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Cub scouts race for hunger during annual derby event
By Heather M. Smith, hsmith@acnpapers.com
Wooden cars and Cub Scouts will invade Vista Ridge Mall for the annual “Race For Hunger” event.
On Jan. 23, the annual pinewood derby of Cub Scout Pack 1202 of the Boys Scouts of America will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the shopping center. Races will be held throughout the day inside Vista Ridge Mall on the lower level near Dillard’s. Between 50 and 100 participants are expected for the race.
“Being a part of the community is an essential part of Vista Ridge Mall. It is a long-standing tradition for General Growth Properties [owners of Vista Ridge Mall] and also for me, personally,” said Leanne Lowry, general manager of the shopping center. “My son is a Cub Scout, so I get a very special satisfaction from this event, seeing all the Scouts and their families at the Pinewood Derby.”
“This is a very special event for Vista Ridge Mall, and we look forward to welcoming the Scouts and their families. Our shoppers are delighted to be walking through the mall and find such an all-American activity taking place,” Lowry said. “With the connection to CCA – which the mall also supports by hosting the Giving Tree during the holidays and Back-To-School Apple Tree – the Scouts are not only having fun and learning, but also reaching out and helping others.”
Christian Community Action (CCA) feeds, shelters, educates and trains families within 42 communities throughout Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant and Wise counties. In one year, CCA assists more than 12,000 individuals, distributes more than $1.4 million of food and sees more than 4,000 low-income patients in its health center.
The pinewood derby is a racing event for Cub Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America. With the help of their parents, Cub Scouts build cars from wood, usually from kits containing a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axles. Cubmaster Don Murphy organized the first pinewood derby, which was held on May 15, 1953. in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Because his son was too young to participate in the soap box derby races, Murphy devised the idea of racing miniature wood cars. The cars had the same concept as the full-size soap box derby cars, but were much smaller and easier to build.
Almost immediately, the idea spread through Cub Scout packs. By the end of 1953, the pinewood derby was used in all Cub Scout packs. In its October 1954 issue, Boys' Life publicized the event.
The Race For Hunger continues the history of the pinewood derby. It will feature wooden cars created by members of Cub Scouts of Pack 1202. The rules of the derby state that each of the cars can use only four plastic wheels and four nails. Using their imagination, Cubs create unique derby cars. Previous races have included cars that had monkeys riding on bananas, bowling lanes and characters from Dr. Seuss. The hand-made cars race on an aluminum track.
“Of course, many of our visitors come especially to enjoy the pinewood derby. But those who are here for a day of shopping and come on the race by surprise are delighted to be able to see a slice of American life. The Derby brings back lots of memories for many people -- and the children who are with their parents, they love having a diversion from shopping,” Lowry said. “Plus, along with the fun, The pinewood derby is an excellent opportunity for parents to expose their children to Scouting. On a Saturday a few years ago, I brought my son. At the time, he was just about old enough to join a Pack, but he wasn’t sure about what being a Scout meant. When he saw the derby and all the kids having so much fun, he was ready to join, and he’s loved it ever since.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
pcreinke wrote on Feb 4, 2010 2:17 PM:
" The Pinewood Derby was the highpoint of my scouting experience...both as a scout and the parent of a scout. I just wrote and released a book about the Derby called "Pinewood-Winning by the Rules" ISBN 978-1-60911-153-3. It shows that the BIG race can be won by sticking to the rules. My sone was district champ for 3 years in a row. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and through my website www.PinnacleCarRacing.com "
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