Character Relationship Map: Down and Derby

Characters

• Big Jimmy (played by Perry Anzilotti) — supporting

  Big Jimmy is one of the fathers caught up in the effort to build a winning pinewood derby car. He breaks secrecy by talking to Blaine, and together they bring Phil into the discovery that Ace's car ho...

• Ace Montana (played by Marc Raymond) — supporting

  Ace is the celebrated author of the Pinewood Derby Bible and the holder of the pinewood derby speed record, set with a car he built as a boy. Phil, Big Jimmy, and Blaine steal that car to study it and...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Big Jimmy → Ace Montana (Conflict Rival) — Big Jimmy and Ace Montana are competitors connected through the pinewood derby record.

  Big Jimmy insists on entering the collaboratively built car because he still wants to beat Ace Montana. After the final race, Ace Montana congratulate...

Story Analysis

Adult obsession with winning gives way to a child's independent craftsmanship and a new pinewood derby record.

Plot Progression

1. Kits Become Obsession — Pinewood derby kits are distributed for the boys to build with adult supervision. The fathers instead take control, and their obsession drives the families away.
2. Chasing The Record — Big Jimmy reveals the secret behind the famous record car. The adults study Ace Montana's design and risk being caught while returning it.
3. Building A Challenger — The collaborators complete a car designed to beat the record. At the derby, competing ideas about ownership and fairness divide the adults.
4. The Final Run — The field narrows to six finalists, including Ace Montana's car and two challengers. Mechanical failure changes the race before the independent car wins.