Chatham Cub Scout Headed To Pinewood Derby Championship

CHATHAM, NJ - The inspiration, perspiration, craftsmanship and hard work have led seven-year-old Rowan Cashin to the Pinewood Derby Championship held in Times Square on June 29.

A first grade student at Milton Avenue School and a member of Cub Scout Pack 8 based out of Ogden Church, Cashin has been honing his craft since their annual Pinewood Derby race in January.

To begin, the Scouts have to fashion their own car out of a small block of wood, which is provided in a standard size by the Boy Scouts of America. From there each Scout fashions their car to their own liking. For his vehicle, Rowan cut his block in half, into a wedge shape, and painted it his favorite color: camouflage. From there, he glued some nuts to it for weight.

"His car is a bit feeble to pick up. Sorta feels like the wheels are going to fall off," said Tom Cashin, Rowan's father. "But on the track - it’s surprisingly fast."

According to Tom Cashin, besides assisting in the saw work Rowan received not help in the design, look, and most of the execution was all him.

There are strict rules to the race governing the specs of the cars including the fact that the car cannot be any longer than the block of wood provided and it cannot weigh any more than 5 ounces.

According to Tom Cashin, on race day in January, Mom, Dad and five-year-old old sister Marlowe all wore camouflage in solidarity and Rowan won first place in his den, and 4th overall in the pack. His den is the youngest age bracket for the pack.

"Winning his den qualified him for regional races for the Fishawack district of the Boy Scouts of America, which took place on April 6 at Alfred Vail School in Morris Plains," Tom Cashin said. "Several other scouts from the chatham pack qualified and raced in the regional competition as well.

Rowan Cashin placed third in his age group and was the only Scout from Chatham to trophy in the regionals. That qualified him for the 2019 World Championship Pinewood Derby tournament as the only Scout representing Pack 8.

Tom Cashin said his son has made no modifications to his car since the original race and that some of the local scouts will be organizing a cheering squad to support him.

"He’ll be accompanied at the race by Mom, Dad, Marlowe, Nanny and Grandpa who will be coming from Boston, Mama and Papa who will be coming from Brooklyn," Cashin said. "And Dad’s aunt, Sister Mary Ann of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, all of who are keeping vigil daily until race day."

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