Scouts’ derby raises money for tsunami victims.
By: Joseph Harvie
Gravity is defined as the natural force of attraction exerted by a celestial body, such as the earth, upon objects at or near its surface, tending to draw them toward the center of the body.
On Saturday, about 38 Cub Scouts from Pack 108 learned the meaning of gravity, as well as sportsmanship, at the annual Pinewood Derby races at Crossroads South Middle School on Major Road.
The races began at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 1 p.m., just as what is being referred to the Blizzard of 2005 hit the region.
The racers lined up in the six lanes on a 30-foot track to find out whose car would take first place. The track has a system that gives the results of the race by lane, Cub Master Chris Hurley said.
"(It has) an electronic eye that tells you which car comes in first, second and third," Mr. Hurley said. "It beats the old days of having the finish line committee."
Rules specify that cars must be made from a solid piece of wood and can weigh no more than 5 ounces. In addition, the cars cannot have any propeller devices attached to them and cannot exceed a height of 3 inches or a length of 7 inches.
And, they can only move with the help of gravity.
To help with that, a pit station was set up so some of the Scouts could add weight to their cars. Others may have had to lighten their racers up so they could make the qualifying weight.
The top three Scouts in each Den, Tigers, Wolves and Bears, and Webelos I and Webelos II, will move on to the Joyce Kilmer District races in March, said Mr. Hurley. He said the district is made up of between 10 and 15 packs.
"I thought it went great," Mr. Hurley said. "The boys seemed to have the cars looking good and they had fun both building them and racing them."
Diane Hurley, a Scout mother, said the Scouts also used the event as a way to raise money for the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami, which has killed about 228,770 people, according to the Associated Press.
The concession stand at the derby took in $150, which will be donated to the American Red Cross. All of the sales were profit because food and beverages were donated by Somerset Syrup of Edison, said Ms. Hurley.
The winners of Saturday’s racers are: Tigers first place, Michael Yacubovich; second, Albert Odeh; third, Akshay Niranjan.
Wolves first place, Sam Bierstein; second, (tie) Frank Malvagna and Vinny Miles.
Bears first place, Antonio Mistretta; second, Kevin Wainzak; third, Logan Germano.
Webelos I first place, Nikhil Chopra; second, Michael Guida; third, Michael Lowande.
Webelos II first place, Robert Fay; second, Andy Spitz; third, Joe Parrinello.

