TEUTOPOLIS – Parents, siblings, grandparents and friends gathered on Sunday for the Cub Scout’s annual Blue and Gold Banquet and Pinewood Derby Race at Teutopolis Grade School.
Roughly 25 kindergarten through fifth grade Cub Scouts competed against one another with their hand-crafted cars. If a Scout lost two races, he was out of the running. The boys were split into two divisions: kindergarten through second graders and third graders through fifth graders.
Noah Olsen, Senior District Executive for the Redhawk District, said Pinewood Derbies and the Blue and Gold Banquets happen once a year.
Although Olsen wasn’t a Boy Scout himself, he wanted to be a part of it to give back to the world, and it’s a program that offers leadership skills and character building.
Fourth grader Victor Sehy has competed in Pinewood Derbies since he started Cub Scouts in kindergarten. In previous years, he’s made a shark-themed car, the Batmobile and Gary the Snail from Spongebob. This year, he had help from his grandfather, Randy Ruholl, making his car: A blue mustang with a black stripe down the middle.
“He’s pretty excited,” says Sarah Ruholl-Sehy, Victor’s mom. “Normally, he just goes for best in show with his design, but this year, he’s somehow doing pretty well at the races, too.”
Both Sarah and Victor’s favorite part is seeing how each car is uniquely designed.
Next year will be his final year to compete in the race. He’s thinking he’ll either design his car to be a stick, so it can reach farther, or the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
Victor won third place in the older division – the closest he’s gotten to winning.
Sarah has been going to Pinewood Derbies since she was young because her brothers were both Cub Scouts, so there were a lot of familiar faces for her.
“It’s kind of like I’ve been doing this exact race for 20 years,” said Sarah.
Second grader Owen Petty made his car with the help of his mom, Emily Petty. It’s his second year competing in the Derby. His car was a classic wedge-shape with weight in the back of it. Emily then painted an American flag on it.
“I like making them look creative and fun, but I just like watching the ones [kids] that get so excited when they win,” said Emily.
Patrick Zuber, Cub Master of Pack 137, has led Pinewood Derbies since 2018. His father was a Cub Master, and Zuber was a Scout himself. He then wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. His son Owen Zuber, 12, is a Cub Scout, as well, and he helped with the cars at the finish line of the track. Seeing the kids’ reactions during the race is Patrick’s favorite part of the Derby.
“You saw how they light up when they win,” said Zuber. “I mean, it’s just the best part.”