Nobody messes with these cars. Every year, for the last 40 of them, Boyscouts in all divisions are given pinewood cars with the wheels and other pieces. The kit is brought home and the car is put together as a project. Little and big boys alike enjoy working on their cool cars (and so do the parents, but we won't tell.) Some of these cars are so expertly crafted it's amazing.
Parked at the entrance in the back of the Middle School was a race car owned by Gene Stravinsky. Inside the gym you could see decorations from speedway flags hung up to numbered lanes. Ken Francis, owner of New Egypt Recreation Oasis, supplied these festive decorations.
All the boys waited in line to get their racing cars weighed. An official Scout Scale was used as these road runners couldn't exceed 5 ounces. If these cars exceed the wight limit than some of the weights (supplied in the kit, or thumbtacks, etc.) are removed in order to race.
There are four divisions of Scouts who race; Tigers (1st graders), Wolfs (2nd), Bears (erd), and, Weeblos (4th and 5th graders). Everyone receives a trophy for participation, ribbons, and, 1st, 2nd, and, 3rd place trophys. These trophys were donated by Ron Koczon from RJS Heating and Air Conditioning.
Everyone 'gets into' these races to the point of some shouters, cow beller ringers, and, clappers. Even the ocassional winning dance/cheer accompanied by words such as 'yah and way to go' is heard in the bleachers. Of course, sometimes if you listen carefully, you can hear 'darn and oh no.'
All in all, everyone is a good sport-this is a family friendly affair. Even adults are ocassionally allowed to race their own cars in between.
Winners of their class qualify for the District Pinewood Derby races which will be held on March 1 at the Manchester Middle School on Rt. 571 at 2 pm.
Boy Scouts started in 1911 and the originally Pinewood Derby Races started 40 years ago held in the New Egypt Elementary School.
Everyone sat or stood on the floor and it was a little cramped until they finally built the Middle School, that is. The Middle School has bleachers, thank God.
The first Pinewood Derby cars were made by Art Hasselbach in the 1950's. His Company is Beta Crafts and based in Cranbury, N.J.
Hasselbach is in his 80's now and three years ago he made a special appearance at the New Egypt Races. He has since stopped manufacturing the cars for the United States but still makes them for the Canadian Boy Scouts.
The racing tracks for the Pinewood Derby were made by Ken Francis, Wolly Hopkins, Walt Wilson, Dave Leutwyler, and Tim VonSchmitt at Tim's house.
These tracks run up to 50 feet. During these races Ken and some other men raced their own-trucks, etc. I repeat everyone had a great time.