Soap Box Derby
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The Soap Box Derby also called coaster car race ([Look here]) is a youth soapbox car racing program which has been run nationally since 1934. World Championship finals are held each July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. Cars competing in this and related events are unpowered, relying completely upon gravity to move.
The first All-American race was held in Dayton on August 19 1934, after an idea by Myron Scott, a photographer for the Dayton Daily News. The following year, the race was moved to Akron because of its central location and hilly terrain. In 1936, Akron civic leaders recognized the need for a permanent track site for the youth racing classic and, through the efforts of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Derby Downs became a reality.
Thanks to precision ball bearings modern gravity-powered racers start at a ramp on top of a hill, attaining speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. The international race in Akron lasts less than 60 seconds. Rally races and qualifying races use advanced timing systems that measure to the thousanth of a second to deterimine the winner of a race. The international race, however, uses overhead photography to determine the winner of the race.
During its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, when Chevrolet was a sponsor and famous TV and movie stars made guest appearances, as many as 70,000 people would gather in August to eat snow cones and cheer hundreds of youthful racer/builders (boys only in early years) ages 11-15 who were the champions of local races around the nation and from several foreign countries.
Today there are broader categories that extend the age range to younger racers and permit adults to assist in construction. This is especially helpful for younger children who cannot use power tools, as well as to provide an outlet for adults.
Soap Box Derbys are also held all around the world, often as national masterships. They mostly have a semi-professional character.
External links
- [All-American Soap Box Derby]
- [Süßener Fasnetskistenrennen] - Soap Box Derby at Carnival in Germany
- [Zero Error Racing,Inc.] - Tips, tricks, aftermarket parts, advise, and tools
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