Cub Scout Pack 1776 held its annual Pinewood Derby race on March 8 at Neshanic Reformed Church for more than 55 Scouts and siblings.
The derby is a long-standing Scouting tradition. Boys design and construct a 7 and 3/8-inch car from a block of pine wood and race it down a track. The racing kit contains a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axles, and the designs are completely up to the creativity of the Scout.
Pack 1776 provides a derby car clinic to help Scouts and parents newer to the derby tradition, or may not have access to power tools. At the derby check-in, cars are weighed, measured and then impounded until race day. Up until weigh-in, Scouts were busy gluing on weights, or even drilling out wood, in an effort to stay under the 5-ounce limit.
The derby race is monitored by a computer program that randomly assigns lanes and heats, as well as reports speed and place.
The Pack 1776 Pinewood Derby results are:
Tigers: 1st: Adrian Carley, (2nd) Drew Macias and (3rd), Daniel Rizzi.
Wolves: 1. Jack Macias 2. Nate Urm 3. Jack Bisignano;
Bears: 1. Ryan Matrulli, 2. Ryland Mack, 3. Kylar Ahle.
Webelos I: 1. Billy Strandberg, 2. Michael Boer, 3. (tie) Aidan Warner, Michael DiGiovanni and Vaughn Colva.
Webelos IIs: 1. Matthew Lobiondo, 2. (tie) Kaya Kennette, Brian Hammer and Nicholas Fanizzi.
Overall winners were Billy Strandberg in 1st, Drew Macias 2nd) and Nate Urm and Adrian Carley tied for 3rd.
Though some cars took the lead in speed, all the boys were applauded for participation and completion of a project that involved planning, commitment and hard work to finish on time.
For example, Aidan Cannatelli won for “Best Euro Design” with a sleek, green model, while Nicholas Henderson won “Best Driver in Car” for his ingenious Lego design. Sibling Becky Hammer won “Most Use of Imagination” for her Phineas & Ferb-inspired car, Perry.
’“”This race would not be possible without many volunteers behind the scenes. A special thank you is extended to the Derby Coordinator Greg Woltornist, who organized the event.
Pack 1776 is chartered by Neshanic Reformed Church, on Amwell Road in Hillsborough. The larger pack consists of five smaller den groups by age: Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos I and II. Cub Scouts range from first to fifth grade.
Local father Alan Romano serves as Cubmaster, assisted by several den and committee leaders. Pack 1776 draws boys primarily from Woodfern Elementary School.
Scouting offers boys the chance to participate in activities like the Pinewood Derby, and to learn about the outdoors, their community and their nation, in a cooperative environment. If your son is interested in joining, or for more information, contact Cubmaster Alan Romano at 908-229-6592 or [email protected].

