Pinewood derby victors announced
Fifteen local Cub Scouts emerged victorious during the fourth annual Battleground District Pinewood Derby Race held recently at Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Raceway.

The Scouts hailed from 18 Cub Scout packs from Freehold, Howell, Marlboro, Manalapan,Millstone Township and Colts Neck. The 63 Scouts had to win their local Pinewood Derby races to qualify.

The Pinewood Derby requires each boy to build a car using an authorized kit that contains a 7-inch block of soft pine wood, four nail axels and four plastic wheels. The boys can cut, carve, sand, paint and decorate the car, but it must meet race regulations and weigh 5 ounces or less. The cars are then raced down a 35-foot track in multiple heats to determine the winners of each Scout level.

The first-place winners at each level will go on to compete against other district winners in the Monmouth Council Pinewood Derby on May 17 at the Quail Hill Scout Reservation in Manalapan.

The 2008 Battleground District Pinewood Derby winners are:

• Tigers (first grade): JaredMarkunas, Pack 18, Freehold, first place; Michael Lewicki, Pack 515, Howell, second place; and Tyler Sanborn, Pack 150, Howell, third place.

• Wolfs (second grade): Nicholas Kaufman, Pack 180, Manalapan, first place; Ryan Mazik, Pack 515, Howell, second place; and Bobby Meyers, Pack 258, Howell, third place.

• Bears (third grade): Christopher Faunce, Pack 116, Millstone, first place; Matthew Howard, Pack 6392, Marlboro, second place; and Christopher Lykes, Pack 258, Howell, third place.

• Webelos I (fourth grade): John Giordano, Pack 188, Marlboro, first place; Alden Littlefield, Pack 116,Millstone, second place; and Kevin Hobbs, Pack 155, Freehold, third place.

• Webelos II (fifth grade): Juan Pereira, Pack 180,Manalapan, first place; Kevin Locke, Pack 116, Millstone, second place; and Julian Spangenberg, Pack 160, Freehold, third place.