WARDSVILLE, Mo. -- The annual Five Rivers District Pinewood Derby attracted hundreds of Cub Scouts, eagerly looking to race their handmade cars.
Cub Scouts from all over the Five Rivers District gathered Saturday at Blair Oaks Middle School, where the derby was open to scouts in first through fifth grade, with each boy making a unique car out of a wooden block, four nails and four wheels.
On Saturday, cars of all colors, shapes and themes were sent down the curved track with gravity being the only force used to power the tiny vehicles, some of which went more than 205 miles per hour.
"We do have quite a few that are breaking 200 miles per hour," said Kelsey Huston, an organizer with the district. "They really get into it and get creative with it."
The entire event takes place in one day, with qualifying races in the morning and afternoon and championships in the evening. Huston said roughly 150-200 Cub Scouts were expected to participate, noting many register last minute on the day of the derby.
Huston said the Optimist Club of Jefferson City helps every year by doing the track set up and managing the time-keeping, registration and providing general administrative and technical help.
Bob Henley, with the Optimist Club, said he's been helping with the derby since 1975, when a wooden racetrack with two lanes was used and races were called by sight. Now, the track is four lanes and metal, and electronics are used to measure exact speeds and times for each car.
Henley said the Optimist Club began to manage the races and timings as a way to keep things fair in all the races.
"We look forward to this," he said as he looked at the gymnasium filled with scouts and their families.
Huston said the district really tries to make the event fun for all members of the family, not just the Cub Scouts, even opening up a class of racing for siblings and for adults.
Noah Salarano, 8, was excited to race his Batman car as he stood with his dad waiting to register. Salarano said he made his car a Batman-themed because of the upcoming movie "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice."
"I want Batman to win," he said.
Salarano said he worked on his car with his dad, adding he has raced in the Pinewood Derby before and always has fun.
Jeremiah Austin, 9, stood with his dad, who held the car they built together, painted black with a large red stripe down the top and skull in the middle. Austin said the skull was his idea, and he was excited to race.
Each time the cars were loaded onto the track Saturday, boys lined up to sit on the floor, as close to the track as they could get, trying to see just how fast their cars could go.