RIVERSIDE — After more than 130 races, the champion of the 2008 Pokanoket District cub scout pinewood derby was crowned on Saturday at St. Brendan's School around 2:30 p.m.
Hand-crafted, uniquely designed cars of scouts, who qualified by placing in the top three in their pack's races, sped down the 32-foot, blue and gold glossy track in a few seconds, but none faster than winner Tyler Mello of Pack 2 Seekonk.
Greater East Providence was well represented by second place winner Korbin Zeigler of Pack 10 Riverside and several other scouts.
Rounding out the top five were Tim Gamache of Pack 2 Barrington, Matthew Sprague of Pack 2 Seekonk and Edward Jackson of Pack 50 Portsmouth.
Hopes were high for some of the 55 participating scouts during the pre-race weigh-ins — cars had to weigh five ounces or less. A few others were more grounded and less optimistic. For many who had reached the district for the first time, it was just exciting to be there.
Gabriel Varga, 8, of Pack 4 Riverside, won his pack's race in his first-ever pinewood. He went in confident with his yellow, orange and black race-car.
"I think we might win again," he said.
First-timer Justin Harris, 9, of East Providence's Pack 8 had more calculated expectations for his 1970s hot rod car called "Purple Blaze."
"Maybe we'll win third place," he said, and then nodded when his mom said, "We'll try our best and if we don't win there's always next year."
By Jeremy Rosen