Off to the races! Cub scouts compete in annual pinewood derby
Each car was handmade by scouts out of wood. Photos by Mari Huglin
Cars were decorated however the scout wanted. 
Trophies were handed out to all the winners and fastest cars. 
Some cars were actually boats.
All of the cars were lined up before the race. 
The older Boy Scouts helped drop the cars into the track. 
Scouts waited in chairs when their cars were up to race. 
The Scouts were eager to watch their cars race. 
Four cars raced down the track at a time. 
Kevin Thompson announced at the event.
Each car was handmade by scouts out of wood. Photos by Mari Huglin
Cars were decorated however the scout wanted.
Trophies were handed out to all the winners and fastest cars.
Some cars were actually boats.
All of the cars were lined up before the race.
The older Boy Scouts helped drop the cars into the track.
Scouts waited in chairs when their cars were up to race.
The Scouts were eager to watch their cars race.
Four cars raced down the track at a time.
Kevin Thompson announced at the event.
ROCHESTER — Dozens of Cub Scouts waited on bleachers, anticipation thick in the air as their pinewood derby cars idled at the start line.
The Cub Scouts of Rochester and Marion raced handmade cars against each other at the annual district pinewood derby races, Saturday, Jan. 31 at Rochester Memorial School.
Assisted by the Boy Scouts, four cars raced at a time down a brand new track alongside a new computer system that recorded the speed and time of each car. The new track replaced a wooden track originally built by Old Colony students.
Nate Reece, the Cub Master of Rochester Pack 30, said he was proud the scouts can continue a 50-year tradition. Nostalgia was present watching his sons participate in the same activities he did 30 years ago.
“A big part of the identity of Cub Scouts is to race the cars,” Reece said.
He explained how there is learning and community engagement ingrained in the activity. Scouts learn about aerodynamics and woodworking while building their cars at the carpentry shop at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Scouts can also be creative when designing, decorating and naming their cars. Overall, the process takes about a month to complete.
Reece said his favorite part of the event is that everyone comes together to participate and socialize.
“During the year, sometimes not everyone can make it, but they make a point to make it to this,” he said.
Parents took videos while siblings and grandparents cheered on the colorful cars from the sidelines.
Jerome Hebert and Ben Reece were excited to race their cars and had both participated in previous years.
“My favorite part is building the car and the competitive racing,” Ben said.
The duo said their favorite part of being in the scouts are the camping trips and other outdoor activities. Jerome said this is his and Ben’s last year racing, but that they will return as Boy Scouts next year to help with the organizational side of the event.
“We're not going to do this next year but we'll be with the older scouts to help with bringing the cars down and up [from the track],” Jerome said.
Christine Hebert of Rochester was watching her son, Jerome, race for the second year in a row. Herbert was a girl scout and appreciates that the Scouts teach outdoor skills while also allowing scouts to develop social skills.
“I think it's really good for them to get time with peers having fun in the outdoors or doing activities like this,” Hebert said.
The regional pinewood derby race will be March 22 at 10 a.m. at Rochester Memorial School.
