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HILLSBOROUGH: Scouts’ crafted wooden cars zoom down track

   Pack 1776, which meets at Neshanic Reformed Church on Amwell Road, held its annual Pinewood Derby on Saturday, March 17. More than 50 Scouts and their siblings participated in the competitive, but fun, event.
   The tradition goes back to the 1950s when a California Cubmaster developed affordable-model cars to replace full-size soapbox derby racers. Each Scout is given a box containing a block of wood to be used for the car body, wheels, and axles. Scouts have to design, carve, sand and paint their car, which can weigh no more than five ounces.
   Pack 1776 also provides a derby car clinic to help those Scouts who are newer to the derby tradition, and/or may not have their own access to tools. According to overall derby winner Lance DeSantis, who, along with his dad, led the clinic, “I like helping the younger Scouts work on their cars. I like to show them what I have learned from building my cars over the years”.
   At the derby check-in, cars are weighed, measured and then impounded overnight. Some Scouts glued on weights, or drilled out wood, in an effort to hit exactly five ounces. Once the entries were impounded, Cubmaster Alan Romano applied graphite to help lubricate every wheel.
   ”It is important that everyone have an equal shot,” Mr. Romano said.
   The derby is not just about having the fastest car. The main purpose is to teach grace and poise in both victory and defeat.
   ”The Pinewood Derby, by its very nature, is a competitive race, but it’s always inspiring to me to see the boys come together and root each other on despite who comes in first or who comes in last,” said Mr. Romano. “To me sportsmanship like this exemplifies the core values of the Scouting program.”
   Every car submitted earns an award, such as “Best Paint Job,” “Blue and Gold Special” and “Sportiest.”
   Another derby tradition is the Cub Café. Beverages, snacks, and lunch items are donated by Scout parents and are available for purchase. Proceeds are dedicated to a local charity; this year, it was Eden Autism Services. Eden’s goal is to improve the lives of children and adults with autism through education, employment and residential services.
   The derby race is monitored by a computer program that randomly assigns lanes and order of heats, as well as reports speed and place. These details are maintained in an effort to keep the races fun and fair.
   The Pack 1776 Pinewood Derby results are:
   Fastest overall: Lance DeSantis, first; Brian Bessasparis, second, and Billy Strandberg, third.
   Fastest by den: Webelos II: Lance DeSantis, first; Brian Bessasparis, second, and Chuck Burns and Anthony Fodera tied for third.
   Webelos I: Matthew Lobiondo, first; and Brian Hammer and Kaya Kennette tied for second.
   Bear: Billy Strandberg, first; Nicky Burns, second, and Michael DiGiovanni, third.
   Wolf: Ryan Matrulli, first; Kylar Ahle, second, and Ali Kiwan, third.
   Tiger: Tyler Kennette and Nick Urm, both tied for first; and Jack Bisignano, third.
   The race would not be possible without the volunteers behind the scenes. The pack gave a special thank you to Pinewood Derby Coordinator Greg Woltornist.
   Scouting offers boys the opportunity to participate in activities like the Pinewood Derby, and to learn about the outdoors, community and nation in a non-competitive environment.
   If your son is in first through fifth grade and is interested in joining, or for information, contact Cubmaster Alan Romano at 908-229-6592 or [email protected].