High speed high jinks in pursuit of merit badges

For more than a month, Cub Scouts from Pack 143 have been focused on one goal: Speed.

In December, the 21 scouts entered into the annual pinewood derby were given a kit containing a block of wood, two axles and four plastic wheels. They were told the car had to be a certain width and weight, but other than that, it was up to them.

Some chose design over style, while others took a more radical approach. Saturday morning at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, it all came down to the finish line.

For reigning champion Fritz Filson, 8, the derby offered him the chance to try out a new design that he said was meant to be smoother and go faster. It was a drastic departure from the more grooved design that won him top honors last year.

"I draw it out, they make the exact same thing that I drew. Then I paint it, but my mom helps a little with that," Filson said.

His new design, complete with camouflage coloring, ran him to a second- place finish in his den.

"It's OK, we do it just to have fun," Filson said.

Coming down to the last race, the contest was a family affair with brothers Ricky, 10, and Zach, 8, both looking to take the top spot. With their cars poised at the starting gate, the brothers sat next to each other, hoping for a green light at the finish line.

Green means first, yellow means second, red means third.

Down the stretch, the cars remained within a half-inch of each other as they burst through the finish line into the padding beyond.

Moments later, Zach through his hands up, celebrating the green light in his lane.

"I wanted it to be a small car, then I added lots of weights on the back to make it go faster," Zach said.

As for beating his own brother for the title, Zach said it was easy.

"He didn't put enough weight on his. Mine was smaller, and that made it easier to beat him," he said.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

Winners of Cub Scout Pack 143 Pinewood Derby

OVERALL

Pack winner: Zachary Frewert

Pack Runner-up: Ricky Frewert

Den 1

First Place: Jesse Knight

Second Place: Travis Phalin

Den 2

First Place: Jesse Pena

Second Place: Javen Comeaux

Den 3

First Place: Ricky Frewert

Second Place: Kaleb Van Meter

Den 4

First Place: Zachary Frewert

Second Place: Wyatt Law

Den 9

First Place: Nathan Darden

Second Place: Fritz Filson