Instead of throwing junk away, Cub Scouts gathered Saturday morning on Third Street to take it for a ride.

Members of Cub Scout packs 294 and 261, both from St. Clair, gave their annual Pinewood Derby a bit of a twist this year. Their cars weren’t small models, but full-size carts built from reused materials.

“Number one is to teach the boys even though something may have come to the end of its useful life in one aspect, it may be helpful in another aspect, so think twice before you throw something away,” said Patrick Martin, leader of Cub Scout Pack 261.

Cub Scout Cameron Jabiro, 10, said his favorite cart was “the one with the sweet king chair in the back,” referring to the high-backed seat on the cart. The cart also was the only one Cameron said he hadn’t seen spin out of control or crash.

“Crashing, that’s the best part,” said his brother, Christian Jabiro, 8.

There was a lot of crashing.

As the carts rolled downhill two at a time, first in time trials and then in the races, drivers struggled to keep them straight. Most tended to lose control at a bump near the end of the course, which stretched from Mulberry to Vine streets.

Almost all the carts had safety belts, and Scouts wore helmets while racing.
“We’ve got some rollovers, but it’s all part of the experience,” said Marvin Redlawski, leader of Pack 261. “What’s going to happen is they’re going to get back on and finish the race.”

And they all did.

His son, Joseph Redlawski, 8, showed off the cart he and his brother, Luke, built.

The cart included plenty of recycled items.

The front wheels were from a wagon, and the back ones were from a golf cart. The frame was made of wood from a friend’s dismantled barn. The hand brake came from the derby car his brother built last year.

The appeal of the whole event was simple for Joseph, who said “racing” was his favorite part of the experience.

Well, racing and “sitting on the cart and winning,” he added.

Trophies were awarded to the top racer’s teams, which were divided by Cub Scout rank.

In the end, Pack 261’s first place racer was Wolf Cub Logan Keelan, 8. Webelo Jacob Redlawski, another of Marvin’s sons, was the top racer in Pack 294.

Boy Scout troops 245 and 296 were on hand to help.
By JESSE DUNSMORE • Times Herald • May 16, 2009

Contact Jesse Dunsmore at (810) 989-6276 or jdunsmore@gannett.com.

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