ARLINGTON — Timmy Rhodes won the Pinewood Derby for the third straight year with his hand-carved wooden car that traveled more than 60 miles per hour when Greg Vaughn’s Cub Scout Pack 92 gathered to race at Post Middle School Jan. 30.

The 8-year-old is not quite sure why his cars always win.

“I made it different every year,” Rhodes said he painted this year’s car red and carved an A in the hood.

Vaughn’s wife Lisa Vaughn said five dens participated, the Tigers, the Wolf den, Bears, Webelos 1 and Webelos 2.

“It was a full day of fun for the scouts and their parents,” Lisa Vaughn said.

The big race was the culmination of much time and planning by the Scouts and their parents. The boys started with a kit including a block of wood, tires and axels. They carved the block to their desired style and shape, sanded them smooth and painted them. Some boys used just paint and others added stickers, Lisa said.

“We got a new computer program that made Pinewood Derby drivers licenses for all the boys.”

The car had to weigh exactly five ounces so some weight was sometimes added using fishing led, or they had to be pared down.

Upon check-in, their cars were weighed. If the car wasn’t heavy enough they added weights. If it was too heavy they would take out the drill or the chisel. Once the car was the proper weight it was put into their den box and not touched any more until race time.

Organizers included Jeff and Tara McEwen, Jenn and Gene Schubeck and Brandon Donnelson. They started setting up at 11 a.m. and check-in was from 1 – 3 p.m. The races started at 3:30 p.m.

For the race, the cubmaster and his assistant placed three cars on the special track at one time. One of the boys would do the countdown and open the gate and everyone watched them go. The average speed was about 54 miles per hour.

“We even had some go over 60 mph,” Vaughn said.

“At 5 p.m. a pizza lunch was served thanks to the Pizza Factory,” Vaughn said.

At the end, awards were presented for the top three in each den who all got a certificate and a medal. All who participated got a certificates. Awards were arranged by Michelle Rengen, Kari Bass and Jenn Schubeck.

For information about Cub Scout Pack 92, see their Web site at www.scoutspack92.org.