Winnetka scouts compete in Pinewood Derby
February 6, 2012 3:18PM
More than 100 Cub Scouts participated in Pack 18’s Pinewood Derby races and design competition in Winnetka on Jan. 25. | Photo courtesy of Justin Widen
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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:30AM
More than 100 Cub Scouts participated in Pack 18’s Pinewood Derby races and design competition in Winnetka on Jan. 25.
The Cub Scouts built their cars, often with the help of their moms and dads, starting with a basic block of wood, four nails and four wheels and then sawed, sanded and painted them to look like cars. Many kids added unique features including lights, flags, Legos, drivers and even playing music.
The evening began with each car being weighed to ensure it was within the five ounce regulation and the Cub Scouts entering their cars in one of the design categories. The cars were judged, by an impartial officer from the Winnetka Police Department, for Best Overall Design and six other categories. The competition was extremely fierce in the Most Patriotic category, where multiple American flag themed cars were pitted against camouflaged vehicles and tanks, and the Most Creative category, which included a snake, a dog, a shark and even a volcano. The winners included Nicholas Kohler for Most Colorful, Luke Baldwin for Most Patriotic, Aidan Lane for Most Futuristic, Peter Skinner for Most Authentic, Aidan Nicholson for Most Creative, Ian Miller for Best Blue & Gold, and Ian Cata for Best Overall.
Following the presentation of the design awards and a brief delay due to technical difficulties with the race timers, the races began! Each race lasted less than three seconds, with the difference between first and second place often coming down to hundredths of a second. Ultimately, every car raced four times, once in each of the four lanes on the track, with total elapsed times determining the winners. First, second and third place was awarded to the fastest three cars in each den and for Pack 18 overall.
The overall winners were Jack Wellehan, a Wolf Scout, with an elapsed time of 9.813 seconds, Simon Griffin, also a Wolf Scout, with an elapsed time of 9.905 seconds, and Aidan Lane, a Webelos, with an elapsed time of 9.935 seconds. Jack, Simon and Aidan, along with the top three finishers for each rank, will now get to race their cars against other Cub Scouts at the Potawatomi District Pinewood Derby regionals in April.
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