DUBOIS – Fifty-five years later, Soap Box Derby cars could be heard roaring down the DuBois City streets.
Despite off and on rain storms, the derby annual derby was held Saturday with delays from the more persistent outbursts and to mop up the resultant puddles. By day’s end, the wait for soap box cars returned to the start and took more time. However, the derby still ended about an hour prior to the scheduled time.
“We won’t let the rain stop us,” said Roland Bechtel, committee member and event announcer for the DuBois Area Soap Box Derby.
For the first year, 34 kids entered between the two available formats. Only 32 made it race day with 16 per division: stock and super stock that were split by age.
The derby was double elimination with matches called “heats.” Each heat involved a pair of drivers traveling down the West Long Avenue hill twice. They switched wheels and sides of the road between each drive. The pair who had the best combined time between both runs won the heat.
At day’s end, the first place winner of each format was eligible to move on to the world wide competition in Akron, OH, starting July 25. If the first place winner is unable to make the trip, then it is defaulted to the second place winner.
Stock
First – Jeremy Fischer
Second – Kevin Sullivan
Third – Nathan Miller
Super Stock
First – Adam Powell
Second – Emily Chambers
Third – Alex Gudalis
