Cub Scout Pack 374 Has Lots of Fun at Pinewood Derby

News release from Menifee Cub Scout Pack 374:

MENIFEE -- Continuing a tradition, Cub Scout Pack 374 held its annual Pinewood Derby at Gosch Toyota in Hemet on Jan. 31. Gosch Toyota generously donated the cars for each scout.

More than 40 Cub Scouts spent over two weeks designing, sanding, painting, and perfecting their cars in preparation for the big race. There were cars that actually resembled real cars. Other cars were colorful, painted with bright, neon colors. Some cars could only be described as unique; one had pennies glued all over it and another had a Lego-man driver.

Each scout’s car raced at least three times to determine a winner from each den (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos). The winner from each den then raced his car three more times to determine an overall winner. For the fifth year in a row, this year’s overall winner, Anthony, was from the Tiger den. Interestingly, Tigers are the den with the youngest members.

"I felt very good when I won!" Anthony said afterward.

After the derby was complete, Cubmaster Chris Jones attached velcro to the bottom of the cars, which were mounted to the top of display stands hand-made by Jones. The velcro allows each scout to either leave his car mounted to the display stand or remove it to play with it. In addition to the display stands, Gosch Toyota presented each den’s winner with a $20 Target gift card.

Having the fastest car, however, was not the only way a scout could win. Each scout also got to vote for the car he liked best in three categories: "Most Creative", "Most Scouting", and "Scout’s Choice". For the first time, a race was held to determine the "winner" of the “Best Gas Mileage” award -- a consolation prize for the scout with the slowest car!

But Cub Scouts weren’t the only ones who got to join in on the fun. Parents and siblings purchased cars and participated in the "Friends and Family" race, which was held separately from the Scouts’ race.

The Derby lasted over three hours, with hot dogs, chips, cookies, and drinks available to the scouts and spectators. Jeffrey, a Webelos scout who was participating in his second Pinewood Derby and the brother of the overall winner, said, "My favorite part of the Pinewood Derby is when they race the cars. I can’t wait until next year!"

The overall second-place winner, Justin, said, "The Pinewood Derby is so awesome and I’m so grateful that I won second place for the Webelos."

To those boys who want know more about scouting, Justin says, "Cub Scouts is a lot of fun! The best part is the camping trips and getting to use a knife after earning your whittling chip."

Cub Scout Pack 374 is the largest and most active Cub Scout pack in Menifee. Cub Scouts is for boys in 1st through 5th grade. Pack 374 is chartered by VFW Post 1956 in Menifee and part of the Three Peaks District of the California Inland Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America. Learn more at http://www.Pack374.org.