Marines duke it out at Pinewood Derby


NORTH CANAAN — It doesn’t take more than a few good men to send a custom race car careening down a track in one of the year’s hottest competitions. Pack 22’s annual Pinewood Derby, with its wooden cars maxing out at 5 ounces, went off April 1 at North Canaan Elementary School, and the Marines were there.

Except for one.

For the third year, Marine Corps veterans from the Canaan-based Northwest Detachment and Torrington have vied for the trophy in the division open to businesses and organizations. For the first year, Torrington beat Canaan.

Not enjoying the festivities firsthand was Northwest past-Commandant Nick Gandolfo. The Canaan resident is recuperating in Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center from knee replacement surgery, and never mind the pain, his only complaint was missing the derby (postponed from a snowy March 17). He heard the results via cell phone, then had a chance to debate them when the Marines landed at Geer following the derby.

The winning car was built by Torrington’s Jonathan Olexa, who recently returned from duty in Iraq. Adam Murray made Northwest’s car. The racers were very similar. The only requirement of the volunteer builder is that the car, made from an official kit, carry the Marne Corps emblem. A highly "scientific" demonstration on Gandolfo’s bed table showed how much easier Olexa’s car rolled, and that’s the ticket to winning.

"But you didn’t beat us as bad as we beat you last year," Gandolfo told Torrington’s Bill Gordon.

"We just let you win so you’ll keep coming back and we can beat you like we usually do," quipped Northwest’s Commandant Brian Richardson.

Next year should be fun.

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