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Wooden winners
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Nathan Pike (left) knew his car was safe with scout master Bob Zedaker (right) during his car’s second run in a Pinewood Derby heat.
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The winners of Pack 44’s race gathered after their race to show off their shiny trophies. First place winner was Phillip Hockensmith (center), second place was Aiden Colletti (left), and third went to Jacob Smith (right).
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And they’re off! Scout master Bob Zedaker (right, beside track) ran the first match-up between scout’s during his pack’s Pinewood Derby.
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Scout Jacob Hockensmith (right) officiated the races and announced the first, second, and third place winners in each run.
By SARAH FOOR
Boy Scout Pack 44, based in Poland Presbyterian Church, showed many hidden talents on Jan. 31, when the young scouts raced their cars in the annual Pinewood Derby.
The derby is a national Boy Scout activity where the boys are given a block of wood, four wheels and two axles and told to engineer and create a car that weighs in under 5 ounces.
“The kids can work on it alone, or they make it an activity with their parents or grandparents,” explained Scout mom Patti Hockensmith. “The point is having the boys focus on a task and spend more time with their family.”
While the event is a Boy Scout tradition, it has a long history in Poland’s Pack 44.
“We’ve been doing the derby for probably 50 years or more. Myself and some of the other leadership even remember our own derbies when we were kids,” said scoutmaster Bob Zedakek.
The cars raced down a custom-made track that included an electronic machine at the finish line that read results with precision.
In between races, Scout Ethan Ball shared his favorite part of the derby.
“I love being able to use tools and cut and shave off the wood. It’s fun to see it turn from just wood into a car.”
In three brackets, the cars raced in many close races, until the competition was down to the three winners. Philip Hockensmith won the event, Aiden Colletti took second and Jacob Smith was third.
“I like the racing part, mostly. Racing and winning are pretty great,” said Hockensmith after his victory.