Real-Life Pinewood Derby: Wall Police Host 10th Coaster Derby

Take a straight, 700-foot track with an incline.

Add cars that have steering and brakes but no engines and must be built from scratch, and driven by youngsters, and raced until there’s a champion determined.

It’s a Pinewood Derby, blown up to life-sized dimensions.

That’s the Wall Township Police Coaster Derby in a nutshell. Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, the derby is marking its 10th anniversary since it was revived in 2006.

The race mirrors the Pinewood Derbies run by Cub Scout packs across the country every year -- gravity-powered cars built from specified materials racing side-by-side down an inclined track. The only difference with the life-sized Coaster Derby is the kids are actually driving.

Kids ages 7 to 13 will race cars on the inclined course on Industrial Road. Drivers rely solely on gravity to propel their cars, which race two at a time, side by side, in a timed event. Each coaster runs in two races and the four drivers with the best average times for the two races will compete for the grand champion award, according to a news release from Wall Police.

In addition to participation recognition, there will be awards to a male and a female driver for the “Best Appearing Cars” and one driver will receive an award for the “Best Constructed Car.” There is a “Kids Choice” award and an award for the “Best Theme Car,” the release states.

This year, the derby will be a one-day event, the release said. Derby cars will be inspected on race day at the Glendola Firehouse, located on the race course on Industrial Road. Car inspections will begin at 10 a.m. and the drivers must be present to be weighed in with their cars. All derby cars will be technically inspected for safety and to insure that the car was constructed in accordance with the Wall Police Coaster Derby specifications, the release said. Once the car is inspected, each driver will have the opportunity to make one practice run on the race course.

Last year the race added a bounce house and ice cream truck, and this year’s event is expected to attract even more new racers with other new activities being worked on for between the races, organizers said.

Wall Township Police are seeking sponsors -- contact Sgt. Sean O’Halloran at sohalloran@wallpolice.org or 732-449-8774, ext. 1146.

Race applications and car specifications are available online at www.wallpolice.org. All applications must be received no later than Saturday, Oct. 12. If you have any questions about the derby, or if you would like more information about the event, go to www.wallpolice.org or e-mail Sgt. Sean O’Halloran at sohalloran@wallpolice.org.