Council’s Inaugural Pinewood Derby Champions

This year, NCAC held its’ inaugural Council Pinewood Derby Championship!

Cub Scouts (and a STEM Scout) brought their qualifying cars from 12 different NCAC districts to the race. All NCAC district winners from the “covid years” (2020-2022) were invited, seeing as this was the first Council-wide championship!

In addition to races for speed at each rank, the Championship included an “outlaw” race in which adults and youth cars were welcome, even over the 50z limit.

Lastly, three awards were presented to cars for Best in Show and Design Excellence. This event took place at the Camp Snyder Dining Hall on October 15, 2022.

STEM Awards
Explorer Mihai Z. offered to create awards for the Pinewood Derby Championship that had a “STEM touch”. For the rank awards (first – 3rd place in each rank from lions to AOLs), Mihai 3D printed stands that would display the plaque and serve as a holder for each car. He laser engraved the plaques in Michael’s Woodshop and affixed metal inlays in each color: gold, silver and bronze. Mihai also created plaques for overall speed winners and design winners.

Woodshop steward, Mr. Schneeman, and Exploring Advisor Dr. Ziu also helped with the design and creation of these STEM awards!

Leadership

This event was envisioned, organized and then brought to life by two NCAC STEM Committee members and PWD enthusiasts from Potomac District. Out thanks go to Council PWD Chair Dr. Jason Kralj and PWD MC Dr. Stanley Fricke for the initiative and behind-the-scenes hours to put together this inaugural event!

We also thank Mr. Dave Griffiths the Track Director, who conducted an excellent and smooth race!

Finally, thank you finally to Dr. Hatcher Tynes, Dr. Elena Ziu, Explorer Mihai and scouts Victor and Philip for their race day help!