BRISTOL — A long-time favorite of Boy Scouts around the county coasted into Bristol on Saturday. Members of Bristol Cub Scout Pack 543 hosted their first-ever Soapbox Derby.
Scout leader Greg Grover said the race, which was attended by 15 Cub Scouts and more than 60 of their family members, was a big hit.
“We had a great time,” Grover said. “We were talking after about making it an annual event.”
Historically, the carts that the boys construct to race in were actually made from wooden soapboxes. Nowadays, those once-common cartons are harder to come by, so the Cub Scouts used 2-by-4s.
“They really enjoyed constructing the carts,” said Grover, who handled all the power tools and cut up the lumber. “The boys screwed the pieces together, attached the wheels, slapped a coat of paint on. They came away with some teamwork skills and, as always, using tools will make an 8- or 9-year-old boy happy.”
The four carts that the Cub Scout troop made on their “build day” a week before the official derby stood up to the test. Last Saturday the Scouts took turns flying down the hill on Fitch Avenue, to the cheers of their family members.
Blake Bowen, a “Wolf” in second grade, took first place in the race. Owen Bronley, a “Webelos” in fourth grade, took second place and Kolby LaRose, a Webelos in fifth grade, took third.