Build Pinewood Derby car at Ironstone Farm Saturday, June 2

Ladies and gentleman, start your imaginary engines! Kids and adults looking to create the Pinewood Derby wooden car of their dreams can get help to do so this Saturday, June 2 at Ironstone Farm in Andover.

Don Couture, the farm’s facilities director, and other volunteers will help people build the classic wooden cars typically used by Scouts at Pinewood Derbies. The Saturday build event, open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., costs $10 if people do not have a car kit. People must pre-register to be part of the car-building by contacting Don at doncouture@challengeunlimited.org or calling 978-475-4056 Ext. 30.

Don Couture was recently honored with the Scout’s God and Service Award, recommended by John Cuddy and the Troop 80 membership in Dracut. Ironstone is located at 450 Lowell St. (Route 133), Andover.

Race your cars at Ironstone Derby 5K & Father’s Day Fun

Want to race these new cars or other Pinewood Derby cars? You can do so at the farm on Father’s Day! There will be a fun, no-rules-about-car-weight Pinewood Derby as part of the farm’s charity event on Sunday, June 17.

The event is the Ironstone Derby 5K & Father’s Day Fun, and it includes a 5K race/walk and stick-horse fun run for kids, plus burgers and hotdogs and entertainment including a horse-and-rider performance, Dixieland band, bouncy-horse races, cornhole and more. Beer and other drinks will be available for purchase. It’s a great time for all ages, to raise money for the nonprofit programs at Ironstone Farm, supporting kids with special needs, veterans and others.

Come for the race, come for the fun, or do both at https://register.chronotrack.com/r/37756. The options for the Sunday, June 17 charity event are:

• $30 for 5K race/walk (before June 1, then $35), including tech shirt, burger and hotdog, Pinewood Derby wooden car race entry, games, horse-and-rider drill team performance, bouncy horse races, cornhole, Dixieland band, more.
• $20 for youth 5K entry with tech shirt, food, games (see above)
• $10 just for food and party: burger and dog, games, Pinewood Derby wooden car race entry, etc.
• $10 for stick-horse race (10 and younger), plus burger and dog, Pinewood Derby wooden car race entry, etc.
• $8 to add a Pinewood Derby car kit so you can build you own car for keeps.

With its two indoor riding areas and 19 acres, Ironstone Farm is open 12 months a year, six days a week, serving about 450 clients each week thanks to the help of about 200 weekly volunteers. On many Sundays, it offers special events, including free programs for veterans, people diagnosed with cancer, children with special needs seeking adoption and others. Ironstone also has a recreational riding program and summer horseback-riding and nature camps.

To register for the Ironstone Derby 5K race or to buy a food-and-fun pass to the post-race entertainment, visit https://register.chronotrack.com/r/37756. For information about Ironstone Farm and its programs visit www.ironstonefarm.org or email programs@challengeunlimited.org.

About Ironstone Farm

Ironstone Farm is home to two nonprofit programs that benefit children with special needs, veterans who have experienced trauma, people diagnosed with cancer and others. More than 200 people volunteer their time each week to help keep Ironstone Farm’s nonprofit programs running strong. [Ironstone Farm also offers recreational riding and summer riding and nature camps.] Clients come from more than 90 communities in Greater Boston, the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire. Top doctors and major medical institutions refer clients to Ironstone Farm because of its successful programs and reputation.