The Mechanics were there, and we want to tell you all about it.
As a company we try very hard to not just be IN our community but a PART of it. This usually takes the form of working with community organizations like 350.org or Health Care for All Oregon, or taking part in neighborhood events like the Sellwood Concerts or the Moreland Farmers Market. Recently though, we’ve found ourselves engaging our neighbors in a very unique way we’d like to let you know about. Here’s our report back from the recent DropBox Derby, where we showed off woodworking skills not normally needed at an auto shop…
Labor Day brought Lovett Deconstruction’s DropBox Derby, a design/build competition where teams of carpenters, builders, and woodworkers gathered under I-5 near OMSI to test their skills.
Lovett Deconstruction is a leader in the field of deconstruction; taking apart buildings piece-by-piece and recycling the materials for use. Owner Der Lovett created the Dropbox Derby (a ‘dropbox’ is the big dumpster in front of construction sites where all the building trash goes) as a way to raise awareness of deconstruction, celebrate creativity and woodcraft, and help a deserving group in the process. He also wanted to start an event that would eventually be on the “Portland Roster” of must-do events like Naked Bike Ride or Hood To Coast. This was just the second year for the event and judging by the growth, energy, and attention the Derby got he’s well on his way toward his goal.
Der has been one of our Business Fleet clients for years so we were there in support with our event booth and ‘Magical Buttonizer’ for the kids, but we also went a little further. Woodworking may not be the strong suit for auto mechanics but we’re very good with our hands and many of our guys are builders in their own lives. We decided to field a team for the competition and The Mechanics (Jon Feldhausen, Matt McKenzie, Bill Cheek, and Charles Letherwood) were born.
Each Derby team received an identical stack of deconstruction site materials and had 4 hours to build… what? Well, we didn’t really know until the day before the competition because the theme was kept secret. But Derby Day dawned and at 10am all the teams started building their interpretation of “A Seat At The Table”. 4 slightly harried hours later, everyone was done. Designs ranged from spectacular chairs of all kinds to abstract sculptures, 2-d murals, and great designs that had nothing to do with the theme but were designed to raise money at the Silent Auction.
How did it turn out? Well, the DropBox Derby did great! 27 teams competed and thousands enjoyed a Labor Day of music, food, and fun. Oregon Tradeswomen, the group benefitting from the Derby, did great too by raising over $4000. And The Mechanics did pretty well too, especially for our first time out. We finished our build, had all the fingers we started with, and had a great time. We didn’t win (darn it!) but our design DID sell at the Silent Auction and raised a little more money for the cause. No, The Mechanics didn’t win, but we’ll be back next year, and a warning to the other folks… we’ll be hungry.
The competition area under I-5, just before the start of the Derby
The Mechanics- (from left Jon Feldhausen, Matt McKenzie, Bill Cheek, Charles Letherwood)
Folks gathering to enjoy the music
Kids work on their buttons at the Tom Dwyer tent
Our final design, in-use by the people who bought it at the Silent Auction. We thought of the table as a conversation, and built three stools of different designs emblematic of the different people who take part in it. The table was built without legs (intentionally, not because we ran out of time!) to indicate that a conversation doesn’t happen unless it’s supported by the people in it. EVERYONE has to have a ‘seat at the table’ or it doesn’t work. The purchasers were a family from Salem (sorry we didn’t get their names!) who had brought their son up to show him the excitement of building. We hope it was a worthwhile day!
