Town Scouts Race to Top of the Pack

<Editor's Note: This was submitted by representatives of Grafton Cun Scout Pack 106.>

After competing in their annual Pack-wide Pinewood Derby event on a wintry day in January, the Cub Scouts of Grafton Pack 106 entered their top finishers' cars into the Hassanamisco District-wide Pinewood Derby Run-off held last week.

This year was the first district-wide event in quite some time, and was held concurrently with a “Cabin Fever Madness” event.

The boys raced their cars or cheered their pack-mates on, while also enjoying some fun activities, including an indoor maze, learning how to tie some cool knots, learning about science, or competing in a rubber-band-gun contest. The event was held at the Elmwood Street School in Millbury.

The top 5 finishers from the Pack event were:

1. Adam Jones (an Arrow of Light Scout)

2. Jacob Paquin (a Webelos Scout)

3. Stephen Bayreuther (a Wolf Scout)

4. Andrew Clarke (a Wolf Scout)

5. James Alderton (a Bear Scout)

All of these cars were very fast and competitive, with less than two-tenths of a second separating the top five racers. The top three finishers were all presented with trophies at Pack 106's Blue and Gold Banquet in February, and all five were entered into the District run-off.

At the district event, it was a similar story. The boys competed against 45 other scouts from towns around the district, including Dudley, Millbury, Oxford, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Webster.

Everyone raced on the new 4-lane, 41-foot aluminum track that Pack 106 purchased this year with some of their popcorn money. In each heat, every car races once in all four lanes, to ensure fair races for everyone.

In a surprise showing, Stephen Bayreuther's car shot to the top of the heap, with several incredibly fast runs, setting new track records almost every time his car raced.

After everything was said and done, the top 10 racers in the district were:

1. Stephen Bayreuther (Grafton Pack 106)

2. Jacob Paquin (Grafton Pack 106)

3. Shaun Leroi (Sutton Pack 243)

4. Nick Reed (Sutton Pack 243)

5. Adam Jones (Grafton Pack 106)

6. Christopher Gagner (Northbridge Pack 150)

7. Sean Remillard (Upton Pack 132)

8. Derek Lemberger (Dudley Pack 274)

9. Andrew Clarke (Grafton Pack 106)

10. Ryan Truscott (Webster Pack 173)

And due to the tremendous showing by their team, Grafton edged out Upton to take the "Best Pack Showing" trophy too. Pack 106 earned the first entry on a plaque and trophy that will be presented to each winning pack at the District Event going forward. And knowing the boys of the Pack, they're already planning ahead to defend their title in next year's event.

Pack 106 is chartered out of in North Grafton. For more information, check out the Pack's website at http://www.graftonpack106.org/, or contact Cubmaster Chris Paquin directly at cpaquin42@gmail.com, or 508-839-0195.