(Updated 9 a.m., March 27)
Local Scouts take part in annual Kub Kar Rally and Truck Rodeo
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Kub Kar Rally Coolest Design winner Justin Ellacott-Smith (left) is joined by Fiona Thompson (centre) winner of the Most Original Design Award and Jackson Millenor winner of the Best Paint Job Award during the Odawa District Kub Kar Rally and Truck Rodeo held at the Orléans United Church on Saturday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

More than 150 local Scouts and Cubs gathered at the Orléans United Church on Saturday to take part in the annual Odawa Kub Kar Rally and Truck Rodeo.

The Kub Kar Rally and Truck Rodeo brings together Cubs and Scouts from across the east end and Rockland to compete for fun and prizes in a variety of different categories including Most Original Design, Best Paint Job and Most True To Life Design.

Kub Kars are the exclusive domain of Cubs, while the older Scouts race 18-wheel tractor trailers. Both types of vehicles are made from standard kits, although the Truck Rodeo also has a custom division.

There are height, length and weight restrictions for both the Kub Kars and the trucks, which race three at a time along a 28-foot track using only gravity for propulsion.

The Scouts and Cubs who competed in Saturday’s Odawa District Kub Kar Rally and Truck Rodeo are the best of the best having qualified through competitions at the Group and Pack level.

Three times was the charm for Sam Lessard from 1st Greenwood. After failing to finish in the top three last year, the 13-year-old Scout came through to win the stock division with his X-Box inspired truck in his third and final year at the rodeo. In 2009, he placed third.

David George from 2nd Gloucester was crowned Grand Champion in the custom truck division after beating out 16 other competitors. The 12-year-old youngster used sticks from his backyard to make a log truck inspired design.

When he started to build the truck, George was more interested in design than speed, which is why he was pleasantly surprised when he won.

"I kind of did, but kind of didn't," said George when asked if he thought he had a shot at the title before the competition began. "I was more interested in the design."

Top spot in the Most Creative Standard Truck category went to Katie Kerrivan from 1st Greenwood, who borrowed one of her brother's black Converse All-Star running shoes for her truck.

"He was relativelty okay about it," said Karrivan when asked how her older brother felt about her using his shoe. "He said I could use it, but I couldn't paint on it, put tape on it or glue it."

The Original Design Award at this year’s Kub Kar Rally went to Fiona Thompson from 1st Rockland, while the Coolest Design Award went to Justin Ellacott-Smith from 14th Gloucester.

Bethany Piquette from 4th Orleans was very nearly a double award winner. After winning the Judge's Favourite Design Award, she placed second in the race for Grand Champion to Amanda Gorely from 8th Orleans.

In other categories Jackson Millenor from 4th Orleans won the award for best Best Paint Job; Heather Smith from 8th Orleans won the Most Detailed Design Award; Aaron Kortekaas from 1st Orleans won the Most True to Life Award; Tanner Lavigne from 1st Clarence won the Most Brilliant Use of Colour Award; and Colin Henfrey from 4th Orleans received the Youth Choice Award.

Event organizer and Odawa District Scout Program Coordinator Fred Hyde said the level of creativity and originality continues to improve from year to year, especially in the Truck Rodeo.

“The level of creativity just keeps getting better and better,” said Hyde during a break in the competition. “A couple of years ago most of the Scouts would simply put their old Kub Kar on the back of a truck. Now they’re really putting a lot of thought into it.”

Judging by the level of creativity that went into many of this year’s designs, there’s no telling where future Scouts will let their imaginations take them as they continue to turn their original ideas into souped up trucks.

Sam Lessard (right) from 1st Clarence was the Grand Champion in the stock design category at this year's Scout Truck Rodeo, while David George (right) from 2nd Gloucester won the custom truck division and Katie Kerrivan from 1st Greenwood won the Most Creative Design Award. Fred Sherwin/Photo

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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