- Faster than a bullet leaving a rifle: 30 mph
- Quicker than the launch of a F4 from a aircraft carrier: 135 mph in 4.5 seconds
- Better than a new speed record for Daytona Beach 500: 210.364 mph
Cub Scout Pack 78 could be called the speed demons of North Framingham. Fourty-two Scouts took their block of wood, plastic wheels and turned them into machines of kinetic energy for speed.
The room was filled with the energy of the Scouts cheering on each other and fans sporting signs.
The Pinewood Derby is a month-long activity: you pick a great design, build the car, tune it to the 32-foot track and run for the gold.
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The designs made by the kids are always eye opening:
- Angry Birds
- Classic race cars
- Military vehicles designed for speed and serious fighting
- Snoopy in his airplane
- SpongeBob
- Insects
- Food themes like Hershey bar or Tom and Jerry cheese wedge
The racing this year was intense. We are so thankful to the residents of Framingham that purchased popcorn from us so we could update our electronic timer and software.
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Based on each Scout running down the track four times, the system calculated the time for each heat and determine the winners.
The Grand Champion of speed was, Calvin Corrigan’s “Flying Snoopy”. Starting at a dead stop, it reached the finish line in 2.5034 seconds, which is 216 mph.
Warren Ross, in his NASCAR Special, finished right behind him, with a difference of 500th of a second for the four races. 500th of a second, is the time it takes a hummingbird to flap its wings (in hover mode) three time, not visible to the human eye.
David Ostfield’s, Batman II, finished third, with a time, 100th of a second behind Ross.
The winner of the Tigers (first year Scouts, age 6) was CJ Crocker with his stripped racing machine. Clearly, he has a future in racing; his car came in fourth overall out of 42 cars - a great rookie run.
During the 168 runs down the track design awards also were presented:
- Classic Race Car: Zach Phillips
- Best In Show: Calvin Corrigan, Flying Snoopy
- Most Original Design: Justin Levitan, Hershey Bar
- Fastest looking Race Car: Jack Henry Paget, race car
- Patriotic: Angelo Moutafis, War Machine
- Colorful: Ethan Hippolyte
- Best Use of Imagination: Joe Till, Stars Wars Ship
- Best Workmanship: Colton Johnson, Tom and Jerry Cheese wedge
- Best Tiger Car: Bradley Kadet, police car
Pack 78 serves North Framingham drawing most of its Scouts from , , and elementary schools.
Pinewood Derby has been a Cub Scout tradition since the early 1960’s.
During the “Parent Challenge Race” two Scout parents brought their vintage cars. Greg Berry raced the car he built at age 8. Tracy Moutafis, raced her brother's 1978 champion car, which he loaned her.
Cub Scouts at Pack 78 in Framingham are having a great season of learning, adventure and fun.
This year the range of items has been science night with the “Glowing Pickles," “Toilet Paper 500," camp outs, charity work for local food pantry’s and supporting the troops with 300 pounds of “Soldiers Boxes” for the holidays.
Our next camp out is at the on April 21, I believe the “Potato Canon," Mentos demonstration and other cool stuff will be part of the event. So if this sounds fun to your son age 6-10, email Ken Ross committeechair@framinghampack78.org.
Bryan Corrigan is the Den 5 Leader
