)	Scale MPH
1st	Alan Ricioli	2.6561	191.2
2nd	Ashley Hayward	2.6648	190.6
3rd	Jacob Maxwell	2.6815	189.4

Vintage

Place	Racer	Time (sec.)	Scale MPH
1st	Zidane Koller	2.6424	192.2
2nd	Marco Claflin	2.6959	188.4
3rd	Sarina Claflin	2.6995	188.2

Most Creative Car

Place	Racer
1st	Jeremy Crockett

This was a great turnout for our inaugural race. The Bones Roadhouse crew, led by Mary Thomas, served up tacos, hot dogs (donated by Jack's Gualala Pharmacy) and chili and kept the crowd well-fed during the races. Several kits were sold to racers that are planning to build new cars for the 2013 "Summernationals" Pinewood Derby that will be held in conjunction with the Gualala Arts Auto Show on July 20, 2013. Help us break last year's record number of 53 entries at this year's Summernationals, being held in conjunction with the 5th Annual Gualala Arts Auto Show, by starting to build your racecar today! Kits are available at the Gualala Arts Center at our cost of $5.00, and sponsorships are available for racers under 18 that need financial help to participate. Contact Gualala Arts at (707) 884-1138 or info@gualalaarts.org for more information.

Vintage 1st Zidane Koller and 2nd Marco Claflin with Bone Daddy


Team Claflin cheers it racers during the 9 to 13 Year class heats


Harmony and Jeremy revew entrants before the race


Most Creative trophy winner Jeremy Crockett with Bone Daddy


Most Creative Car trophy and racercar by Jeremy Crockett


Ashley Hayward 2nd place and Alan Ricioli 1st place 18+ with Bone Daddy


Winners Circle & Trophies

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.