Soap Box Derby ready to roll June 19

Dylan Massingale races for the NEWS during last years Soap Box Derby. PHOTO BY RICK WOOD It’s time to start polishing your helmets.

Now a significant event on the community calendar, the third annual Stanwood- Camano Soap Box Derby is ready to roll on Saturday, June 19.

For those of you new to the sport, it’s time to start thinking about building your car. For those of you who are returning drivers it’s time to tune up last year’s car, or for some of you to find a ride.

The first Soap Box Derby build/tune-up and drive clinics were held in April, with race organizers holding more clinics every Thursday until race day.

The headquarters this year is the old Aurora Rents building, 9922 SR 532, Stanwood, next door to Car Quest.

At these clinics, technicians are answering questions and providing guidance on building and preparing your car to meet National Soap Box requirements and to maximize performance.

“We always encourage drivers, even veteran racers, to attend as many clinics as possible, especially if they are not actively racing throughout the year,” said Mike Boyle, technical coordinator.

“It’s a great opportunity for drivers to learn new techniques from other build/ drive teams, to re-familiarize themselves with their car and to sharpen up their driving skills. For new racers, it’s the best way to learn the sport from the ground up.”

The organizing committee is very busy preparing for the event.

Driver coordinator Christie Connors is compiling a list of drivers and is busy matching them to available cars. Drivers are from 8 - 17 years old, and do not necessarily need to own their own car.

“We have a lot of youngsters in this community who are interested in driving, but whose families cannot afford to own their own car,” Connors said.

“While it is a requirement for drivers to complete the majority of the work to build and tune up their cars, the Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby has tremendous support from local businesses who own the race cars and look to us to help match them with drivers.”

Not sure yet whether or not you want to drive? Why not attend a clinic to see exactly what racing is about.

“Our thanks go out once again to our sponsors, without whom we could not have made this such a successful annual event,” said Connors.

For information on clinics, call Mike Boyle at 425-308- 4963; to register, call Christie Connors at 629-5257; to become a sponsor, Ed Bednarczyk at 206-280-2642.