Kub Kar Rally
At the Kub Kar Rally, the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts race their Beaver Buggies, Kub Kars and Scout Trucks for trophies. The Rally is usually held in February and has recently been held upstairs at the New Westminster Quay. In the past, it has been held at various malls, but insurance and paperwork requirements make this a challenge now.
As with all Scouting events, everyone attends in full uniform.
The group covers the cost of the kits, trophies and participant patches, all of which can be purchased from the Scout Shop.
Individual trophies are awarded for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Best in Show for Beavers, Kub Kars and Scout Trucks. In addition, there are large trophies for the first place Beaver Buggy Trophy, Cub and Scout that get awarded and held by the winner for a year.
For Beavers, the Beaver Buggies can be assembled and decorated all in one meeting. For Cubs and Scouts, it takes longer. The kids design, cut out, and partially assemble, their vehicles in one meeting, and then take them home to finish assembling, painting, decorating, etc. At the next meeting, we weigh the vehicles and practice running them on the track in preparation for the Rally.
Weight limits are 142 grams for Kub Kars and 1200 grams for Scout Trucks. There is no limit for Beaver buggies and because wood is not cut off, no weights should be added other than decoration.
The tracks take time to set up, so some Scouters need to get there early. There is an old track at Queens Ave. United Church and is good for Beaver Buggies and Kub Kars only. The newer (and longer) track is at Knox Presbyterian Church and is good for Beaver Buggies, Kub Kars and the Scout Trucks. The 7/16” bolts for the Knox track is kept in a red plastic coffee can with the track. We typically only set up one track at the Rally, but have brought both in the past.
A few weeks after the Rally, there is a Coho area Kub Kar Rally and we typically send our top 3 Cubs and top 3 Scouts. Other groups use it as their only race day, so there are hundreds of kids that come and it take a LONG time! The registration deadline is at the end of February, so as soon as we know our top finishers, we need to register. The entry cost is covered by the Group, leadership ratio is required on the day, and a Camping and Outdoor Activity (COA) is not required.
To assemble the Kars and Trucks in a meeting, remember to do the following:
- The first meeting is for kids assembling their cars. Bring a band saw, scroll saw, hammers, glue guns, flathead screwdriver, files, sandpaper, extension cords, etc. Some kids will have the cars completely done already, so other activities will need to be planned.
- The second meeting is tuning. Bring the saws again as there is always a last minute problem. For tuning, you need a glue gun, weights, spray lubricant, the scale (normally kept in the locker or at Glenbrook Middle School), and to set up the track.
- If we plan to attend the Coho area races, we need to consider what type of lubricant to use as they may not allow (graphite or spray lubricant) at those races. Lately everyone used spray lubricant.
Before the Rally, remember to do the following:
- Book a place for the Rally. Do this a few months before or you will find the venue has been booked by someone else. The Quay has a contract to sign, so this needs to forwarded to Iqbal Lalany for approval.
- At a Group Committee meeting, plan the event, including determine the times that people need to be there (some need to be there early to set up the track).
- Send email to parents telling them exactly when and where to show up.
- Go to the Scout Shop and buy the following items. Sections should work together to determine quantities. Note that often there are leftover vehicles and participant patches from previous years.
- Sufficient Beaver buggies, Kub Kars and Scout trucks for all participants.
- 4 trophies (1st, 2nd, 3rd and Best in Show) for Kub Kars.
- 4 trophies (1st, 2nd, 3rd and Best in Show) for Scout Trucks.
- 7 trophies (1st, 2nd, 3rd for each Colony, plus one best in show) for Beaver Buggies.
- Participant patches (Beavers, Cubs and Scouts) from the Scout Shop.
- Get the first place Beaver Buggy Trophy, Kub Kar Trophy and Scout Truck Trophy back from last year’s winners.
- Check the track(s) and determine if any maintenance is required.
On the day of the Rally, remember to bring the following:
- The Quay has tables that we can use.
- Trophies and participant patches.
- Track(s) including assembly can of nuts and bolts, 7/16” wrenches, and return the track to the Church later.
- Assemble the track on its side and with the help of at least 4 adults, carefully lift it in once piece and set it down.
- Box of repair equipment including glue gun, extra weights, etc.
- Spray lubricant.
- Utility knife
- Scale from the locker.
- Extension cords.
- Masking tape, sharpies to label the buggies, kars and trucks.
- Section flags and the wooden round to hold the flags from the locker.
- Laptop with race software (Derby Day!) to track the races.
- Powerbar.
- Computer monitor or projector with screen to display results. There is a screen in the basement at Knox.
- Phone with camera to take video of races, so close races can be evaluated. Gord Urquhart used to have a timing rig that had lights that indicated the winner. There is a rig available online that is compatible with the race software.
- Scout literature that we can hand out to people interested in the Scouting program.
After the Rally, remember to do the following:
- Take the plates from all the trophies and have them engraved to present to the winners at a future meeting.