Orland Park Cub Scout Pack 383 held its annual Pinewood Derby on February 20^th at Joe Rizza Ford in Orland Park. Nearly 60 boys participated, with medals being award to the top three finishers for each rank with the top four overall winners receiving trophies.  Certificates were awarded to six scouts for the pack’s different design competition categories.

“This is an annual favorite for our scouts and Joe Rizza Ford always goes above and beyond for our families,” said Cubmaster Gerry Klotz. “The folks at Rizza come in on their day off, clear out the show room and make our pack’s Pinewood Derby one that our boys will always remember,” Klotz added. “Rizza has Culver’s bring over lunch and it all makes for a perfect day,” he said.

A Cub Scout tradition, the Pinewood Derby calls for scouts, with some parental help, to build their own miniature cars from wood. First held in 1953, the miniature car race requires that scouts use the kits provided that contain a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axles. The Cub Scouts sand, carve and decorate the car as they choose, following strict guidelines for the length, width and weight of the cars.

“Assistant Cubmasters Ron Ahrendt and Mike Carroll chaired this year’s derby, making it a great event for all of our boys, from our first year Tiger Scouts on up to our graduating Webelos II scouts who will leave the pack in April,” Klotz said.

“Each year, the cars are more and more creative as the scouts come up with different things to create,” Klotz said. “This year, we had a dinosaur car, taxi cab, a piece of cheese, army tanks, Scooby Do cars and even a rolling toaster,” he said, smiling.

Creative awards were given to Wolf Tommy Borgman for best Ford design; Webelos I Ben Walter for most creative; Bear Rohan Shah for best Cub Scout spirit; Webelos II Tim Klotz for most detailed; Webelos II Joe Scuderi for most unique and Wolf Colin Pearson for most patriotic. Representatives from the pack’s charter organization, the American Legion Orland Memorial Post #111, along with pack family members, served as judges for the creative categories.

The top three finishers among the first grade Tiger scouts were Logan Covolo, Steven Sullivan and William Fergus. The top three finishers among the second grade Wolf Scouts were Colin Pearson, Brian Huttner and Cole Sanders. Bear Scouts earning the top three spots in their rank include Rohan Shah, Kevin Carroll and Daniel Slater. First year Webelos Scouts placing in the top three included Jaden Mossman, Chris Pearson and Zac Seemann. Graduating second year Webelos placing in the top three included Ethan Hufnagl, Dylan Mardoian and Nate Sporleder.

The top four overall finishers included Bear Rohan Shah in first place; Webelos II Ethan Hufnagl in second place; Bear Kevin Carroll in third place and Wolf Brian Huttner in fourth.

Further information about Orland Park Cub Scout Pack 383 is available at www.orlandpack383.org.