Cub Scouts had a ‘wheel-y’ good time at Southeast Regional Race
ROCHESTER — On a four lane track older than all of the participants, the Cub Scouts Pack 30 hosted the Southeast regional pinewood derby race on Saturday, March 22 at the Rochester Memorial School. The event was designated for scouts 5 to 10-years old.
The order in which the decked-out pinewood derby cars raced was decided by a computer. With 70 total cars racing, each scout’s car would take to the track eight separate times — twice in each lane.
From all over the SouthCoast stretching from towns like Portsmouth, Rhode Island to Rochester — the event saw a variety of different vehicles. “Minecraft” characters, the RMS Titanic and cars decked out in stickers lined up at the start line.
Pack 30 scout Benjamin Reece, 9, of Rochester advanced from the district race to regionals with his moldy banana car. He wasn’t aiming for first but wanted to advance once more.
Having participated in Cub Scouts since he was in kindergarten, Reece isn’t a stranger to the tracks. He has had a car in the race every year.
“My first year was Covid so we didn’t have all this extra stuff,” he said. “But I did get first place out of my whole troop.”
Reece was accompanied by fellow Pack 30 scout Henry O’Neil, 8, of Wareham who was helping with his father at the event. O’Neil’s car did not make it during the last race, and he said he would rather be at home playing “Pokémon.”
O’Neil recalled a scary situation when the troop was building their cars for the race.
“We were cutting up my car and a piece of wood came flying right at me. I had glasses on — it hit my glasses and went woosh!” he said.
Pack 55 saw twin brothers Jameson and Joseph Vardo, 10, of Fairhaven competing against one another. Both have participated in derbies before, and have a small rivalry.
Jameson created a bright green car, a color he chose himself.
“I drew my design on a piece of paper and my dad helped,” Jameson said. “And then I painted it.”
Joseph had a blue shark car, and said that thought he would get a better score over his brother.
Scouts advancing from the regional race will go on to compete in the Council Championship Race at the Tasca Automotive Group Mazda Showroom in Cranston, Rhode Island on Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m.
