The members of Cub Pack 82 of Brownstown needed a place to hold their annual Pinewood Derby race. "We normally meet at Brownstown Elementary School," said Cubmaster Dan Dennis, "but that (building) is closed to outside groups (due to COVID-19 restrictions)." Fortunately, Dennis has a friend who attends Hinkletown Mennonite Church (HMC) in Ephrata. HMC needed a Pinewood Derby race track to hold a similar event for youths. "They didn't have a track, and we didn't have a building, so we got together," shared a smiling Dennis.
More than 20 members of the pack, along with family members, gathered at HMC on the morning of Feb. 27 to hold the group's derby. The HMC race took place on the same track the following day.
During Pack 82's derby, all cars raced in each lane. A computer program registered the time for each car and directed which cars raced each other based on an elimination process that culled contestants to the top five. The first place winner was Wyatt Wirls, followed by, in order, Tayler Dennis, Zack Rohr, Tyler Walling, and Riley Mull. Andrea Mull, Pack 82 committee chair, said that district-level races will not be held this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Cub Pack 82 members, who are students in kindergarten through fifth grade, each received a Pinewood Derby kit in December 2020. Completed cars, which must each weigh 5 ounces or less, were registered and assigned numbers when the Cubs arrived at the church on the morning of Feb. 27.
To make the event more fun for other attendees, the pack held a family exhibition that gave parents and siblings of pack members the opportunity to create and decorate a car. One winner, Nolan Wirls, was named from that group, and participation awards shaped like gears were given to all those who took part.
In addition, the event was livestreamed for family and friends who could not be there and for district commissioners, who watched and cheered the Cub Scouts on.
So that they could continue to meet and hold activities, Pack 82 members gathered at the West Earl Township Municipal Building and at the West Earl Lions Park. Dennis noted that the 2020 Pinewood Derby race was one of the last events the group held before the state shut down. "It's great (to be able to hold the derby) this year," shared Dennis.
Pack 82 always welcomes more members. For more information on the group, visit https://BSA82.org or email Scoutmaster@BSA82.org.
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