Soap Box Derby, NASCAR join forces

AKRON, Ohio -- The All-American Soap Box Derby, recently named a NASCAR Youth Initiative, is the premier youth and family oriented racing program in the United States involving boys and girls (ages 8-17) from across the U.S. and overseas with the goal of advancing to the All-American Soap Box Derby, held annually at Derby Downs in Akron. The Derby season, which runs March through July, is comprised of 150 local races, with more than 400 local race winners advancing to Akron.

The Soap Box Derby grew out of a photographic assignment of Dayton, Ohio newsman Myron Scott. After covering an unorganized race of boy-built cars for his local paper in 1933, Scott acquired a copyright for the idea and began developing the program on a national scale. The first All-American Soap Box Derby race was held in the summer of 1934, and has run annually ever since (with the exception of during World War II).

ALSO  •  All-American Soap Box Derby site  •  Photo Gallery

Participants compete in three racing divisions: Stock, Super Stock and Masters. Within the Stock division, boys and girls ages 8-17 compete in simplified cars built from kits purchased from the All-American Soap Box Derby. Super Stock division competitors build a larger model car made from larger kits and shells. The Masters division consists of boys and girls ages 10-17 building a more sophisticated designed-style car from scratch. In competition, a Derby car can reach speeds upwards of 30 miles per hour depending on the angle of the ramp or hill. Participants are required to compete in the Soap Box Derby race geographically closest to where they reside. All local race winners in each division automatically earn the right to compete in the Finals.

Aside from participating in local Soap Box Derby races, competitors can also earn an opportunity to compete in Akron by participating in All-American Soap Box Derby-sanctioned "rally" races held in various cities and towns during the Derby season. The U.S. is divided into 11 geographic districts and racers earn points by competing in these regional events. The competitors who accumulate the most points at the end of the season in each district earn the right to compete in the World Rally Championship. There are close to 200 sanctioned "rally" races held throughout the country each season, with no limit to the number of races each participant can compete in or where they race.

Participants can assemble a kit in as little as three hours with a parent or other adult and can be purchased by calling the All-American Soap Box Derby (330-733-8723) or through its website at www.aasbd.org. The kit includes a fiberglass body shell, wooden floorboard and assorted hardware.

During "Derby Week," local champions from each of the Stock, Super Stock and Masters divisions come to Derby Downs, where they get their first look the 990-foot racing track designed especially for All-American Soap Box Derby competition. Weeklong festivities include special entertainment, workshops, celebrity appearances, parades, and the traditional Oil Can Trophy Race, where celebrities compete in oversized derby cars.

By nurturing children to become solid community citizens through the teaching of basic construction skills, teamwork, the spirit of competition, perseverance and family values, the All-American Soap Box Derby is highly respected by community leaders, educators, racing enthusiasts and beginners alike.