Powder Puff ‘Derby’ Girls Prepare For Tomorrow’s Race

By Jonathan Weaver

More than six dozen Girl Scouts will be behind-the-wheel Saturday and try to steer their race cars into victory lane.

Approximately 74 Girl Scouts will compete in the Rambling Roads neighborhood annual Powder Puff Derby, a female version of the Boy Scouts’ Pinewood Derby, tomorrow morning at Grace Brethren Church’s Grace Hall in West Kittanning.

Racing begins at 11AM.

Cadettes Senior Troop Leader Sherri Boltz said 17 local troops of scouts will compete in the derby, which has been planned since January.

Boltz said the scouts take days, weeks or even months to design and create their racer.

“Some girls can get a car together in a weekend and some girls work on a car for a couple months – it just depends how much work they want to put into them,” Boltz said.

Besides being judged for first, second or third place, racers are also judged for “Best in Show,” “Most Unique” and “Best Girl Scout Themed Car” categories in the double-elimination chase.

Troop #22118 Leader Gretchen Baker said girls look are looking forward to tomorrow’s race.

“(Daughter Kellyann) looks forward to it,” Gretchen said. “It seems like everybody in the troop gets excited about getting together to do that.”

Kellyann, will race a covered wagon-style car tomorrow in honor of her favorite book series, “Little House on the Prairie.”  

Last year, Kellyann’s car resembled a Lemon Chalet Cremes Girl Scout cookie box, her favorite flavor. She won “Best Girl Scout Themed Car” for the creativity.

Gretchen said the family enjoyed building the car.

“That was kinda fun,” Gretchen said. “It’s a really nice project because a lot of the fathers step in and help the girls and teach them how to make the car. Everyone usually steps in.”

Youngest daughter, Evelynn, 5, who is a Daisy Girl Scout, will also compete in the derby tomorrow with her Polly Pocket-themed race car.

Gretchen said Evelynn has been at races before she was old enough to join scouting and enjoys the program.

“It’s been good for other girls because she’s younger so they kind-of learned a little bit about taking care of her and then she’s learned from them, so it’s been good for all of us,” Gretchen said.

Grace Christian School students will also be selling food and drinks during the event. The race is estimated to last two hours.