Boys & Girls Club off to the races
Members of Newhall clubhouse participate in pinewood derby competition at Hart Park
The gymnasium walls of the SCV Boys & Girls Club echoed with cheer as the first four pinewood derby race cars sped down the 28-foot track Wednesday afternoon.
“The race itself is fun to watch,” said Jeremy O’Brien, club education coordinator. “It gives the kids a chance to showcase their creativity and see the results of their work.”
This semi-annual pinewood derby event featured 16 racers broken up into two age groups: 6 to 9, and 9 to 14, O’Brien said.
The children in the club design and race their cars, which are made from small blocks of wood.
Bill Lyons, who’s been volunteering for the last five years, said he then takes the cars home to cut the wood, before returning them to the children for additional sanding, painting and designing, all in a week’s time.
As the car raced down the silver track Alex Kiamba, 7, was at the edge of his seat, hollering with the rest of the kids who filled the bleachers to watch their respective designs race by.
“It was really fun painting my car my favorite color, blue,” Kiamba said.
Before they race, a panel of judges examines the streamlining and front aerodynamics of the car on a 10-point system. Next, the cars are judged on the aesthetics and style for another 10 points. Then, the final test is the race. “The winner might not be the fastest,” Lyons said.
“They’re amazing cars,” he said, discussing the event that offers children lessons about engineering, friction, potential energy and aerodynamics. “It’s more than just fun — it’s a learning process.”
SCV Boys & Girls Club branch manager Abby Gutierrez has been emceeing this event for three years, and said she tries to motivate the children with her commentary. “The most rewarding thing is seeing them grow as positive learners and seeing how well they support one another,” Gutierrez said. “The adrenaline of learning who is going to win or not is what makes this most fun.”
Group 1 Winners (ages 6 to 9): first place, Sebastian Fitzpatrick; secondplace, Emily Lajeunesse; third place, Julian Ybarra.
Group 2 Winners (ages 9 to 14) : first place, Jordan Jackson; second place, Robert Tejeda; third place, Moises Botello.