Scouts Hit The Track With Derby Cars

Prior to the start of the Matinecock District’s annual 2017 Pinewood Derby race, all of the participating Tigers, Cubs, and Webelos pose for a photo with the trophies.

Third-place winner Mario M. Jr. and eigth-place winner Dominick S., both of East Northport’s Pack 5,

Second Place trophy winner Aidan L., of East Northport’s Pack 52

Seventh-place winner Christopher R., of South Huntington’s Pack 406

Top district winners, from right, were: (front row) Gregory M, 1st place, ofPack 329, Commack; Aidan L., 2nd place, ofPack 52, East Northport; Mario M., 3rd place, ofPack 5, Northport; Jack R., 4th place, ofPack225, Greenlawn; and, standing in for 5th-place winner, “JJ” S., ofPack329, is Nolan M. Also pictured in the back row are: Sebastian P., 6th place, ofPack 471, Elwood; Christopher R., 7th place, of Pack406, South Huntington; Dominic S., 8th place, of Pack 5; Matthew M., , 9th place, of Pack 329; Thomas C., 10th place, of Pack 66, South Huntington; and Rob Zeblisky, Matinecock District Pinewood Derby Race chair.

“And they’re off!”

Racing six small wooden vehicles on the specially-fitted track in each heat, 85 hand-crafted Pinewood Derby cars were in the competitions at the annual Matinecock District Boy Scouts of America’s runoff event, which was hosted at the Elwood-John Glenn High School gym on April 8.

The cars had to be made by the boys, but parents could assist in shaping and decorating the 5-ounce block of wood contained in the Pinewood Derby Car Kit. The 7- to 10-year-olds who were taking part in the district-wide event had previously raced their cars in the individual Cub Scout Pack’s race. The top four winners from each of the Cub Scout Packs in the Matinecock District, which encompasses western Smithtown and all of the Town of Huntington, were eligible to take part in this event.

The top ten winners received trophies, and each participant received a commemorative patch. Electronically scored, the pinewood derby cars raced from a variety of speeds of 185.4 mph-222.1 mph and clocked in from 22.0680 seconds to a top time of 18.4220 seconds (a new record) as they came to the finish line on the 40-foot long racing tracks.

Top district winners were:

• 1st place – Gregory M., of Pack 329, Commack

•  2nd place – Aidan L., of Pack 52, East Northport

•  3rd place – Mario M., of Pack 5, Northport

•  4th place – Jack R., of Pack 225, Greenlawn

•  5th place – “JJ” S., of Pack 329, Commack

• 6th place – Sebastion P., of Pack 471, Elwood

• 7th place – Christopher R., of Pack 406, South Huntington

•  8th place – Dominic S., of Pack 5, Northport

• 9th place – Matthew M., of Pack 329, Commack

• 10th place – Thomas C., of Pack 66, South Huntington

“The Tigers, Cubs, and Webelos Scouts who participated in the Pinewood Derby race are truly

winners, whether in their

individual Cub Scout Pack or

here at the District-wide race,” said Rob Zeblisky, Matinecock

District Pinewood Derby

Race chair. They have had the

fun of creating their own

racecar and seeing it run, with their parents and fellow scouts cheering each and every one of them on to winning.”