Winners of the Pinewood Derby race hold up their trophies. From left are Derek Penninger, Pack 3731, Outlaw Race winner; Chloe Bartholomew, Pack 3021, first place; Grey Hammer, Pack 3731, second place; and Jase Tackitt, Pack 3828, third place. Photos provided by Connie Penninger.

News Release

WARSAW — The 2024 Cub Scout Lincolnway District Pinewood Derby was held Friday, March 15, at Harrison Elementary School in Warsaw.

The Lincolnway District encompasses Cub Scout packs from Kosciusko, Whitley and southwest Allen counties.

Six different Cub Scout packs attended the event, including packs 3021 from Fort Wayne, 3726 from North Webster, 3729 from Leesburg, 3731 from Warsaw, 3736 from Warsaw and 3828 from Syracuse. A total of 20 Cub Scouts participated, ranging in age from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Each Cub Scout crafted their own car from a wooden block kit. Some of the creative designs included an arrow, a ketchup bottle, a bat mobile, a hot dog car, a Mario car and a unicorn.

Winning third place with his car “Da Bears” and an average three-run time of 2.695 seconds was Jase Tackitt from Pack 3828. Winning second place with his car “Red X” and an average run time of 2.687 seconds was Grey Hammer from Pack 3731. Winning first place with her car “Fire” and an average run time of 2.682 seconds was Chloe Bartholomew from Pack 3021.

The winner of the Outlaw Race, Derek Penninger, from Pack 3731, had an average run time of 2.643 seconds with his car “Turbo Phoenix.”

“The Pinewood Derby has become a national sensation with more than 100 million cars sold and built since its inception,” said Michael Tome, Lincolnway District executive.

“The Pinewood Derby is an event where Cub Scouts and their parents put together a custom race car using four plastic wheels, four nails and a few pieces of wood,” Tome said. “There is still the same amount of work involved in designing a car that weighs less than 5 ounces regardless of whether you want it to be fast, cool or both. Most of all, it’s about the bond between a parent and child that will last a lifetime.”

If you would like to join in a Cub Scout pack, visit beascout.scouting.org and enter your ZIP code to find a pack near you.

Cars are poised to race down the track.

A look at the cars that were built.