HOWARD — The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby was held at Easy Knox High School on Saturday, hosted by Cub Scout Pack 344.
“We’re the host pack this year,” said event coordinator Jeff Gibson. “Packwise, there are about 30 to 35 here. It includes all the packs from Knox, Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties. That is the arrowhead district of the Muskingum Valley Council of Scouts. This is the finals for the district.”
Gibson said the Cub Scouts competing at the event are the fastest in their rank — Tigers, Bears, Wolves and Weblos; the top four in each rank advance to the finals.
“We have a light system at the end of each track,” Gibson explained. “It will electronically determine the winner in each race, so human error is eliminated.”
The qualifying round is a double elimination event, which means a racer is eliminated after losing two races. At the end of the qualifying round, the top four racers in each rank advance to the championship round, which is also a double elimination event. After much exciting racing, the tournament was down to two racers, Jake Gibson and Carter Goodknight. Goodknight won by a nose to take the championship.
“I’m really happy,” was Goodknight’s somewhat understated response.
Third place went to Palmer Urb, Pack 409, and fourth place to Ben Parsell of Pack 382.
Gibson was a bit philosophical about it all.
“I don’t really mind coming in second,” he said.
Nate Norman of Pack 403 won the Best of Show contest, which acknowledges the best-looking car of all the entrants.
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, and usually include a block of wood, axles and wheels.
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