Photos: Racing to the Front of the Pack

Members of Grafton Cub Scout Pack 106 were off to the races Saturday for the annual Pinewood Derby.

The derby is an annual event when Cub Scouts they take a block of wood, four wheels and four axles, craft the best car they can, and race those cars against their pack mates.

It's an opportunity for boys to work with their parents to learn about woodworking, painting, aerodynamics, and other concepts. It also teaches the boy about competition, and how winning isn't the most important thing, it's about "Doing Your Best," which is Cub Scout motto.

The parish hall at St. James Church was packed, despite inclement weather, as Scouts took advantage of a new aluminum track, purchased as a result of very successful popcorn sales.

The new track was faster and smoother than the previous wooden version, which was also plagued by mechanical problems and crashes.

The speed winners were:

1st Adam Jones, an Arrow of Lights Scout

2nd Jacob Paquin, a Webelos I Scout

3rd Stephen Bayreuther, a Wolf Scout

All of these boys will be going onto the Hassanamisco District-wide runoff March 24.

The prizes for the other categories (Speed by Den, Best Paint Job, Most Original Design, Most Likely Built by a Scout, Funniest, Most Patriotic and Most Fuel-Efficient) will all be announced at Pack 106's Blue & Gold Banquet on Feb. 12.