Northborough Cub Scouts race at Pinewood Derby

Northborough – Angry Birds, a wrench and SpongeBob – those were a few of the car themes that Cub Scouts from Northborough Pack 55/58 used to decorate their cars for the recent annual Pinewood Derby race. Students from Peaslee School, Proctor School and St. Bernadette’s make up Pack 55/58.
    For the race, Scouts, with the help of their parents, build their own cars from wood provided in a kit that also contains the wheels and axles. Cars are then raced against one another grouped by the age of the Scouts.
    First introduced in 1953, the Pinewood Derby is one of the traditions of Cub Scouting. The purpose behind the event is to promote sportsmanship, craftsmanship and allow for a fun and memorable Scout/parent project.
    The track is an inclined ramp with wood strips down the center to guide the cars. The race runs in two heats with two to four cars racing at a time. The cars start by gravity from a standstill on the track and race down the ramp to the finish line unaided.
    Cubmaster Tim Howe, Committee Chair Matt Hamling, and parent volunteers made the event possible. Volunteers for the pit crew, set-up and clean-up crews, registration, race officials, awards, photographers, and a snack bar kept race day running smoothly.
    Winners of the 2012 race for Pack 55/58 include the following. First-place winners will compete at the district level in April: