As a computer builder, I’m No. … 28?

I knew I was in trouble when I asked the competitor next to me for some tips on assembling a computer during a charity race Thursday night as part of the International Consumer Electronics Show.

"You're not going to win," he replied.

Truer words were never spoken.

I didn't ever dream of winning the 14th annual CA Technologies Build Your Own PC For Charity event, sponsored by TigerDirect.com. I just wanted to finish the race and end up with a welcome screen after hitting the power button.

The computer did fire up ... but only after the third try and help from two different TigerDirect assistants.

The race started ominously when the side of the case of the computer tower I was working on fell to the floor. That ultimately was the final piece of the electronic puzzle, but the corner, which bent after hitting the floor, kept us from getting it secured into place.

Then there were those tiny screws; I think there were five. All of them had to be fished from the bottom of the case — some more than a few times. Let's just say my fingers aren't computer-screw friendly. There was blood, too; I nicked my knuckles more than once in my attempts to retrieve those darned screws.

The race had 30 "builders." It was the 13th time for one of the guys in the front row, and another was a two-time winner. FutureLooks.com Editor-In-Chief Stephen Fung won the competition, assembling his unit and getting it to successfully power up in just 4 minutes, 9 seconds.

I think it took me 24 minutes to finish, even with help from the professional geeks. It may have been 54 minutes, but who's counting? I was hoping for the mercy rule, or a flag dropping signalling all the remining builders stop in our tracks. We could have all tied for fourth place. At the very least, I wouldn't have been lapped dozens of times by the rest of the field. The announcer kept telling the racers to keep going, as I heard him announce the 10th, 18th, 23rd and even 27th place finishers. I glanced at the big board and saw three of us were still struggling to finish.

The bottom trio toiled away as the rest of the group assembled on stage for a group photo. Trophies were passed out and pictures of winner with big checks for charity were taken. At least that's what it sounded like. My head was still buried in that computer case trying to find where to plug in that light blue connector and not the one with the right-angle bend.

I'll claim 28th place. I'm sure the other two in the final trio are doing the same.

I hope to be invited back next year. In the meantime, I think I'll head to YouTube to find some tips for snapping and screwing together a sleek racing computer. I also think I'll sneak a magnetically tipped scredriver into my hip pocket. It's only fair to be equipped properly against those darned screws.

Thank goodness soldering irons weren't involved.