The green flag is ready to drop on Cub Scout Pack 604's annual Pinewood Derby.
The races start at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Fairlane Village mall, Pottsville, with registration at 12:15 p.m. to allow racers to make adjustments before hitting the track.
The unique event features homemade cars racing down a sloped track with gravity serving as the only source of power. The Scouts design and decorate the cars themselves, as long as they comply with the derby rules issued by the Boy Scouts of America. The Scouts build their speed machines with official kits, which include a block of wood, nails and wheels.
A few of the guidelines are: width of the car must not exceed 2 1/2 inches, length shall not exceed 7 inches and weight shall not exceed 5 ounces.
"We tell parents the more a child can do, the more you have to let them do," said Joel Budwash, den leader for the Lions and Bear scouts in Pack 604, Port Carbon.
The event begins with the Scouts competing for first place in their den. The pack is divided into six dens - Lions, Tigers, Wolf, Bear and Webelos I and II. The racers who finish first in the six dens will compete against each other for the pack championship. Trophies will be awarded to the top six racers.
Although the dens are grouped by age, Budwash said the older kids do not have an advantage in the final championship races.
"You have some who know how to build a car and you have some that just get lucky," he said.
In addition to the race winners, trophies will be awarded in three special categories - most original, crowd favorite and Boy Scout favorite.
"The more trophies we can give out the better," Budwash said.
First-year participants will receive a pin, while ribbons will be given to all repeat participants.
Budwash said having the event at Fairlane Village mall adds another fun element for the Scouts. He said many people stop to watch the races, especially older Scouts who remember participating in the derby when they were a kid.
"It's really cool having this at the mall because it does make it even more exciting," he said.
All of the cars racing Sunday are new creations. Budwash said cars from previous years are not permitted. He said the pack distributes its kits about a month before the derby, but the Scouts can begin working on their cars at any time during the year.
Budwash said he believes the most important thing about the event is the opportunity for children and parents to work together on achieving a goal. He said while parents may feel more disappointment if their car loses, the Scouts will enjoy the event regardless of their personal outcome.
"It's all about the kids having fun. This is one of the most fun things they do as a Scout," he said.
For more information on the Pinewood Derby, visit the pack's website at www.portcarbonscouts.com.