All-American Soap Box Derby

There is a timeless form of amateur racing in the Untied States.

It's been around in its organized form for 69 years.

The vehicles are home-built and non-motorized. In fact, the only acceptable engine is pure gravity.

I'm speaking of the All-American Soap Box Derby. And today's FamilyFirst pick is the official site of the SBD. Here's their mission:

The Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program which has run nationally since 1934. World Championship finals are held each August at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. The goals of the Soap Box Derby program have not changed since it began in 1934. They are to teach youngsters some of the basic skills of workmanship, the spirit of competition and the perseverance to continue a project once it has begun.

Hilly Akron is indeed home to the championship race, which is attained by qualifying through numerous regional races.

Of particular interest to me, the history buff, is reading about the first race in 1933. Newsman Myron E. Scott ponied up $200 (a fortune in that Depression year) to sponsor the first Soap Box Derby. By the way, there is no evidence that any car has ever been made from soap boxes.

Anyhow, the tradition continues, and kids all over the US are making homemade hi-tech gravity driven cars and competing in this timeless competetion.

So take a step back in time and enjoy this site celebrating a classic competetion that is still very much alive.

http://www.aasbd.org

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