The Stone Bridge Middle School was transformed into a mini raceway Jan. 25 when about 60 Allentown and Upper Freehold Cub Scouts from Pack 180 and their families cheered on their cars at the annual Pinewo
by Amy Batista, Special Writer
ALLENTOWN — The Stone Bridge Middle School was transformed into a mini raceway Jan. 25 when about 60 Allentown and Upper Freehold Cub Scouts from Pack 180 and their families cheered on their cars at the annual Pinewood Derby.
While Scouts do not earn patches at the annual event, said Committee Member Nicole Byrne, there are awards given for the fastest cars in addition to several design categories.
”It a great experience for the family who help the Cub Scout with the cars and for the entire pack as they spend the day together watching the races, cheering one another on,” said Ms. Byrne, who added that Pack 180 first began racing approximately 40 years ago.
For many Cubs, this competition is synonymous with being a Boy Scout. For some Scouts that evening it was a first experience while for others it was a chance to see if they were able to perfect and modify their cars from year’s past in hopes of winning and being the pack champion.
Every year, more than a million Cub Scouts and adult partners team up to participate in a Pinewood Derby, a tradition that goes back generations, according to the Boy Scouts of America Pinewood Derby website, www.pinewoodderby.org.
The Pinewood Derby dates back to the first race in 1953 in Southern California at Manhattan Beach by the troop Cub Scout 280C and Cubmaster Donald Murphy.
For many Cub Scouts, racing in the Pinewood Derby creates a bond between a Cub Scout and all those who have raced before and for all those who will follow to participate in this same tradition.
Gavin Byrne, 7, of Cream Ridge, designed the Hope Fire Company fire truck and was sitting at the registration table handing out the Pinewood Derby patch to scouts as they checked in.
”I like making the cars,” said Gavin, who spent weeks designing and building his fire truck. “It took me from the time I got it until yesterday,” Gavin said, adding that his dad is on the fire company.
It all starts with a block of wood. With the assistance of their parents, these Scouts construct their own miniature racecars. Scouts start with the same derby kit, which also contains wheels and nails for the axles. From there, the wood is sliced, carved, shaved, drilled and painted to meet basic race specifications.
The car kits are distributed in December.
While unique designs are endless, all cars in must be of a certain size and weight so they have an equal chance to win.
One Scout turned the wood into a bathtub, complete with a man inside of it with water filled up to the top complete with a rubber duckie and a sailboat floating in the tub.
The races ran according to rank, Tiger (first grade), Wolf (second grade), Bear (third grade), Webelos I (fourth grade) and Webelos II (fifth grade).
”Each boy gets to enter a car and generally all of them do,” Ms. Byrne said, adding awards are presented for the top four fastest racers.
In addition, the scouts are able to compete in the following design categories – Most Authentic Race Car, Most Creative Car, Most Colorful Car, Best Scout Theme Car, Best Animal Theme Car, Best Allentown/Upper Freehold Theme Car, Most Patriotic Car, Most Humorous Car, Best TV/Movie Theme Car, Best Video Game Theme Car and Best Sports Theme Car. In addition to the above there is the “Spirit of the Pinewood Derby Car” which will be awarded to the Scout who best exemplifies good sportsmanship, integrity and the Cub Scout 12 Core Values.
Brayden Karvelas, 10, of Allentown, placed first in the Webelos II division and described the win as “amazing” and was not expecting to win.
”It was really hard to figure out what design and then I looked on the internet and I found some designs,” said Brayden, who went with putting flames on his car.
For Brayden, the highlight of the day so far is “watching the races.”
Brennan Robbins, 11, of Allentown, placed second and is not a stranger to success in the derby, having also placed second last year.
For Brennan, the highlight was “winning” and getting second place in the derby.
Brennan encourages others to sign up for Cub Scouts and “be proud of yourself.”
Jack Zaffarese, 10, of Allentown, placed third.
”It was just amazing because usually I don’t do this well,” Jack said, adding it was a first time he had finished first during one of the heats.
Jack also encourages others to join.
”Cub Scouts is really fun and you should join it,” Jack said.

