Pinewood Derby Day set
by KIMBERLY M. KARCHER Clarence Editor

Camping, crafts, citizenship, sports and service are all fun parts of being a Cub Scout, according to, Mark Percy, assistant cub scout master for Cub Scout Pack 92 from St. Mary's School of Swormville.

Percy's pack along with four other Cub Scout groups have been working for weeks on creative design, craftsmanship in the workshop, painting and testing for the big day of the annual Pinewood Derby.

"The Pinewood Derby is an event which is conducted by Cub Scout pacts around the country," said Brian Welsh, Cub Master to Pack 563 of Sheridan Hill Elementary School. "It is an opportunity for parents and their children to work on wooden race cars together and then to show good sportsmanship in racing their cars against each other."

This year, for the first time, four Cub Scout Packs from what is known as the "Indian Trails District" will come together to race their cars in the Eastern Hills Mall grand concourse beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 at the mall, 4545 Transit Road, near Main Street.

"The boys are so excited for this first-ever Derby Day at the mall," Welsh said. "Megan Wagner (marketing manager at the mall) has been so helpful and willing to let our event fit into the mall's schedule. Once the word got out that we were having this, many neighboring Cub Scout packs also showed interest. I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a tradition that will continue year after year with the Cub Scouts and the mall."

The Cub Scout packs involved are Pack 563 from Sheridan Hill Elementary School and Pack 93 from Harris Hill Elementary School of Clarence, Pack 222 from Maple East Elementary School of Williamsville, and Pack 92 from St. Mary's School of Swormville.

"All together, well over 100 boys will show off their cars and race during the afternoon and evening," Percy said. "The pack winners will have a chance to race the winners of all the packs."

Welsh said the races will take place on a 4-lane straight track on loan from Cub Scout Pack 27 of Clarence Center Elementary, in front of the Bon-Ton at the mall.

The racing schedule is as follows: 11 a.m. - opening ceremony; 11:10 a.m. - Pack 222 of Maple East School; 1 p.m. - Pack 93 of Harris Hill School; 3 p.m. Pack 563 of Sheridan Hill School; 5 p.m. - Pack 92 of St. Mary's School; 6 p.m. - Championship race. At 7 p.m. - Awards and closing ceremony.

Each participating Scout will receive a custom embroidered patch for their participation. Trophies will be awarded to the regional winners at the end of the evening.

Welsh said many of the food vendors in the Mall's International Food Court will be offering discounted items for racers and their families.

"This really is a community event," Welsh said. "There are so many vendors who supported making this happen. We have people donating chairs for our use and all sorts of people pitching for the decorations and awards. We are truly thankful and appreciative that the community can come together and support these boys.

"They have been looking forward to this event for months and months," Welsh continued. "As Saturday draws closer and closer it's getting to a fever pitch. We are really looking forward to a great day 'at the track.'"

For more information about the event, contact Welsh at brwesq@ adelphia.net or Percy at mark@ percyfamily. com