Skip to content

South Okanagan-Similkameen Cubs off to the races

Over 100 kids from area scouting organizations compete in annual model car event

Over 100 budding model car designer/builders from the South Okanagan and Similkameen gathered in Penticton Saturday to put their skills to the test.

At the long running Scouts, Beaver Buggy and Cub Car Races at the Concordia Lutheran Church the youngsters competed for prizes, including the computer-monitored fastest speed, best paint job, most original design, most realistic and best sport.

“We’ve been doing this for at least 10 years now, it’s a great, fun event,” said Scouts Canada Jared Edis, who along with co-Scouter Gerry Owen have looked after the races all these years. “The purpose of this is to engage the youth into creating something that they can then use to race and compete against others. It teaches a lot of different skills.”

“It’s a group event that they can all come together and have a great time.”

The racers are between five and 10 years old and were divided into two groups, the beaver scouts in the morning and the cub scouts in the afternoon.

Every other year the scouts organizations build trucks to compete in the races which will happen again in 2019.

Among the groups taking place this time around were those from the 1st Oliver, 1st Summerland, 1st Princeton and 2nd Penticton organizations.

There were 69 beavers registered and 49 cubs and total attendance was estimated to be almost 300 with parents along to cheer on their entrants.

Lunch, snacks and refreshments were served.

The model cars were required to meet specific dimensions including weight and were checked at the time of signing in.

“It’s great to see the beavers and the scouts and cubs all get so excited about the different things,” said Edis. “I even let them, the beavers especially, I let them push the button that makes the race start so that gives them that extra thrill. So hopefully they’ll remember and have an impact in their lives.”

10509892_web1_180207-PWN-cub-races-02
Autumn Bidoka helps sons Landon, 5 (right) and Eli, 8, with the weigh in for the annual scouts model car races.
10509892_web1_180207-PWN-cub-races-03
Scouter Gerry Owen starts the next round of racers from the gate.
10509892_web1_180207-PWN-cub-races-04
Cubs cheer on their favourites during the annual scouting model car races at Concordia Lutheran Church Saturday.
10509892_web1_180207-PWN-cub-races-01
(Above) Cubs and beavers get their instructions prior to the start of the races.