Club Corner: Makers Grand Prix

Four young racers leaned in, eyes wide, as their small wooden cars were placed atop the long, sloped track. Roughly seven inches long, each car had its own personality: a cheerful polka-dotted Minnie Mouse, a playful multicolored build, a smiling red Lightning McQueen, and an elegant orange racer with a perked-up rear wing. At “go,” gravity took over, a blur to the finish line. Cheers erupted, but the true victory? Each competitor had built their car from scratch.

Almost two years prior, high school students Nico D.R., Marco T., and Luca S. set out to start a club. Nico and Marco had grown up with the Pinewood Derby, a Boy Scouts of America tradition at which Cub Scouts and their families craft and race miniature cars made from wooden blocks, metal pieces, and plastic wheels. The three of them wanted to bring that same experience to São Paulo.  

“When I lived in Italy, Switzerland, and Portugal, there was a culture of making things by yourself, combining craftsmanship with creativity, which at Graded I haven't seen as much,” said Marco. “I loved the idea of bringing this hands-on, do-it-yourself process here, especially to small children.”

What began as a simple idea evolved into the Makers Grand Prix, a project that encourages students to unleash their creativity with the “makers spirit,” learning valuable skills in carpentry and teamwork while preparing for a competition. 

“Our goal was to create a space where children can be themselves; they can be creative, have fun, and be challenged,” said Luca. 

To bring this vision to life, Nico, Marco, and Luca, alongside nearly a dozen club members, enlisted help from Graded Facilities team members. The newfound club began hosting workshops that taught young students and their families how to work with wood, cut precise shapes, and assemble and customize their cars. Extending their impact beyond Graded, they partnered with the children’s home Lar Tia Edna, organizing workshops on-site and inviting them to participate in the race. In preparation for the event, club members also set up a Video Assisted Review (VAR) system, a point system to track winners, and reached out to sponsors, who generously donated exciting items for the event.

A Pirelli tent in the Student Center marked the starting line for the race day, where competitors eagerly signed in. Excitement grew as participants caught a glimpse of the prizes, which included handmade trophies, Porsche shirts, Bridgestone water bottles, and even an Audi Lego set. Volunteers, who were stationed throughout the space, provided technical assistance to repair cars, distribute prizes, and help the event run smoothly.

The 65 racers, divided into four age groups, lined up at the four-lane wooden track and waited for their turn to compete. In each heat, four cars cycled through all lanes to ensure a fair competition. Points were assigned based on placement—one for first, four for last—and the top scorers advanced. In the end, a “Championship of Champions” determined the fastest car of the Makers Grand Prix.

“It becomes very dramatic when you reach the final between age groups,” said Nico. “In the first race, it was obvious who won, but in the very last race, it’s only a millimeter of difference.” 

There are car races that become legendary, etched in the memory of everyone present on the track. For many Brazilians, that memory is tied to the late Formula 1 champion Ayrton Senna. NASCAR fans may recall Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s emblematic win at the Daytona 500. But for the Graded community, that indelible race might just be the exhilarating debut of the Makers Grand Prix.