MATINECOCK DISTRICT CUB SCOUTS RACE PINEWOOD DERBY CARS

"And they're off!!!!"
Racing six small wooden vehicles on the specially-fitted track in each heat, 85 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 April 9, 2016.

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 85 Tigers, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts and their cars. The top ten winners received trophies, and each participant received a commemorative patch. The scouts and their families, representing 25 of the 33 Matinecock Cub Packs, had a fun day at this Matinecock District 2016 Pinewood Derby. Electronically scored, the pinewood derby cars raced from a variety of speeds of 185.4 mph to 220.3 mph and were timed at speeds of 22.0680 seconds to a top speed of 18.5670 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 of Pack 329, Commack

2nd place – Alex N. of Pack 457, Dix Hills

3rd place - Jack E. of Pack 125, Commack

4th place - Chris C. of Pack 329, Commack

5th place - Sebastion P. of Pack 471, Elwood

6th place – Adam G. of Pack 403, Commack

7th place - Jason D. of Pack 238, East Northport

8th place - Chase S. of Pack 877, Greenlawn

9th place - Ryan D. of Pack 238, East Northport

10th place- Thomas C. of Pack 66, Huntington Station

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 race car 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: Boy Scout Troop 8 (East Northport)’s Jack P and Anthony G., Boy Scout Troop 125 (Commack)’s Ken D, and Boy Scout Troop 34 (Huntington Station)’s Douglas F. Thanks go to Cub Scout Pack 312 (East Northport) who supplied the track, Cubmaster Mike Scheibe (Cub Scout Pack 312), Mike Wine (Boy Scout Troop 360, Huntington), Mike Fasciano (Boy Scout Troop 34), Gray Bunch ( Pack 232, Northport) Matinecock District Executive Liz Jumper and scouting parents Roseann Zeblisky and Mabel Guadagna, and .to NYU film student Cosmo Carlson. It was a great time for everyone who took part in every aspect of this great Cub Scouting event.

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