The Fairlane Village mall was filled with excitement Sunday afternoon as more than 50 Cub Scouts cheered for their cars during the annual Pinewood Derby event for Cub Scout Pack 608, Port Carbon.
However, more important to the parents was the fact that they were also cheering for one another during the competition.
"The boys not only really like the competitiveness, but they root for each other as well," Ann McGowan, Port Carbon, said while watching her son, William, race his orange and black car down the track. "They are learning teamwork even though they are competing with their friends."
McGowan said her son has met a lot of good friends in the group.
William saw early success with the car that he worked so hard on with his father, Bill McGowan.
"This is one of my favorite things to do with the scouts," he said after sweeping a series of races.
He attributed his success to his "perfect and shiny" wheels.
Kyle Perry, Pottsville, was racing Sunday for the last time as a Cub Scout on Sunday. Perry is a Webelos II and will be joining the Boy Scouts next year. Fifth-grade scouts are Webelos II, while first-graders are Tigers, second-graders are Wolves, third-graders are Bears and fourth-graders are Webelos I. "It's fun to sand and paint the cars," Perry said. "It's fun to try and win, but I like spending time with my dad."
He said he painted his car "Flyer colors" and spent a lot of time working on the wheels.
Perry's father, James, is a Scout leader with the pack and will be following his son to the Boy Scouts next year.
"It brings out their creativity and it teaches them that winning isn't everything," James Perry said. "The best thing that they get from this is the one-on-one time with their parents or guardians. It's a family event"
James Perry said all five of his boys were in the Cub Scouts and Kyle is his youngest.
"The Scouts teaches the kids a lot about life and shows them leadership," James Perry said. "It helps them when they go out into the real-world. It's fun watching them have fun and be creative."
