A different kind of derby

Published 8:21 am Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Photos by Jeremy Schneider

jeremy.schneider@amnews.com

Saturday, a pinewood derby was held at Centenary United Methodist Church.

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The pinewood derby is a racing event for Cub Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America. Cub Scouts, with the help of parents, build their own cars from wood, usually from kits containing a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axles.

Cub Scouts had to check in their cars before the race. Cars were checked for weight, height, width and wheel base.

Jeremy Schneider/jeremy.schneider@amnews.com
Cub Scouts had to check in their cars before Saturday’s Pinewood Derby racing at Centenary United Methodist Church. The cars were checked for weight, height, width and wheel base.

Pinewood derby cars have to meet specific weight requirements — they can weigh up to five ounces. The key is for the cars to weigh as much as possible without going over weight, so after the blocks of pinewood are shaped into their final form, extra weight is often added in the form of washers, pennies and other metal objects.