By STEVE PRISAMENT
Staff Writer

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – They’re the oldest Cub Scout Pack in Galloway Township, and Saturday, March 29 marked their 38th Pinewood Derby.
“We’ve had a Pinewood Derby every year,” Cubmaster James W. Brown said. “This is the traditional time that we hold it, later than most packs.”
There are other things that Pack 76 does differently, according to Brown.
“We use a stopwatch,” he said. “Others use aggregate times. Some packs run three laps and they’re done in an hour. The winners aren’t determined until days later. There’s no luck of the draw involved.”
At the Pack 76 Pinewood Derby at the American Legion Hall at Carton Avenue and the White Horse Pike, cars continue racing until they finish last four times.
“The cars are randomly assigned,” Brown said. “You know right there who’s in first, second or third place. It usually comes down to two cars racing for the title. It’s more exciting for the kids. They stay involved.”
And that’s what happened in the 2008 edition of the derby.
“When the checkered flag dropped, overall first place was won by Riley Blankenship, with the second place trophy awarded to Colby Blankenship,” Brown said. “Third place went to Jonah Zimmermann.”
The final race came down to just the two Blankenship brothers for the championship.
And there were other awards.
“Sam Feldman exhibited great humor and sportsmanship when he was awarded the Turtle Trophy for the slowest car in the race,” Brown said. “The Cubmaster's Award was presented to Zachary Stiles in recognition of his intricately carved rendition of the Mach 5 race car of (Speed Racer) cartoon and movie fame.”
Brown sometimes got caught up in the excitement, which rivaled real auto racing at times.
“Pack 76 Cub Scouts, families and friends witnessed more than one hundred heats of exciting head-to-head racing with up to four Pinewood Derby cars speeding down the inclined track in each event to the cheers of race fans,” he said. “The cars, which came in all shapes, sizes and colors, were created by the Scouts from simple blocks of wood through the application of hand tools, imagination and hard work. Before racing, each car had to pass a rigorous technical inspection and weigh-in to ensure it was within the race rules.”
Some cars didn’t pass.
“These aren’t official wheels,” one of the judges noted while examining a car.
Two car owners and parents were called trackside.
“They just have to switch wheels,” Wolf Den Leader Bob Shellhorn said. “We keep extra wheels and axles handy. We have tools to lighten the cars if they’re overweight. There’s oil to lubricate wheels if it’s needed.”
The action resembled a real track at times, with cars taking damage in races and then being patched up for their next heats.
Shellhorn said the kids are given their car kits at the pack Christmas party and “that’s what they’re to use.”
He said the youngsters and parents get a lot of help.
“The Absecon Home Depot helps with the carving,” he said. “They’re very supportive. They also let us hold den meetings there for craft projects.”
Shellhorn said there are books available on how to assemble a Pinewood Derby car.
“Keep most of the weight as far back as possible,” he said. “Smoother axles let the wheels spin smoothly. And the wedge-type shape is good for speed.”
Not all of the 24 cars that started made it to the finish.
“It’s not only speed, but how well your car holds together,” Brown said. “You can get hit by another car. That happened to my son last year – his car veered off, and … smithereens. That’s racing.”
Ribbons and medals were awarded for the fastest cars within each Scout rank.
About 80 people watched the event. Pack 76 is sponsored by American Legion Post 430. The pack’s website is at http://gallowaypack76.tripod.com.
For information email CubmasterPack76@comcast.net.
To comment on this story email steve.prisament@catamaranmedia.com.

Tiger Scouts
1st: Colby Blankenship
2nd: Nathan Zimmermann
3rd: Brian Bowen

Wolves
1st: Jonathan Wolf
2nd: Justin Schnitzel
3rd: Andrue Keyser

Bears
1st: Riley Blankenship
2nd: Noah Bounds
3rd: Matt McColgan

Webelos
1st: Jonah Zimmermann
2nd: Pierce Shellhorn
3rd: Justin Houston