Pack 479 Arrow of Light "Coolest Car" awards at the Pinewood Derby at Eden Prairie Center went to (from left) Emma Wolberg, 11, first; Hayden Pudenz, 11, second; and Beckett Frana, 10, third. Photo by Jim Bayer.
About 100 Eden Prairie Cub Scouts in Packs 479 and 597 put their design skills to work and built cars to race in the 2024 edition of Pinewood Derby. Racing took place Sunday at the Eden Prairie Center. More than 100 hundred heats were conducted in several categories.
Madeline Bidney, 11, showed off a group of Pinewood Derby cars Sunday at the Eden Prairie Center. Photo by Jim Bayer
The top three fastest cars in Pack 479 were first place, Brodie Hendrickson; second place, Jacob Engen; and third place, Isaac Hand.
The three fastest cars in Pack 597 were first place, Sera Hanson; second place, Gwen Hanson; and third place, Joseph Stechler.
The Cub Scout program, part of the Boy Scouts of America, is open to both boys and girls from kindergarten to fifth grade.
Pinewood Derby has existed for 70 years, and its stated goal is to teach Cub Scouts the value of sportsmanship, how to win with humility and how to lose with grace.
Cars reached the finish line during a race. All photos by Jim Bayer
Jackson Bidney released cars at the beginning of a race.
Unique designs, as well as fast ones, are also part of Pinewood Derby judging.
From left to right: Gavin Day, 11, took third place in the fastest cars category of the Arrow of Light Derby Race, Hayden Pudenz, 11, took second; and Emma Wolberg, 11, took first.