Aboisterous crowd gathered at First United Methodist Church on Saturday to cheer on Boy Scout Troop 400 at the annual Pinewood Derby.
“The derby started back in the 1950s,” Cub Master Josh Frentz said proudly.
The laughter and friendliness of the crowd belied the seriousness of what it takes to become a Pinewood Derby champion. Several officials fussed over the track, and each car was weighed to ensure the strict 5-ounce policy.
Haylee Reinhardt (7) spoke boldly when declaring, “I think I’m going to win because the heavier it is, the faster it will run.” Her car, The Awesome Blue Jeep, went up against cars built by her fellow Wolf Den troop, but she wasn’t worried.
“I added a duck on the back for the cool factor,” she said.
Reinhardt’s older brother, Skylar (12), competed against troop members with his Unidentified Driving Object. He felt confident he would win because, “The designs are unreal.”
However, Ethan Reeves (12) wasn’t convinced. He believed his Orange Pineapple – named be-
cause “it’s orange” – would sweep the race. Like Haylee, he hoped his awesome design would push him first across the electronically monitored finishing line.
“I added a black dome because it makes it look cool,” he said.
Scattered among nervous parents and excited Scouts were several community members, including Will Posey with his son, Nathanial, nearly 5. Posey said the cub master had given the boy a car kit consisting of a block of wood and four wheels. Although Nathanial was too young to compete, after the races the track opened up to the general population, when he could see how Lightening McQueen would fare against the others.
Frentz’ son, Jake (11), named his race car Golden Eagle, which he stood over proprietorially as the cars were placed in their slots on the table.
“If someone hurts it, I’m going to send them to federal prison,” he joked, referring to the protective status of his car.
Seven-year-old Carly Rose suffered a devastating setback when her car was knocked out of the running for first place. Her mother and siblings gathered around to console the heartbroken girl. But by the time her car, Teletubby, was back on the track competing for third place, which she won, her tears dried into a beaming smile.
The race car drivers had several chances to win a coveted trophy, including an Outlaw category where, as Frentz explained, “anything goes, no rules,” and Best Looking. The winner for Troop 400 was the Ethan Reeves with his Orange Pineapple.
For the leader of the pack, Haylee’s The Awesome Blue Jeep won first prize. She will, no doubt, attribute the win to her cool pink duck.