Scouts to hold virtual pinewood derby

ROCKFORD–The Blackhawk Area Council of Boy Scouts of America typically holds its annual pinewood derby competition in April each year for the Cub Scouts who placed first or second in their pack.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s pinewood derby competition was put on hold.

Scouts won’t have the opportunity to sit at the end of the track and anxiously wait for their car to cross the finish line.

The council thought that the two day event, held at Pecatonica High School, was going to be added to the growing list of cancellations for this upcoming year, but volunteers have found a way to make the event happen.

This year, the council’s pinewood derby will be held in a warehouse where it will be recorded and shared on Facebook for the racers to watch.

The council has opened the event to anyone in the council area. Racers will be divided into groups based on age. Youth races will range from five to 17 years old and there also will be races for any adult who wants to compete.

Registration is open at https://bit.ly/3fdVSaD and car kits and accessories are available at the Blackhawk Area Council Scout shops in Rockford and Crystal Lake.

The fee is $5 per participant. All races will be broadcast on the council’s Facebook page on Saturday, July 18. All cars need to be dropped off between June 26 and July 5 at one of three locations, the Rockford and Crystal Lake scout offices from 3-6 p.m. and at Galena Culver’s any time during hours of operation. All cars will be returned to their drop off locations after they are raced.