Cub Scouts feel need for speed in Pinewood Derby
Over 450 Cub Scouts felt the “need for speed” Saturday as they participated in the Black Fox District Pinewood Derby held at Westwood Church of Christ.
The boys were treated to state-of-the-art computer timing devices that picked the winners of each heat with split-second accuracy and almost instantaneously displaying the winners on a screen for all to see.
They don’t make Pinewood Derby races like they used to.
“The Pinewood Derby is a program for the Cub Scouts and an adult partner to work on a project,” said Black Fox Cub Scout District assistant commissioner Melonie Turner. “The boys receive a pine block of wood, four wheels and four nails for axles to begin their project. With a parent or other adult, they construct a Pinewood Derby race car. The idea for this project is for our boys and their adult partner to spend time together.”
The cars are made to strict specifications as to weight and size, and perform some pretty amazing feats of speed once completed.
“When the cars are whittled down to shape and ready, the boys race the cars down the specially designed gravity track at about 200 miles an hour,” Turner said. “The average time for each race is just over 2 seconds.”
Trophies are awarded for speed and design.
The Black Fox District includes Cub Scouts from Warren, White, DeKalb and Van Buren counties.
Winners at this contest were, for design, Houston Wood, first place, Cohen Brown, second and Tyler Henry, third. Winners for speed were Matthew Zahn, first place, Drew Davidson, second and Nathan Robbins, third.
According to Turner, all the scouts who participated deserve credit.
“All of the boys are winners in this program when they build a Pinewood Derby racer,” she said.