St. Andrews United Methodist Church was filled Feb. 23 with excited moms, dads, grandparents, siblings and curious onlookers supporting their favorites for the annual Pinewood Derby, hosted by Cub Scout Pack 90.

Each boy arrived with his car carved from a block of wood, and each car meeting official Pinewood Derby rules was inspected and weighed by a panel of judges.

The cars were numbered and impounded until time for the race to begin. An array of colors, shapes and sizes replaced the once solid block of pinewood.

Winners are determined by averaging the computer-timed results of each car racing three races on three different tracks.

Seven-year-old Jacob King, a member of the Wolf Pack, won first place this year in his division after a second-place finish last year. His stepdad, George Barlow, said they had been working on Jacob's car since January and had no idea they would win this year. But all of their hard work paid off, when Jacob's car won by 0.005 seconds over three races.

In addition to the timed trials, awards were given for best design in each age group. The winners in each age group will race later this year in a state competition.

Cub Scout Pack 90 has won the state race for the last five years. Pack 90 is led by Cubmaster Tracy Macpherson and Pack Committee Chairman Brad Hutto.

"The Pinewood Derby is designed for them to spend some quality time with their parents," Macpherson said, adding that the boys' fathers seemed to enjoy the competition about as much as their younger counterparts. "They also get to learn the basics of working with tools, choose their own design, paint and see it all happen."

T&D Features Writer Candace Newson can be reached by e-mail at cnewson@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

Results of the 2008 Cub Scout Pack 90 Pinewood Derby

Tigers (first graders)

Overall first place — William Panitt (6.937)

Group I results

First place — Ian Scott (7.122)

Second place — Copeland Burbage (7.161)

Third place — Morgan King (7.218)

Best design — Brad Lake

Group II results

First place — William Panitt (6.937)

Second place — Joshua Hutto (7.024)

Third place — Tyler Staley (7.250)

Best design — Joshua Hutto

Other Tiger racers: Guy Watkins Best, Connor Armstrong, Grant Axson, Braxton Wannamaker, Turner Jones and Kaleb Thomas

Wolves (second graders)

First place — Jacob King (7.184)

Second place — Marcus Jarvis (7.186)

Third place — Connor Young (7.189)

Best design — (tie) Dillon Cope and Jackson Cape

Other Wolf racers: David Geddings, Graham Journey, Hercules Field, William Metts, Jhared Mays, Matheson Wannamaker, Patrick Erwin, Ptah Robinson and David Brandyburg

Bears (third graders)

First place — Wesley Watford (6.943)

Second place — Mitchell Mobley (6.996)

Third place — Andrew Sloop (7.050)

Best design — Brady Johnson

Webelos I (fourth graders)

First place — Andrew Williamson (6.969)

Second place — McGill Hutto (7.001)

Third place — Will Williamson (7.171)

Best design — Joseph Garrick

Other Webelos I racers: Tucker King, Thomas Hamel, Slade Walters, Devontre Canty, Thomas Dressel, Christopher Sanders and Luke Myers

Webelos II (fifth graders)

First place — James Union (6.900)

Second place — Ben Ridgeway (6.904)

Third place — Timothy Schriver (6.960)

Best design — James Union

Other Webelos II racers: Jace McCormick, Richard Williamson and Sam Erwin

Dads and others racers

First place — Jay Union (6.908)

Second place — Bub Miller (Union racing 6.911)

Third place — Brad Hutto (Union racing 6.926)

Other racers: Tommy Watford, Tripp Miller and Dwayne Garrick

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