Scotch College

1st Hawthorn Scotch College Scouts Billycart Derby 2002

On Thursday 1 August, the Scouts finally unveiled the machines they had been working on for more than eight weeks. Each patrol had scrounged for materials and produced a billycart, or had at least got close. Most nails and screws were scrounged from dads' toolboxes, but this was permitted by the rules. Mr. Byrnes was heard to say "Well, I reckon they scrounged this stuff, 'cos if they paid for it, they got ripped off!"

We went outside to test them, one not making it as it only had two wheels. All the entered carts passed the test, although one had to be pushed down the hill on account of its axles bending. The other machines were in fine shape for the run down past the music school.

The spectators lined up with an air of great excitement and anticipation behind the rugby padding and cheered each cart as it came down the hill. There was only one spill, and the driver bounced up like a rubber ball, blaming the track in an interview afterwards. The crowd, in true Aussie style, cheered the loudest when the driver got up.

The fastest cart on the track was a cross between a bike and a perambulator, driven by the leader of the Vikings. It was a great event, and the Scouts enjoyed seeing all their construction work come to fruition.

Many thanks go to the organisers of the event, Mr Casey, Mr Hess and the other leaders.