Local Cub Scouts put their creativity and craftsmanship to the test Saturday at First United Methodist Church during the annual Pinewood Derby, an event where scouts race gravity-powered miniature cars carved of pinewood down a 35-foot track.

Before the derby, scouts are given a block of pine wood with two notches for wheels, four plastic wheels and four axles, Pack leader Charlie Youmans said. Scouts design the cars as they choose with the help of parents or other relatives. Finished cars can resemble a variety of designs, Youmans said, including buses, trucks, Nascar models or animal designs. Some designs can be finished in a weekend, while others require more time, he said.

“There’s no telling what you’ll come up with,” he said. “It’s just whatever you can imagine and how good you are with wood.”

During the race, 30 to 40 Cub Scouts and their families cheered a few feet away from the sloped track as miniature cars were raced in different heats. Scouts winning first through third places in Saturday’s Pinewood Derby advance to the district race where they will compete against other packs in the county, Youmans said.

Winners from the race were Will Warren, first place; Joey Franklin, second place; and Aaron Phenicia, third place. Best in show were Samuel Lockhart, first place; Zachary Clayton, second place and Wes Ellard, third place.

Clayton spent about 16 hours in recent weeks working with his father on a pickup truck design for his first Pinewood Derby race.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for father and son bonding, and something fun for the whole family,” said Kelly Shadix, mother of nine-year-old Noah Shadix. Noah’s father, Toney, said he spent several hours helping Noah design his car and conduct Internet research on where to install weights.

The Pinewood Derby was founded by Don Murphy, a Manhattan Beach, Calif. Cub Scout pack leader, who wanted to devise a constructive activity that would foster a closer father-son relationship and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship. According to www.pinewoodpro.com, Murphy asked the Management Club at North American Aviation to sponsor a miniature racing event for his Cub Scout pack he named a “pinewood derby.” The club agreed to pay for the wood and other materials, according to the Web site.