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Scouting for Success
Gary & Cheryl Sebra with sons Cole (left) and Ty (right)
by Liz Burnett Photos courtesy of Gary Sebra
The Pinewood Derby is legendary: A Cub Scout is given a block of wood, four molded plastic wheels, and four small nails for axles. The goal is for the Cub Scout and a parent to work together, to transform that block of wood into a kid-sized custom race car that goes fast, looks cool, and is driven only by gravity from a downhill slope. Working to create a winner develops a Cub Scout’s craftsmanship skills and magical memories for that Cub Scout’s parents. Gary and Cheryl Sebra are Scout parents. Gary, once a Boy Scout himself, is a lifelong resident of Newtown Square and Sergeant with the Newtown Township Police Department. Cheryl is a Registered Dental Hygienist. Their two sons, Ty and Cole, have enjoyed participating in youth baseball, football, swimming, karate and Cub Scouts. When their oldest son Ty went to 1st grade in 2014, Gary and Cheryl enrolled him in Cub Pack 315 because they wanted Ty to benefit from that sense of belonging and self-esteem that comes from Scouting. They also wanted Ty to experience working with other boys toward shared goals within activities that were not only through sports, and to build other skills while also having fun and making new friendships. One Scouting activity, the Pinewood Derby craft project, ignited in Ty a desire to succeed and win races. The Sebra family spent hours together in their garage, making Ty’s first race car. Minutes before the race, Ty’s car got knocked off a table. It fell to the floor and its wheels broke off. With time running out, competitors offered spare wheels, and with only minutes before the race was to start, Ty and Gary got the car back together with new wheels, some super glue and some car body weight carved out, to meet weight requirements.
Gary and Cole cutting and shaping the car body
Pinewood Derby wood block, 4 plastic wheels and 4 nails for axles
Those repairs surely affected the car’s look but not Ty’s hopes of winning. During the multiple heats of the race, excitement built as Ty unexpectedly won race after race. It came down to three cars in a final raceoff. Ty finished in First Place! The Sebra family was stunned and now forever hooked on Pinewood Derby racing. During Ty’s five years in Cub Pack 315, he finished in First Place four times, and in Second Place once. And for the past three years, he’s been invited to Regional District Races and finished in First Place each year, making him eligible each year for the Pinewood Derby World Championships in New York City. In 2017, Ty finished 35th overall and 8th for his Bear rank class of racers. In 2018, Ty improved: He finished 17th overall and 6th for his higher Webelo rank class. NO appointment necessary! Use our online check-in app to avoid waiting.
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3521 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
October 2019
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