Forget Daytona.
While the rest of the sports world was focused Sunday on “The Great American Race” — the Daytona 500 — a dozen local Cub Scouts did some homemade racing of their own.
Cub Scout Troop 55’s annual Pinewood Derby, hosted by Allen Community College, allowed the youngsters to show off their craftsmanship and competitiveness.
The pinewood racers had a few mandatory requirements. They could be no longer than 7 inches long, and could weigh no more than 5 ounces.
The rest was left to the youngsters’ — and their parents’ — imaginations.
Elaborate paint schemes, and accessories — one car had a plastic dinosaur affixed to its roof — were tested on the aluminum track, which begins with a steep decline before flattening out as the cars approach the finish line.
By the time the dust cleared, Konner Larney’s creation was proven the King of the Pinewoods for Troop 55. Larney won the final round over three other heat champions.
Larney had both the highest average speed 225.5 mph, as well as the fastest single run of the day, a mind-boggling 226.4 mph — far faster than anything those NASCAR drivers could muster at Daytona International Speedway.
Cub Scouts fill their need for speed
