The values of Pinewood Derby racing extend far beyond Scouting events, and Pinewood Pro’s partnership with The Other Side Academy is living proof.

We interviewed TOSA’s Joseph Werner and Rob Fox to understand how the foundation of derby racing is more than just friendly competition. It has the potential to be life changing.

What is The Other Side Academy all about?

Joseph: The Other Side Academy was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s a long-term residential life-skills and vocational training program that helps men and women rebuild their lives after struggles with addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. The program is structured as a therapeutic community, where students learn accountability, leadership, and personal responsibility through peer mentorship and real-world work experience.

Students commit to a 30-month residential program that includes intensive personal development, job training, and community living. Instead of relying on traditional therapy or government funding, the Academy operates through peer led accountability and generates revenue through student-run social enterprises, such as the #1 rated moving company in the state of Utah, 2 award-winning thrift boutiques, and a construction company, where participants learn business, trade, and teamwork skills while supporting the organization financially. The goal is not just sobriety or avoiding crime, but helping individuals build stable, meaningful lives rooted in accountability, purpose, and community.

Since its founding, the model has expanded to multiple locations and continues to grow as a unique approach to long-term recovery and rehabilitation.

Mission Statement

The organization’s guiding mission is simple and direct: “We save lives by changing behavior.”

The Academy aims to help individuals develop the character and life skills necessary to live drug-free, crime-free, and productive lives.

Noteworthy Statistics & Facts

Our Program started in the Francis Armstrong House in Salt Lake City, UT. The 3.5-story, Queen Anne-style house was built in 1892, was designed by William Ward, and was constructed by Taylor, Romney & Armstrong as the home of the 7th Mayor of Salt Lake City: Francis "Frank" Armstrong.

Program Structure

• A minimum 30-month residential commitment (2 years residential + 6 months transitional living).
• The program is free for students and does not accept government funding, relying instead on revenue generated by social enterprises and in-kind donations.

Impact & Outcomes

• 100% of graduates employed at the time of graduation.
• 71% of graduates are drug-free, crime-free, and employed (DCE).
• 14% recidivism rate among graduates.
• 45% program retention rate for the full 2.5-year commitment.
• 37% of graduates voluntarily stay a third year to continue developing leadership skills.

Unique Features

• Operates as a peer-driven community, meaning students help train and mentor newer participants.
• The program is often used as an alternative to incarceration for individuals seeking a chance to rebuild their lives.
• Participants often arrive with extensive criminal histories and addiction backgrounds, but graduate with work experience, leadership training, and community support.

A Partnership with Pinewood Pro

Our connection with Pinewood Pro came about when we decided to host a TOSA Family Pinewood Derby event on campus.

The goal was simple: create something fun that would bring students, families, and our community together. Pinewood Pro generously stepped in and donated supplies that helped make the event possible. Their support played a big role in the overall success of the tournament and helped turn the idea into a fully realized event.

The partnership reminded us how meaningful it can be when businesses and community organizations work together to create experiences that bring people together.

A Nostalgic Experience

Joseph: For me personally, the event carried a lot of nostalgia.

I participated in Pinewood Derby races as a kid when I was in the Boy Scouts. Being part of organizing and racing in one later in life brought back a lot of memories. Working with Pinewood Pro made the experience feel authentic, like stepping back into those childhood moments of building, designing, and racing a car you created yourself.

It was pretty special to see adults experiencing that same excitement and friendly competition.

The Pinewood Derby reminded us that fun, creativity, and a little friendly competition can bring people together in powerful ways. For many of us, it wasn’t just building a car, it was building memories.

Rob: Pinewood Derby has always held a special place in my heart. I remember building a car with my dad as a young Boy Scout and loving the process of trying to make it not only the fastest, but also look as rad as possible.

When we were brainstorming activity ideas here at The Other Side Academy (TOSA), the idea of a Pinewood Derby came up and immediately sparked that same nostalgic excitement. Many of our students didn’t grow up in environments where they had opportunities for experiences like that - healthy moments of learning, creativity, and connection. Bringing a Pinewood Derby to TOSA felt like a perfect fit.

Pinewood Pro generously stepped in to support the project by donating the kits and supplies that made it possible. Their support gave our students the chance to build, experiment, and take part in something many of them had never experienced before.

Student Teams & Creative Challenges

Rob: Once the kits arrived, Pinewood Derby fever swept through the house. Students took building their cars incredibly seriously - working to optimize speed, experimenting with weight placement, and even learning a bit of physics along the way (gravitational potential energy, coefficients of friction, and more). Others focused on design, carefully painting and customizing their cars to reflect their personalities and creativity.

We quickly realized we had created a bit of a monster by starting a Pinewood Derby here, but in the best possible way. The excitement, effort, and pride the students put into their cars made it clear this was something special.

We’re incredibly grateful for the support that made it possible, and we hope to keep this tradition going at TOSA for many years to come.

Joseph: The student teams really embraced the challenge, but it came with its own set of hurdles.

Some of the biggest challenges included:

• Car design and aerodynamics
• Paint schemes and creative personalization
• Time management and meeting build deadlines
• Navigating the competitive nature that naturally comes out in our community

Because our program emphasizes accountability and teamwork, the build process became more than just making a car, it became a lesson in collaboration, planning, and execution.

The Car Show & Tournament

Before the race, we held a car show, where students voted on categories like Best Paint Job and Best Overall Car.

It gave everyone a chance to appreciate the creativity and craftsmanship before the competition began.

The actual race tournament was a blast. With a full race setup, prizes, and of course bragging rights on the line, the atmosphere was electric. Students got into it in the best way possible, cheering, competing, and celebrating each other’s work.

TOSA’s Advice for Hosting Your Own Pinewood Derby

If someone is planning a similar event, my biggest advice would be:

• Give plenty of time for planning
• Allow enough time for the design and build phase
• Encourage full team participation
• Create space for both creativity and competition

When everyone is involved in the process, from design to race day, it becomes much more than just an event. It becomes a shared experience that people remember.

Experiences like the Pinewood Derby may seem like a fun community event on the surface, but they actually reflect many of the same principles we practice every day in the program.

Connecting Racing to the Mission

Building a Pinewood Derby car requires planning, patience, teamwork, and accountability, all skills our students are actively learning as they rebuild their lives. From designing the cars and managing deadlines, to working through disagreements and competing respectfully, the entire process mirrors the kinds of personal growth we focus on within the Academy.

Events like this also create something equally important: connection. Many of our students come from backgrounds where healthy community experiences were rare. Being able to participate in something creative, competitive, and positive helps rebuild confidence and reminds us that life can include moments of joy, accomplishment, and belonging.

The support from partners like Pinewood Pro makes experiences like this possible. Their generosity helped create an event where students could work together, celebrate their creativity, and enjoy a little friendly competition.

In the end, the Pinewood Derby was more than a race, it was another opportunity for students to practice the values that define the Academy: accountability, teamwork, perseverance, and personal growth. And just like the cars we built, our students are constantly refining, improving, and moving forward.

In a way, the Pinewood Derby is a lot like what we do at the Academy, take a rough block of wood, shape it with care and effort, and watch it become something you’re proud to send down the track. When students work together to design, build, and race something they created, it reminds us that growth doesn’t just happen in classrooms, it happens in moments of teamwork, creativity, and shared victory.

Ready to Get Racing?

If a Pinewood Derby event sounds like the right fit for your group or organization, Pinewood Pro is here to help. Contact us anytime at proteam@pinewoodpro.com.