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Twentynine Palms, California
Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
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Cub Scouts and families look on in eager anticipation for the start of the next race during the Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby at the Combat Center’s Scout Hut Jan. 29, 2011.

Photo by Lance Cpl. D. J. Wu

Scouts race to finish at Pinewood Derby

4 Feb 2011 | Lance Cpl. D. J. Wu Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

Cub Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America and their families met to race their cars at the Pinewood Derby at the Combat Center’s Scout Hut Jan. 29, 2011.

Eager Cub Scouts from Pack 78, with help from their parents, made cars from blocks of pine wood to race at the derby.

Thirty-six cars entered the races for the derby, many were made by Cub Scouts and some cars were made by family members of the scouts.

“The derby is a family event and we encourage all of the families to participate,” said Melissa Burke, the committee chair of pack 78.

The derby consisted of four heats. The first three heats were preliminaries for the final races in heat four. The cars were raced two at a time, and the car with the most wins advanced. In the fourth heat, the fastest times won in the end.

Trophies were awarded to first, second and third placing times overall. Each den also awarded medals to their top finisher as well. The cars were also judged on appearance and creativity.

The overall winner of the derby was Cub Scout Nicholas Mitchell with a time of 3.37 seconds. Nicholas worked on the car with father and pack leader, Anthony Mitchell. Although not everyone would win a trophy or even a medal, everyone embodied the true spirit of the Pinewood Derby. All participants had good spirit and good sportsmanship.

The derby was made possible by volunteers from the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School. They spent their day setting up and operating the race track. They were instrumental in the set up, operations and clean up of the derby.


Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms