2017 Winners

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2014 Race Winners

It finally happened....after 17 years of trying, David finally placed FIRST in the Picollo Pete 500!  It almost didn't happen, but as with most races, luck was on his side.

First off - let me say that there was some trash talk going on between David and James. To them, it didn't matter as much where they placed in the race as long as it was in front of the other.

Qualifying started, and James' car went before David's.  It was a decent run (especially considering he has been away for two years serving a mission for the Mormon Church AND he didn't put his car together until yesterday morning.)  David's car was up next - AND IT DID NOT PASS JAMES!  In fact, the engine blew apart leaving it a couple of feet from where James had landed.  But all was not lost.  This is where David's luck began to kick in ---- he had made two cars.  They were of similar design with only a difference in the body (one was balsa and the other was styrofoam - I won't tell you which one ran better.)  David's 2nd car was on the line - it took off and passed James by at least two feet!  He had made it into the finals.

The final race was comprised of Thomas, Susan, Tom, Matt (a rookie) and David.  The cars are raced in the order of their qualifying run - with the first car out being the 5th qualifier.  That was David.  His luck continued with his decision to make a change to his engine design during the mandatory pit stop.   His engine was lit and he was off!  His car soon passed the 'spotters', raced past moms house, then the house next store. It came to rest at the back tire of a car parked on the street. Then the next bit of luck happened - someone parked their car behind the car where David's car stopped.  Now it would be near impossible to beat him.

David's luck continued as the others ran their cars - engines blew, cars flipped over - things were definitely looking up for David.   Then Tom's car was up, the biggest threat to David's win. Tom's car flew off the starting line and hit the rail - Tom's day was over.  David had won the race!!!  The crowd roared, fireworks went off, it was mass pandemonium!  OK, so maybe it wasn't so exciting for everyone else that he won - but it was for this writer (who happens to be married to him!).

Congratulations to David and everyone else who participated in the race or just joined in watching the fun.  I can't wait until next year!!!

DAVID'S WINNING RUN
http://youtu.be/Qw0EooxlnRI

SUSAN'S SECOND PLACE RUN
http://youtu.be/kTGP-XerflU

TOM'S THIRD PLACE RUN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La-Qqx29-a4

THOMAS' FOURTH PLACE RUN
http://youtu.be/ffZpDBJsPI8

MATT'S FIFTH PLACE RUN
http://youtu.be/k85RCaz_TlA

Watch for more videos and pictures to be posted over the coming week.

2014 David wins and the crowd roars

2013 Race is in the Books

It was a great day for racing!  For a moment I thought we were going to have a first time 1st place winner, but it was not to be.  'Always the bridesmaid, but never the bride Wagstaff' came in third - again.  He came in first during qualifying with a brilliant run - quite possibly the longest run in our 17 year history - but his car hit the wall in the finals and veered off the track, passed under a parked car finally coming to a rest on the curb.

Here are the winners (left to right):

Tom - 2nd place, Nick - 1st place, and David - 3rd place.

It was definitely a great day for racing.  Here is a link to David's first run.  I'll be updating the blog with more later.  Sign up for an email notification (in the upper left hand corner of this page) so you don't miss out on the fun.

David's Qualifying Run - 2013

2011 Winners!

It's official! After some really good runs in the first round, Susan, Trayne, James, Russ and Nick advanced to the final round. The winners for the 2011 race are; Nick (1st place), James & Team (2nd place) and Russ (3rd place).

It was Nick who went the furthest in both rounds, claiming first place. Nick is no stranger to the winners circle. Starting in 2006, Nick claimed 3rd place. In 2008, 2nd place. 2009 was the first time he claimed 1st place. He was missed in the winners circle last year, but he has made a strong comeback! Congratulations Nick!!!

Second place was won by 'Team' James (?). The team consisted of James, his brother and friends. Their design, while clunky, ran very well. I'm sure it was the wide wheel base and evenly spaced axels that attributed to the car's stability. It definately wasn't the 'Hello Kitty' tape that held the engine to the base! After drawing a grotesque face on the base of the car, they named it the Troll Mobile. I think that luck had more to do with their coming in second than anything!

Russ (last year's winner) should have done better than 3rd, but he lost time in the pits putting together his second engine when he stopped to say good-bye to friends. After careful analysis, it was determined that the only difference between his first run and second, was the placement of the Piccolo Pete's in his engines. The second run engine did not have all fireworks facing straight and forward. This caused his second run to not have the same energy exerted as the first, giving him a 3rd place finish.

All in all it was a great race! Only one car ran off of the track and underneath a parked car near the starting line. No damage was done to the parked car, but the race car lost a wheel.

Pictures and videos are being uploaded - but it may take some time to get them all online. The first place run was NOT captured as it happened too quickly!! The race photographer (me) was taking a picture of the car on the starting line when it's fuse was lit. Before I could start the video, the car was down the street! Maybe next year I'll get an assistant!

Speaking of next year....I wonder who will win???? I can't wait to find out!



ABOVE PHOTO: left to right - Russ (3rd), Nick (1st), James & Team (2nd)

2009 Winners with Trophies

We didn't award the 2009 winners with their trophies until our 2010 race. Thanks for being so patient!

2010 Winners

FINALLY! After years of practice, Russ makes it into the finals - taking 1st place!

That's my Bubba! Another 2nd place win!


Is it Stephen or Michael? When will their luck run out? They have taken one of the top 3 spots EVERY year since we started this race!

2009 Winners!

1st Place - Nick
Nick won with a revamped design from last year! Check out last year's winner pics to see the 'old' design.
2nd Place - Thomas
Actually Susan came in 2nd, but she didn't want her picture taken so she turned her entry over to Thomas!

3rd Place - David
David has won 'almost' every year we have recorded winners....just never 1st place!

2008 Piccolo Pete 500 - Results

And the winner is....... 1st Place - Susan R. Watch Susan's winning run in the video below her picture.



2nd Place - Nick S. Nick's 2nd place run is below his picture.



3rd Place - David W. 3rd place is better than no place - see David's run below his picture.

2007 Winners

There were some upsets this year! A rookie took first place and Team Ry found themselves in third - something that has never happened before!


1st Place - Mikey (Rookie)


2nd Place - David W


3rd Place - Tom R

2006 Winners

Winning was a Team Ry affair this year. 1st place was awarded to Tom and 2nd place went to Michael (or is it Stephen?)


3rd place went to Nick S.

2005 Winners

3rd Place - Starr P


2nd Place - David W


1st Place - Tom R

2004 Winners

Girls dominated in 2004, taking two of the top three positions!

1st Place - Tom R


2nd Place - Tammie F (shown with her engine designer and builder, David)


3rd Place - Joyce