Ready to roll, second annual soap box derby set for June 20
By RICK WOOD Staff Reporter
It's time to grease the axels and shine the chassis. The second annual Stanwood-Camano Island Soap Box Derby is set to roll into action June 20
Ed Bednarczyk, one of the derby's organizers and ex-racer, said this year is going to be bigger and better.
"Last year's turnout was tremendous," said Bednarczyck. "This year we envision seeing more spectators and racers."
Last year, 40 racers, ages 8 to 17, competed not only for the local title of derby champion, but also for a chance to compete at the world finals in Ohio.
Zachary Placzek, 13, of Camano Island raced to a seventh place finish in his Island County Sheriff's super stock car at the world championship All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.
Madison Hughes, of Camano Island, also competed in the championship races.
Again, this year's local winners will represent Stanwood at the All-American World Championship finals, held in August.
Across the U.S., there are 450 races each season, and with the exception of the years spanning World War II, national championship races have been held every year since 1934.
The popularity of the sport remains high, and championship races are televised on ESPN.
In a soap box derby, drivers roll downhill in engineless stock cars, which they are required to have helped assemble.
Also known as the "gravity grand prix," racers rely on the pull of the Earth to power them down the 900-foot-long raceway.
Reaching speeds over 30 miles per hour, drivers' runs end in a trail of smoke from the rubber tires skidding against asphalt when brakes are applied.
Drivers' clinics will be held at a practice track on 75th Street NW at 6 p.m., May 22, and June 1. For more information about Stanwood Camano Island Soap Box Derby, visit www.stancamsbd. org.
