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2008The Workin’ Gherkin
Victory was so close, Jack Stubb could almost taste it. Jack and his dad, Imaginasium Senior Art Director Jon Stubb, were taking part in the yearly Cub Scout Pack 4363 Pinewood Derby. Their entry, the Dill-Pickle Dasher, had all the makings of a contender: flowing, aerodynamic lines; a long, low center of gravity; a flavorful crunch with just the right amount of zest for snack time or any time. Everything. But they also knew they were in the food fight of their lives. Leading a field of approximately 54 cars was a cheese wedge with “race me” written all over it and one of the most impressive high-performance peanuts they’d ever seen. With sweating palms, Team Stubb sauntered up to the starting line of the first of 18 heats. Again and again, they pitted the Dill against all comers, earning points that would be tallied up to name the eventual winner. If not the fastest car, they reasoned, at least they’d have a good shot at taking the “Most Original Entry” category. In the end, it wasn’t quite enough. A faster car won at the speed game, while the Peanut Phlyer snared originality honors. Such was the luck of the Gherkin – always part of the picnic, but never served first. Jack’ll be back with a new entry next year, maybe a breakneck bratwurst or hot rod hot dog. But through it all he learned a valuable lesson: if you’re in it to win, sometimes you just gotta play with your food |
