Kubkar rally is a winner with Beavers, Cubs and Scouts

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This article was published 18/03/2024 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Spectators lined the racetracks and cheered on the Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts, during Westman’s Kubkar Rally at École New Era School gym in Brandon on Saturday.

Almost 80 racers registered with their handmade cars and trucks, with prizes given for the fastest and best design.

Eleven-year-old Max Davidson who is a Scout from Reston, racked up two wins and one loss with his semi truck.

“I race semis, and I really like working with wood, it’s fun,” Davidson said.

As he held up his kubkar, he described the design and counted the blocks, “My dad and I chiseled it from one block, two, three, four blocks, five, six, seven, up to 11 blocks. See?” he said, as he smiled.

Kubkar racing is a 30-year tradition, and the Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts must follow strict specifications with their kubkar designs, which come from Scouts Canada.

Each member carves their vehicle out of blocks of wood, using the specified plastic wheels, and add what they like for the paint job.

The width cannot exceed seven centimetres, the minimum distance between the wheels is 4.5 centimetres and it must not be heavier than 142 grams.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the rally for Westman members was an annual event, said Leah Foster, Brandon Scout Group commissioner.

“We were supposed to hold it in 2020, but it got cancelled. So, this is the first one we’ve done since then,” Foster said.

“And this is exciting, we have kids from Brandon, Hamiota, Virden, and Reston.”

Alexander Foreman, 5, a Beaver from Virden, was a first-time racer said his mom, “He’s having a great time with socializing, and this teaches him good discipline skills,” she said.

Angelo Rocero from Hamiota snapped a photo of his son Sebastion after he won the race in his category and said the overall Scouting experience has been good for his seven year old.

“They are learning lots of things — spending time outside too. He also knows first aid and what to do in an emergency, so, it’s been really very helpful,” Rocero said.

The age group for Beavers is five to seven years old, Cubs are eight to 10 years old and the age requirement for Scouts is 11 to 14, Fosterm said.

She said she’s noticed how race day means different things to different people.

“Some of our volunteer dads say this is one of their core memories from Scouting when they were younger. So, this is something that the kids will remember, later on, too,” Foster said.

Mark Connelly said he can be counted as one of those who hasn’t forgotten. He was a Scout in the late 1990s in Brandon, and said he remembered when he used to race, “And now I’m watching my son. It’s funny because it’s kind of emotional. Good memories for sure,” Connelly said.

For more information on the Scouting program in Manitoba, visit https://www.scouts.ca/councils/central/manitoba/home.html

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