Gaelin Pleasant and Jay McElwain watch their cars fly by. | Brent Maze

After having the second slowest car in the Hartselle Cub Scout Pinewood Derby last year, David McKelvy decided to take a different approach.

Instead of shooting for the Grand Prix champion prize, he decided to go for the largest trophy of the contest – the Turtle Race Winner.

“Last year, I built my car for speed, but it came in second in the Turtle Race,” McKelvy said. “So this year I decided that I was going to win it.”

And third grader did just that, winning the Turtle Race Division of the Hartselle Cub Scout Pinewood Derby at Hartselle First United Methodist Church Jan. 26.

Cubmaster Mark Haskins of Pack #92 said the goal of the Pinewood Derby for the scouts to work together with their families on their car.

“This is one project that we want their parents to help them out,” Haskins said. “The kids come up with the design and they work together with their dads or other family members.”

Haskins got a chance to do that as well. He helped his son, Matthew, build his own car and they were successful.

Matthew was the Grand Champion Winner for having the fastest car in all divisions.

Matthew said his car, which he named the Blue Angel, was designed to reduce the amount of drag.

“I had no idea that my car would win the derby,” Matthew said. “I was surprised.”

Now Haskins will advance to the district level, to put his car up against winners of derbies from this area.