Push to win

MIDLAND More than 350 area Cub Scouts were driving their two-kid-power "pushmobiles" over the Grande Stadium parking lot Saturday morning.

Buffalo Trail Council district executive Scott Britton estimated about 1,000 parents and scouts from troops throughout the Permian Basin were at the parking lot, along with 45 relay teams of six to eight scouts each, manning a car built by the Cub and Boy Scouts.

The pushmobiles look like stick-frame go-carts with tall backs that are pushed by one scout while the other steers the car.

"It's kind of funny because they all hear of the soap box derbies, (but) in West Texas we don't have a lot of hills," he said.

Britton and the parents saw it as a fun outing, but ask any of the racers or even the older Boy Scouts about what they're doing before the race and they won't give you a simple "having fun" for an answer.

Manuel Reyes, 13, of Boy Scout Troop 178 in Odessa, didn't express any kind of longing to drive one of the pushmobiles that he was young enough to ride until now. Instead, he was only into his pit crew job. Yes, they have pit crews.

Tires can be no more than 15 inches in diameter. Cars must have a seat and a back and must have either a handlebar or a rope to steer the car as well as handles for the pusher. Those were some of the regulations Reyes mentioned when asked about his role in the races.

The younger Cub Scouts racing the things were just as focused - at least until they crossed the finish line. Then they jumped out of their carts and got around to the high-fiving.