We are lucky here on Camano Island WA to have a brand new Soap Box Derby track, today was the inaugural race on it. They run 2 classes, Stock and Super stock. Stock cars are to weigh with the driver at 200 pounds. Super Stock weigh in at 250 pounds. My Granddaughter wanted to join in this year, totally her idea too.
My Granddaughter Lillian and her Hot Rod.
She did really well, the races are done in heats, 2 races each against the same appoint, They swap lanes and wheels to try to keep thins even. Her first run she slightly kissed the guard rail and lost by 0.225 second. She came back and took the heat. She did this all morning, Heat after heat making it in to the finals from the consolation side
Making a run…
She made it all the way to 7th place out of well over 30 others stock car drivers. Needless to say Papa is proud of her, so are her parents.
Another run…
Here she is with her trophy. Thy young lady with the big trophy won the Sportsmanship award and that is what that trophy is for, it is the largest one they award.
Our neighbor Braddock, He was last year’s Stock car class winner. He is running in the Super Stock class this year.
Braddock made it to 3rd place this year.
This is the 11th year Stanwood and Camano Island has had the Soap Box Derby, previous years they have run this on a street in Stanwood. But with a lot of community involvement they now have a track and can also have rally races and other functions. This has become the biggest Soap Box Derby on the west Coast. Congratulations to the some 70+ racers and there family’s and a bigger congratulations to Adrina Kuehlwein for winning the trip to Akron Ohio in the Super Stock class and to Addison Inman for the same thing in the Stock class. Way to go!
It is very competitive, the origination does stress sportsmanship. With the races coming down to hundredths and thousands on a second apart you have to be a good sportsmanship. They had one race that was won by 0.001 second and another by 0.004 second. That is far to close to see by the eye. Of all the races I think only a few were won by more then a second.
This sport also teaches the drivers about mechanics as they have to take the car apart and build it back up. I think it would be a good program for most any community to get going. This program ans I said is only 11 years old. But the Soap Box Derby has been going on since 1938. To the best of my knowledge the next closest one is in Salem Oregon. There may be some others going on here in Washington, but apparently none have what is called Rally events.
Wow, that is awesome! I bet she loves riding around in Papa’s old cars too, doesn’t she?
…on a vaguely related note… I received the typical Harbor Freight flyer the other day and they had a coupon for a small engine. Told the daughter that I would buy the engine for her if she wanted to build a go cart with her girl-friends, for tearing around the block on (we live on the end of a “P” shaped dead end). It did not receive the reception that I had hoped for
Hey Neal, Pretty awesome that the Soap Box Derby is alive and thriving out on Camaro Island, And, it’s great to see the Family fun & participation photos. Congrat’s, and thanks for sharing.
