Homemade Cars Race to the Finish at Pinewood Derby

Ready, Set, Go! The race was on for Cub Scouts from Northborough Pack 55/58, which include scouts from Peaslee, and schools who competed on Saturday at their annual Pinewood Derby.

Scouts, with the help of their parents, built their own cars from wood provided in a kit that also contains the wheels and axles. Cars are then raced against one another grouped by the age of the scouts.

First introduced in 1953, the Pinewood Derby is one of the great traditions of Cub Scouting, and many dads routing for their son’s car fondly remember their own races as a scout.

The purpose behind the Derby is to promote sportsmanship, craftsmanship and allow for a fun scout/parent project that will be long remembered by both.

Pack 55/58 also schedules a siblings race and an adults race for added fun.

Many families search online for hints and tips for creating the fastest car using lubrication and weights, while maintaining a total weight of as close to five ounces as possible. Each car reflects the individuality and personality of each scout; there are no two cars alike.

The track is an inclined ramp with wood strips down the center to guide the cars. The Derby runs in two heats with two to four cars racing at a time. The cars start by gravity from a standstill on the track and race down the ramp to the finish line unaided.

Cubmaster Tim Howe and Committee Chairman Matt Hamling coordinated the event this year and commented that the Derby would not be possible without the time or effort of many volunteers including people for the pit crew, set up crew, registration, race officials, awards, photographers, clean up crew, and a snack bar. It takes hours of planning to organize a race and have it run smoothly. Even the official software of the race that tracks the racers, times and placings was created by former Cubmaster John Clark.

Winners of the 2011 race for Pack 55/58 include the following and first place winners will compete at the district level in April:

Tigers (first grade): First Place: Justin Wang, Second Place: Michael Perry, Third Place: Ryan Daivitto.

Wolves (second grade): First Place: Andrew Ryan, Second Place: Thomas Hayes, Third Place: Noah Long

Bears (third grade): First Place: Kevin Tucker, Second Place: Joseph Kearney, Third Place: Andrew Chen

Webelos I (fourth grade): First Place: Owen Coderre, Second Place:Zachary Provencal, Third Place: John Cashel

Webelos II (fifth grade): First Place: Travis Jobes, Second Place: Gabriel Prepetit, Third Place: Patrick Robbins