Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — Among the crowd of people gathered around a huge metal ramp on Saturday were three generations of the Boylan family.

A grandfather, son and grandson, all wearing a scout uniform of some kind, were at the Pinewood Derby held in the cafeteria of Barrington Middle School. Thirty-three cub scouts in Pack 2, West Barrington, raced their pinewood derby cars. Among the scouts was nine year old Jamie Boylan.

“I think it’s really fun and the best part is bringing the pinewood derby (car) home and making another one year after year. This is my third year,” Jamie said.

Jamie won fourth place with his car, “The Green Machine.” The top three winners advance to a regional Pinewood Derby competition in March, the fourth is an alternate.

Scouting has been in the Boylan family for generations. Jamie’s grandfather, Terrence Boylan, 73, a scout leader until a few years ago, and Jamie’s father, Terrence Boylan Jr., were also at the event. Mr. Boylan Jr. was one of the scout leaders announcing the name of each scout, their car, and the results during the competition.

Grandpa Boylan was interested in scouting as a child, but didn’t get involved until he was an adult, because of where he spent his childhood.

“I grew up in Manhattan. It would have been a long distance on the subway, so my mom said I couldn’t go,” he said.

The cars at Saturday’s event were scored electronically, with the finish line and the names of each competitor, car, and finish times projected onto large screens. The metal ramp stretched across most of the length of the cafeteria and featured four lanes. Mr. Boylan Sr. remembers how differently the race was conducted back when he was first a scout leader.

“It would have been strips of plywood, and they’d have milk cartons trying to make levels, and you’d try to eyeball first, second and third,” he said.

Jamie’s mom, Jennifer Boylan, was also at the event, and commented on the new system for scoring.

“It can do slow motion instant replay, and records down to a thousandth of a second. It’s very sophisticated,” she said.

Mr. Boylan Jr. said he grew up in scouts, and the pinewood derby was an annual event at his home for many years.

“It’s cool. I have all my cars at home from when I raced. I think in the end between Jamie and Tanner (Tanner is Jamie’s younger brother) I’ll have something like 30 or 40 cars,” he said.

Mr. Boylan said he eventually wants to have a cabinet made to hold all the cars.

More Boylan family members were at the event. Mr. Boylan Jr.’s brother Chris also attended. Jamie was wearing a cub scout shirt that was once worn by his uncle Chris at the same age.

“This shirt is vintage from the 70’s. Luckily the design hasn’t changed. Grandma Boylan, (Ginny) changed the patches. She does all the sewing,” Ms. Boylan said.

Grandma Boylan was there as well, sharing in the day with her extended family.

Generations of families beside the Boylans were also at the event. Kathleen Sullivan was there with her son, Ben Flynn, 8, and Ben’s grandmother, Betty Sullivan.

“This is hilarious. It’s so exciting, more exciting than the Super Bowl,” Kathleen Sullivan said while the cars raced down the track.

Ben was also psyched about the competition.

“I was so excited I couldn’t sleep all night,” he said.

Besides awards for the four fastest cars, several trophies were given out for specific design innovations. Ben won an award for originality. His car, “Rhode Kill” included a wheel from a toy vehicle and a tail from a coonskin type hat he found on a doll at a second-hand shop.

Because of the masters event several families had more than one person enter a pinewood car. Victoria Sever had two children enter cars; her son, Cooper, 7, and daughter, Taylor, 10, as well as her husband, Michael, a den leader.

“It’s a big family affair. My dining room table is completely covered with stuff — it’s a workshop for weeks. I love how the kids use all their creativity,” Ms. Sever said.