View Finder: Cub Scouts Pack 403 Head to The Races

Cub Scouts from Pack 403 revved their engines at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church in Cranberry Township on Saturday as part of the Pinewood Derby races. The boys and their families also brought non-perishable food items that will be donated to a local food bank. 

Earlier in the year, each scout who entered the race was given the official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit, which contained wheels, axles, and a wooden block. The scouts then worked with their parents to create a design before painting and decorating the cars.

On the day of the big race, each scout checked in, weighed their racer, measured the length and width, and had the body car inspected to make sure their racer met official Pinewood Derby rules.

For the first time, Tigers Scouts from Den 8 and Den 9 raced their cars. At the end of the qualifying round, the six fastest cars raced again. This year's top three racers from Den 8 and Den 9 were Evan Garbowsky, Hayden Stump, and Nate Loughran.

The first Pinewood Derby was held in 1953 in Manhattan Beach, California led by Cubmaster Donals Murphy. It was publicized in "Boy's Life" in October 1954 and was an instant hit among Boy Scouts around the nation. Since then, more than 100 million Pinewood Derby racers have been built.