Spectators gather around the track for the first race of the day.
A large screen highlights the three cars in each heat, complete with a spinning 360 degree view.
This young maker was ready to race, but still deciding what to name his car.
Early into day two of Maker Faire, kids stake out space in the workshop to build out their cars.
The Animated Gif Machine captures a 360 degree view of each car and turns it into an animated gif!
Tools are laid out, ready for day two of car-building.
Materials range from feathers, to blue foam, to scrap cereal boxes.
Kids are even integrating veggies into their vehicles.
All new Nerdy Derby branding takes the program to a whole new level.
Inventive use of available materials makes highlights the creativity of the car makers.
An ear of corn adorned with mustache tape makes an interesting-looking car.
Vegetables and scrap materials give these cars an ecclectic look.
Last year’s World Maker Faire New York marked the debut of the Nerdy Derby, “a no-rules miniature car building and racing competition inspired by the Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby.” This year, the derby is back with some fantastic improvements. When car-builders finish their car, it’s captured by The Animated Gif Machine, a stage with a rotating platform that takes pictures of the cars as they rotate. As each car is placed on the top of the track before the race, the spinning car gifs appear on a big screen along with the name of the car and the maker’s name and new finish gate signals the winning car. With a new and improved workshop space and more materials, the car-builders are building and racing extraordinary cars.
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