Cub Scout Packs 888 and 747 will host the third Yellow River District Pinewood Derby Races from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lockett Family Life Center at Prospect United Methodist Church on Ga. Highway 212.

Under adult supervision, scouts design and construct their cars for competition.

"This Pinewood Derby is a reward for the Cub Scouts that came in first, second and third place at each of the packs' individual pack races during the last two months," said Jeff Greenich, cubmaster and race official.

Greenich said boys from 14 different packs in Newton and Rockdale County will be attending, with more than 100 coming to race their cars.

He said all Pinewood Derby tracks are designed to bring the cars to the end of the track as quickly as possible.

"The track we will be using, however, is very different," Greenich said. "It is much longer than most tracks - 55 feet long - and it races six cars at once.

"No other track in the district comes close."

The track was built by Mike Wilfer and his crew from Cub Scout Pack 888, located at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Conyers.

"It took years to build and has been improved upon every year," Greenich said. "It truly is a beautiful track."

Greenich added the derby is an important skill and character building exercise for the scouts because boys learn how to use certain tools and bond with their adult role models.

He said usually several hundred people attend the event at various times throughout the day. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

"The community is always invited to attend," Greenich said.