MOUNT VERNON — Cub Scout Pack 339, sponsored by the Mount Vernon First Presbyterian Church, hosted a Pinewood Derby competition at the Mount Vernon Middle School on Saturday.
Pinewood Derby is an event for Cub Scouts who, with help from their parents, build miniature race cars to race down a sloped track. The tracks generally have two to six lanes, and the cars are powered by gravity. Basic, sanctioned kits are available, usually including a block of wood, axles and wheels.
Saturday’s event featured 112 Cub Scouts racing their homemade cars.
“This is the finals for the Arrowhead District,” said Ryan Rupp, Scoutmaster for Pack 332 and coordinator of the event. “We had Scouts from 19 packs. The other packs had already run their races and sent their winners here to the district finals.”
The Arrowhead District is part of the greater Muskhingam Valley Council of Scouts. It includes Knox, Coshocton and part of Tuscarawas counties.
The event used four tracks, one for each of the Cub Scout levels, which are Tiger Cubs, first. grade; Wolf Cubs, second grade; Bear Cubs, third grade; and Webelos Cubs, fourth and fifth grades. Two contestants raced against each other at a time, in double elimination competition. The top four racers in each competition were eligible for the Grand Champion final race.
“This type of large event helps bring Cub Scouts together in fellowship, friendly competition and good sportsmanship,” Rupp said. “It additionally encourages the boys to work hard toward the Cub Scout motto ‘Do Your best.’”
The final event featured 16 Scouts, four from each of the different Cub Scout levels. In the end, one stood above all of the others. Jonathan Perkins, 7, of Pack 382 in Centerburg was the Grand Champion of the Arrowhead District.
“I’m happy,” Jonathan said after the race. “I’m excited.”
Other finalists included Thomas Walters, Pack 402; Caleb Moore, Pack 409; and Joseph Hibbits, Pack 382. Each received a trophy, as did the top four finalists in the preliminary races.
There was also a Best of Show judging for the cars, based on design and workmanship. Top finishers were, first place, Carter Goodnight, Pack 382; second place, Michael Maglott, Pack 350; third place, Justin Hunkele, Pack 344; and fourth place, Chase Caroll, Pack 458. Best of Show judges included Bruce Hawkins, Bill Shriver, Shawn Christy, Brian Weizek and Jeffrey Kellett.
