Eastfield Mall hosts Cub Scout Pinewood Derby District Finals


Competitors from the Wolf rank for Springfield and Chicopee packs. Second from left: first place winner Ethan Pilon; third from left: second place winner Timothy Barabani; fourth from left: fourth place winner Evan Garber; seventh from left: third place winner Josha Hill. Reminder Publications photo by John Gardner

By Debbie Gardner

PRIME Editor

SPRINGFIELD Harry Potter flew down the track on his broom racer. A sleek shark-style car sped neck and neck with a competitor painted like the General Lee from the "Dukes of Hazzard." On the sidelines, dads played crew chief, checking the spin of wheels and greasing axles with graphite and dry lubricant while would-be competitors waited their turn at the vehicle weigh-in station.

The center food court at Eastfield Mall echoed with the swish of speeding cars April 12 and 13 as the mall played host to the District Finals of the Pioneer Valley Boy Scouts of America Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.

Over 75 Scouts from the Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Weblo ranks brought their handmade race cars to the two-day meet to compete for first, second, third and fourth place trophies in the time trials.

Each scout's car had already proved its mettle, ranking first, second or third in his home pack's Pinewood Derby race. But here these lovingly crafted cars cut and sanded from a regulation size chunk of pine and fitted with derby-approved wheels and axles were set to race again to see whose design ultimately proved the fastest.

And race they did, as volunteers from the Boy Scouts placed three competitors at a time on the specially-designed aluminum track and recorded times from the built-in computerized stop watch.

Saturday's competition pitted cars designed by Scouts from Chicopee Packs 131, 138, 454 and 4044 and Springfield Packs 5, 15 and 303 against each other. Sunday's races included Scouts from Packs 177 and 359 in Wilbraham, Pack 154 from Palmer, Pack 272 from East Longmeadow, Pack 776 from Monson, Pack 171 from Hampden and Pack 180 from Ludlow.

Winners from the Saturday heats were as follows:

Tigers: first place, Erik Bayeur, Pack 138; second place, Nathan Piligain, Pack 4044; third place, Michael Rsokuski, Pack 131; and fourth place, Anthony Romito, Pack 303.

Wolves: first place, Ethan Pilon, Pack 15; second place, Timothy Barabani, Pack 131; third place, Josha Hill, Pack 5; and fourth place, Evan Garber, Pack 138.

Bears: first place, Jonathan Ewig, Pack 303; second place, Jeffrey Giffors, Pack 454; third place Zack O'Connor, Pack 15; and fourth place, Tom Rezzani, Pack 15.

Weblos: first place, Joseph Coleman, Pack 303; second place, David Nawrocki, Pack 138; third place, Dylan Hebert, Pack 131; and fourth place; Josh Guntly; Pack 131.

Winners from the Sunday heats were as follows:

Tigers: first place; Danny Tracy, Pack 359; second place, Adam Brown, Pack 171; third place, Jack Wilson, Pack 168; and fourth place, Owen Kelliher, Pack 180.

Combined Cub Scout packs: first place, Kyle Silva, Pack 164; second place, Thomas Dufour, Pack 177; third place, Philip Franklin, Pack 272; and fourth place, Jacob Braz, Pack 776.

But no Scout went home empty handed. Through the generosity of Derby sponsor Tire Warehouse, every competitor was awarded a medal declaring him a winner for having his car make it to the district competition.