Photo courtesy of Pack 216
Kids race their Pinewood Derby cars down an aluminum, computer-controlled track.
Boys and girls in kindergarten through fifth grade will design, build and race custom race cars this January at the annual Pack 216 Pinewood Derby.
The three-hour race event will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Trussville Civic Center, with registration the day before from 6:30-8 p.m.
Races, divided by den/grade, will take place on a 42-foot-long aluminum, computer-controlled track with a photo finish. A pit row area is available for racers’ close viewing, while race results will show on large screens. A sibling’s race for children not in Pack 216 and an Outlaw Class race for adults will also take place with $5 registration.
“We have a lot of fun with it. It’s something we all look forward to every year,” said Cubmaster Robb Letts. “It’s a good, wholesome family activity day, with friendly competition and everyone supporting each other.”
Each car must fit the specifications listed in the official Boy Scouts of America Pinewood Derby Kit. The gravity-powered cars, cut from wood blocks, can be no taller than 4 inches, no longer than 7.5 inches and must weigh less than 5 ounces. Participants can be as creative as they desire with their customized cut and design.
Work days will be available at the Scout building on Cherokee Drive in the weeks leading up to the race, with saws and sanders available for parents to help cut their kids’ cars and prepare them for painting and decorating. Letts said seeing the decorated cars is worth the trip to the race, and some years have displayed creative engineering.
“The array of cars we have at these races is pretty incredible,” Letts said. “The creativity the kids put into it is really something else. It’s really fun for everyone to come over and spend a lot of time seeing what all of the boys and girls have done.”
The top three winners of each den race will be awarded and advance to the Pack 216 finals to close the race day, which will also award the top three finishers. A Best in Show award will be given as well.
Letts said he is thankful to the Trussville Civic Center and Trussville Recreation Board for their support in hosting the event each year.
“It’s a great public venue for us to show off scouting in Trussville,” he said.
The Pack 216 race is the first of two races Trussville will host. The second is the Three Rivers District Race on March 23, which is open to 20 packs from around Clay, Center Point, Pinson, Leeds and Moody.
All youths throughout the district are encouraged to participate regardless of their pack level result. Finalists of the district race will advance to the Greater Alabama Council race later in the year.
For more information about the January race hosted by Pack 216, visit pack216.org. Information about the district race can be found at threerivers1bsa.org.
