Boy Scouts of all ages gathered Saturday for the annual Pinewood Derby. Fifty scouts raced their cars with the hopes of being named champion.
Kevin Conkright, associate chapter advisor for the Audubon District, said these events have been going on in the world of Boy Scouts for approximately 80 years.
Saturday’s event hosted 50 scouts with cars. Each scout made a derby car out of pinewood weeks in advance and after the races the winners from each age group received a trophy. Awards were also given to cars based on style and design.
“When we brought the pinewood derby back to our area in 2009 it was a slow process getting our cub scouts involved again,” he said. “Now it’s a big hit among all the troops.”
The Audubon District consists of Henderson, Daviess, Ohio, McLean and Hancock counties.
In 2012, the group started an Order of the Arrow scholarship for a derby driver. The $500 scholarship is awarded every year.
For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow has recognized scouts who best exemplify the scout oath in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend scouting to America’s youth.
Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk Jennifer Hardesty Besecker was also at the event signing “drivers licenses” for the scouts in order to participate in the races.
“This was my first time being involved and I am excited to attend in the future,” she said. “It was fun handing the licenses to the kids and telling them, ‘here’s your driver’s license — you’re now able to drive your dad’s truck home.’ The looks on their faces were funny and priceless. A few told me that was illegal, some were overly excited at the thought, and there were a couple who didn’t know what to think.”
Conkright said the derby event could not happen without their Champion Ford Lincoln and Poole’s Pharmacy Care.
Bob Wedding, general manager at Poole’s Pharmacy, said they have supported the derby for 10 years and he thinks it’s a great event for the region.
“We’re a community-based pharmacy and stuff like this is what we feel the community is about,” he said. “These kids work so hard on the cars and they get so excited about their races. In a community, everything you do is for the next generation. You work and do stuff for them. We’re all about supporting the community.”
