"And they're off!!!!" Racing six small wooden vehicles on the specially-fitted track in each heat, 89 hand-crafted Pinewood Derby cars were in the competitions at the Annual Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)'s district-wide runoff event held in the gym of the John Glenn High School in Elwood on May 4, 2013. The cars had to be made by the boys (and parents could assist) in shaping and decorating the 5-ounce block of wood contained in the Pinewood Derby Car Kit. The 7- to 10-year-olds who were taking part in the District-wide event had previously raced their cars in the individual Cub Scout Pack's race. The top four winners from each of the Cub Scout Packs in the Matinecock District (which encompasses Western Smithtown and all of the Town of Huntington) were eligible to take part in this event. With friends, parents, and volunteer scouting adults from the Pack and the Scout District to cheer them on, matrix style races were held for the 89 Tigers, Cubs and Webelos and their cars. The top ten winners received trophies, and each participant received a commemorative patch. The scouts and their families, representing 27 of the 33 Matinecock Cub Packs, had a fun day at this Matinecock District 2012 Pinewood Derby. Electronically scored, the pinewood derby cars raced from a variety of speeds of 192.5 mph to 216.2 mph and were timed at speeds of 17.7140 seconds to a top speed of 15.8440 seconds as they came to the finish line on the 40-foot long racing tracks. Top district winners (first to tenth place) were: 1st place - Gregory M, Pack 329 (Commack), 2nd place - Jason L, Pack 3333 (Hauppauge), 3rd place - Daniel L, Pack 3333(Hauppauge), 4th place - Mike M, Pack 238 (East Northport), 5th place - Stefan H, Pack 329 (Commack), 6th place - Patrick D, Pack 379 (Kings Park), 7th place - Will Van D, Pack 225 (Greenlawn), 8th place - Tate F, Pack 310 (Huntington), 9th place - Zack R, Pack 406 (Huntington Station), and 10th place - Timothy D, Pack75 (Kings Park) Rob Zeblisky, Matinecock District Pinewood Derby Race Chair said, "The Tigers, Cubs, and Webelos Scouts who participated in the Pinewood Derby race are truly winners, whether in their individual Cub Scout Pack or here at the District-wide race. They have had the fun of creating their own racecar and seeing it run, with their parents and fellow scouts cheering each and every one of them on to winning. Special thanks go to all the volunteers who assisted me in this event: Cub Scouts Louis Fiorino, Liam Wine & Ian Morris (Pack 312, East Northport), Boy Scouts, Dan Mincelli (Troop 8, East Northport). Douglas Fasciano (Pack 406, Huntington Station) Thanks to Pack 312 (Centerport) who supplied the track, Cubmaster Angelo Fiorino (Pack 312 Centerport), and Matinecock District’s Program Assistant Elaine Gray, and scouting parents Roseann Zeblisky & Mike Fasciano. It was a great time for everyone who took part in every aspect of this great Cub Scouting event."
