It was the same shenanigans for the Soap Box Downhill race. The kids were supposed to build their car but it ended up being a contest for professional mechanics. The Dyess AFB troupe race car had an aluminum frame. Many of the care were professionally painted. They were works of art. It wasn’t for the kids. It was for the parents.
Reminds me of my short stint in Cub Scouts in the late 70's. My Dad and I entered the Pinewood Derby for the first time. Cars were supposed to be made bybthe scouts, with help from their parents. We naively entered boxy, untuned and unweighted cars painted with leftover house paint. The competition was all made by fathers in their shops or the shops at their work. Pretty impressive looking and fast cars that my self made chunk of wood didn't stand a chance against.
It left me pretty jaded about sportsmanship as a 9 year old.
