WATERLOO - It's a scene that could have easily taken place 50 years ago; a group of first-grade boys from Lou Henry and Kingsley elementaries racing simple, handmade wooden cars down a sloped track.

For some in attendance, the Pinewood Derby practice run Tuesday night at Lakeview Lodge Assisted Living in Waterloo was just like it was a half century ago. Seven-year-olds played side by side with Lakeview residents, both positioning their 5-ounce cars just so, and watching them slide down the ramp to the finish.

But it's more than play. It was the first official practice before the Pinewood Derby, to be held March 24 at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The 7-year-olds were Cubs Scouts in Pack 117, Den 7, led by Den Leader Bob Delveau. They had come to Lakeview Lodge before, to build gingerbread houses with residents at Christmas.

"Their attention spans are very short, so they're kind of suited for the Pinewood Derby," said Delveau of his first-graders. "When people think of Cub Scouts, that's the one event they think of."

Joseph White Jr., a 7-year-old at Lou Henry Elementary School, and his dad, Rafael Parker, carved and put together the 4.7-ounce car in a few days. It wasn't painted yet - Joseph envisioned red, orange, green and pink embellishments - but the decorations were largely unimportant: What mattered was speed.

"It'll go as fast as a race car," he said.

The older crowd knew of the Pinewood Derby, too. Two residents, in fact, were former Scout leaders who had participated in the event years ago, said Lakeview Lodge activity director Toni Lang. Around seven of them raced their own cars alongside the Cub Scouts.

"They love kids, and anything that involves children," Lang said of the Lakeview residents. "Several are very active and like to get out there and enjoy themselves."

The whir of three cars whizzing down a track was followed by victory cries from the winner and several pairs of feet thumping across the carpet in Lakeview's recreation room to bring their wayward cars back to the top of the ramp.

"They've got a lot of energy, don't they?" said Lakeview resident Dody Schneider. She and about a dozen other residents sat in a circle of chairs around the action.

The group, which sat just to the left of the end of the ramp, found the cars more often than not made their way over to them.

"We've got a good seat," Schneider said.

Contact Amie Steffen

at (319) 291-1464 or

amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.