NEWS
Pack 58 Scouts Race to the 40-Foot Finish At the Annual Pinewood Derby
Cubmaster Rob Dellinger fires up the crowd. (Bill Giduz photo)
It was race day in Davidson last Sunday as Cub Scout Pack 58 held its annual Pinewood Derby. Just over 100 scouts entered their hand-made, low riding roadsters in the competition for first place down a 40-foot long, six-lane track. Pack member Ryan Densmore had engineered the setup so that that cars left the finish line simultaneously and each car’s time was recorded to the third decimal point by infrared scanner as they crossed the finish line. Translating the speed from mini to real life size, winning entries crossed the line at a speed of about 200 miles-per-hour. Winners in the various categories of entry received trophy cars and certificates of achievement.
Cubmaster Rob Dellinger said the Pinewood Derby is a 70-year-old tradition in scouting nationwide. Davidson’s pack was chartered in 1957, and now enrolls 140 members, and gets help with from 30 parents. It is sponsored by Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson United Methodist and the Davidson Lion’s Club. Other big events for the pack every year are a “cub-o-ree” weekend in April at Raven’s Knob scout camp, and a September camp out at Fisher Farm. Different age groups of pack members meet on a weekly and monthly basis.
Bill Giduz
Bill Giduz was the son who followed his father’s footsteps into journalism. He has been involved his entire life with news and photography in schools he attended and jobs he’s held. He believes now that he’s got a few good years left to devote to The News of Davidson.