LIHUE — Glen Batoon, Cubmaster for Cub Pack 148, announced the start of the pack finals for the pinewood derby Sunday at the Lihue Christian Church social hall.
“Alright gentlemen — and ladies, let’s get racing,” Batoon said. “We don’t want to be here longer than necessary.”
Pack 148 hosted its finals with the top three racers advancing to the island finals which will be held April 7 at the Boy Scout Makahiki to be contested at the Kauai Community College, immediately back of the Garden Fair which is coordinated through a partnership with the Kauai County Farm Bureau.
Among the ranks of racers, two of the three girl Cub Scouts — the first on Kauai — pit their skills against each other to be able to reach the finals.
Ashlei Thompson, Isabelle Tumpap, and Aila Carr are the first girls on Kauai to become Cub scouts since the Boy Scouts of America allowed girls to join.
“When Ashlei found out she could join the scouts, she was very excited because she’s been involved with the scouting program because of her older brothers,” said Roxanne Thompson, Pack 148 Committee Chair, and Ashlei’s mother. “Now, she gets be be a part of that excitement, not just on the outside looking in.”
Roxanne, who heads the separate girls’ unit under Pack 148, said Isabelle was in the same situation.
“Wouldn’t it be interesting if we had a brother-sister final?” she said.
But that was not to be as Tumpap edged out Thompson to advance on, but being eliminated in the finals competition.
Instead, the race came down to Logan Yago and Aeden Valera, Valera taking the first heat.
On the second heat using a different lane, Yago claimed the win as Valera’s vehicle went flying off the track, sending the scout into disbelief.
That was not the first time the vehicle had jumped track, and on the tie-breaking run, Valera stared in disbelief, again as his car flipped off the special wood track operated by Batoon with Tim Kaber and Rosey Jerves serving as finish line judges.
Yago and Valera, based on their one-two finish will be representing Pack 148 at the island finals during the Makahiki. Kaynan Giminez, being eliminated by Valera on his climb to the top, will be the alternative in the event one of the two racers can’t make the finals.
Tumpap finished the derby by capturing the Super Slick special award with Ashlei being voted the Most Artistic.
Phoenix Larusso earned the Most Creative award, and Yago not only took the derby, he earned the Fastest Looking (car) award. Kohlton Sanchez finished with the Most Original award, and Zachary Kaber was awarded the Best Sportsmanship honor.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
