Mt. Pleasant SC’s, Pinckney Elementary School, was turned into a highly competitive racing arena this weekend. It was the Cub Scouts annual Pinewood Derby race. One of the Scouts largest events every year. Moms and Dads, mostly Dads lets face it, work very hard along side their scout every year to build the fasted derby car with the best design or paint job.
This event was started in 1953 by Don Murphy. Murphy’s son was to young to participate in the Soap Box Derby, so he came up with the idea of racing miniature wood cars. The cars had the same gravity-powered concept as the Box cars, but were smaller and were not raced by the scout. By 1955 the pinewood derby was part of the official Cub Scouting program and, while always optional, has become a key part of many Cub Scout packs’ annual programs.

It is easy to see why the event has become so popular.
Flash ahead fifty-seven years to Charleston, SC and you will see the same principles and excitement of yesteryears. The Cub Scouts in pack 505 range from six to ten years old and are categorized by Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Weblo Scouts. Each group races against each other and then the winners advance to the final round. It is a lot harder done than said. Each scout receives the same block of wood, axel, and four wheels. The most difficult challenge after the actual car design, which takes some intense carving and shaving, is to find the exact balance of weight without butchering the cars. Cars can’t weigh over 5.0 ounces and those weighing under that don’t have much of a chance. The scouts have to be very creative as well with securing axels and gloss finishes, sticker placement, and unique names. Some of the favorites this year were Blue Thunder, Orange Crush, The dragon Claw, & Shake and Bake.

A casual observer might pick up on a few details in the all day event. One is the camaraderie among the scouts. They genuinely encourage each other and have fun no matter who is winning. Also, the scouts seem to always use their events to serve the community or those in need. This year a bake sale was added to the Derby to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Publix manager, James Bongalis, the 1971 winner of Pinewood Derby, was there serving ice cream to help in those efforts, along with donations from Joey Bag of Donuts and Pizza Hut.

Many parents have their children in sporting events year round and as that is a great advantage for children to build self esteem and even achieve scholarships, there is something very pure about the Cub Scouts. The purpose of the Pinewood Derby event is to help the Cub Scout build a team relationship with their parent or helper, experience the sense of accomplishment and the excitement of competition, learn good sportsmanship, and to have fun

One of the 3 top goals set for the Derby race is “Family Understanding.”
Building a pinewood derby car puts the boy and his mom, dad, or other adult partner into a close and sometimes intense learning experience over, potentially, many hours.
Second, “Personal Achievement,” which comes to any boy who picks up a woodworking tool and shapes raw wood into a sleek design. 
And of course “Sportsmanship and good citizenship” is high priority and is taught by following the derby rules and cheering on friends and den partners as they race against others in the pack.
Congratulations to this years winners. Evan Myers, a Tiger Scout, took home first place. Daniel Reinhart, a wolf Scout placed second. Remington Hough, a Webelo, received third place. Riely turcotte, another Wolf Scout, placed fourth.


To find out more about the Scouts in Charleston, SC visit the Coastal Carolina Council http://www.coastalcarolinabsa.org/openrosters/view_homepage.asp?orgkey=1991

Voted Best use of weight. The middle coin is a Homeland Security coin.

Video Wrap up of the Day's Events.