AKRON, Ohio — The 84th All-American Soap Box Derby this week is drawing more than 300 young racers and their families from around the country to Derby Downs in east Akron.
Each year, a series of events takes place throughout the week, all leading up to the final championship race Saturday, July 23.
That day represents the pinnacle of Soap Box Derby tradition for boys and girls ages 7 to 20 who come to Akron to compete on the 989-foot track, after winning races in their hometowns in the gravity-powered derby cars they built. Some racers make it to the big day through points they accumulate, competing on weekends in rallies around the U.S.
Many racers grow up hearing tales of exciting races at Derby Downs told by their parents and grandparents.
And many were likely disappointed when the racing season was completely cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic. Only about 65% of local Soap Box Derby organizations staged races in 2021 because of timing and COVID restrictions, the Derby said.
“The Soap Box Derby has a proud legacy spanning generations,” said Soap Box Derby President and CEO Mark Gerberich in a statement. “We are looking forward to returning to our pre-pandemic schedule of activities for this family-oriented program.”
The Soap Box Derby is structured in separate divisions based on racers’ ages and construction skills, including:
- The Stock Car division for boys and girls ages 7 to 13, who compete in cars built from ready-to-assemble kits bought through Derby headquarters;
- The Super Stock division for kids 9 through 18 who drive cars that are similar but larger to accommodate older children; and
- The Masters division for racers from 10 to 20 who drive more sophisticated cars.
Champions from the divisions compete for $36,000 offered each year through the Bill Speeg Memorial Scholarship Fund.
During Derby week, racers spend a lot of time prepping for their races on-site at Derby Downs, while their race cars undergo technical inspections and weigh-ins. Participants also run preliminary races on the track, which can be viewed live on the Soap Box Derby’s Facebook page.
On Friday, beginning at 8 a.m., special-needs kids compete in the National Super Kids Classic. The race features two-person cars driven with assistance from veteran Soap Box Derby racers.
On Saturday, gates open at 7 a.m. for the championship races, which will be live streamed. Opening ceremonies and pre-race parade are set for 8:30 a.m. with the first heat scheduled for 9 a.m. and races running until 4 p.m.
A STEM Fair also will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on Derby Downs grounds.
Saturday evening, doors open at 6 p.m. for the awards ceremony at the Akron Civic Theatre in downtown Akron.
Each year during the awards ceremony, the Derby organization recognizes people behind the scenes who make the races possible. This year, three long-time volunteers will be inducted into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame:
- Vickie Beck, of Akron, who has been a volunteer for more than 30 years and served as board member and treasurer;
- Bill Behan, of Dover, New Hampshire who first raced in 1966 and has volunteered for more than 50 years; and
- Michael Rushing, of Jackson, Missouri who has been instrumental in the Cape Girardeau Soap Box Derby program and active in nearly every function of the organization for the past 20 years.
“These new honorees bring the total number to 83 over the past 25 years,” Gerberich said. “The first inductee was Myron Scott, who founded the Soap Box Derby program in 1934.”
View the complete schedule of events on the Soap box Derby website. Derby Downs Track is located at 789 Derby Downs Drive in Akron.
