It was race day on Saturday, January 27, 2018, inside Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL, as Cub Scouts brought their family-crafted pinewood derby cars to compete. In December 2017, after a trip to the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office, boys had received their derby kits. A month later, following modification and artistry, 16 attended the competition. Pack #328 has 22 members.
The action began at 9:00 a.m. Cub Scouts reviewed the displayed cars, choosing one with the “Best Design.” They copied that car’s number on a piece of paper, dropped it into a box, and waited for numbers to be tallied. The favorite design belonged to Caeleb Bramm.
The two youngest Pack members were called first to compete in three heats: Lion Cub Isaac Blevins (red vest) and Tiger Cub Sam Mills (navy shirt) below. Each time they brought their car to Chris Mills, right. The boys raced to the end of the track to await the outcome. Cub Master Jamie Gallegher, left, watched as Mills released a pair of vehicles three times. He rotated the track each boy’s car traversed, to allow for subtle differences in the release mechanism and wooden lanes. The same car did not win every heat.
A volunteer sat at the end of the track and recorded who won each heat, on the back of a boy’s paper “Driver’s License.” The winner was the car that crossed the Finish Line first, as indicated by a red light that was triggered. Sometimes this was not the car that reached the end of the track first. That was a bit confusing to the boys, as their attention was focused at end of the action.
The entire Den sat behind the black and white pennants to watch and cheer on the racers. Gallegher encouraged good sportmanship and the shaking of hands in congratulations.
Both boys won their bracket, due to no competition, and will advance to the Council Pinewood Derby.
Scout Master Eric Anderson and his wife, Linda, joined the Boy Scout program in Morrison in 1981. He noted local Pinewood Derbies have been held for over 40 years. The Editor remembers attending her brother’s event in the mid-1950’s. Shane Adams is Assistant Scout Master.
Jamie Gallegher is Cub Master; Mindy Hagerman is Assistant Cub Master.
Linda Anderson is Unit Commissioner and Den Leader for Lion Cubs (kindergarteners) and Tiger Cubs (first graders.)
Mark Bramm leads the Bear Cubs, and wife Jill is the Assistant Leader.
These boys built the three fastest cars. In front is the only Lion Cub, Isaac Blevins. Behind him are Webelos Scout Blaine Williams, left, and Bear Cub, Corwen Hagerman. They each took home a trophy. The “Fasted Overall” award went to Blaine Williams.
All attendees received a participation ribbon. First and Second Place winners’ cars were carefully bubble-wrapped and boxed, for transport to the next level of competition. In April they will be entered in the Council Pinewood Derby in Pecatonica, IL.