A DAY AT THE DERBY SOAP BOX DRIVING SKILLS PUT TO A TEST.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

PALMDALE - It was a hot, sweltering day but that made no difference to the nearly 30 children ready to race Sunday in the first Antelope Valley Soapbox Rally.

One by one, the kids eagerly climbed into their team car and ducked their heads down low, ready to win the heat for their team. One of the first contestants of the day was Kaysey Tardiff, 11, of the VIDA Jolly Green Giants team.

The only girl in the competition, she was thrilled to win her race against the Palmdale Super Mario Brothers.

``It's actually exciting because it shows girls can actually do things most people think they can't - because we have the same capabilities as guys,'' said Kaysey, her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail.

Held on Avenue N-8, competition was close on the quarter-mile downhill course as competitors reached speeds up to 35 mph before crossing the finish line, which was marked by a banner of black and white balloons. Those who couldn't stop in time bumped into hay bales lined across the end of the course.

Sheriff's Deputy Mike Finn from the Lancaster COPS - Community Oriented Policing Services - put the program together.

``He's done a fantastic job,'' said Deputy Dan Burdick.

Four of the five teams in the competition were local groups: the Palmdale Youth Authority League in a white car with blue flames; Quartz Hill Elementary in light blue; VIDA - Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives - in green; and Wilsona Elementary School from Lake Los Angeles in its black Desert Rattlers car. The fifth team competing was the Norwalk Authority League from Norwalk in a black-and-white sheriff's car.

Making kids feel like winners even when they don't win is the thought behind the derby, organizers said.

Set up in May by Deputies Steve Harbeson and Fred Hill, the group has grown to encompass four soap box cars and 20 children picked from local schools to participate in the program.

Children are chosen each year among local fifth- and sixth-graders. Good citizenship and grade improvement are requirements to stay on the soap box team.

``One student (last year) went from a D average to straight A's,'' said Harbeson. ``We're not worried so much about making this competitive as we are about working on the team concepts.''

Kaysey lost her final competition of the day, but she said it didn't matter because - win or lose - she felt like a winner anyway.

In the past year, she has twice endured brain surgery as well as her older sister leaving home to join the military. When she began having problems at home, her mother enrolled her in the Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives program, a program designed to help kids judged likely to become involved with gangs or drugs. Like soapbox racing, it offers kids another alternative and gives them a positive self esteem.

After she enrolled in VIDA, her mother, Sandy Young, received a letter from the program, notifying her that Kaysey was eligible for the soap box team.

``The VIDA Program was helpful with her attitude,'' Young said.

The soon-to-be seventh-grader responded to the VIDA program and after four months has graduated to become a junior mentor helping other kids in the VIDA program.

``She's really proud to be a junior mentor and that she graduated VIDA,'' said Young.

Kaysey has only been in the soap box program for one month but her mother is hoping for the same positive results. She likes the fact that the Sheriff's Department also has another program involving them with youths.

``It's kind of nice to see the Sheriff's Department getting involved with the younger youth,'' said Young.

The soap box program also gives the kids and parents an opportunity to interact with law enforcement on a positive level.

``We want to show the positive in activities with the kids,'' said sheriff's Capt. Terry Judge at the Palmdale sheriff's station. ``We think this will go a long ways to their recognizing us as their allies.''

Capt. Tom Pigott at the Lancaster sheriff's station agreed.

``I think this is a real positive, for law enforcement and the community to work together,'' Pigott said. ``We want to do this every year.''

The two captains joined in a friendly soap box competition themselves. The competition came out even with Judge winning the first heat and Pigott winning the second.

After the competition, the kids and chaperones were all off to Lane Park in Quartz Hill for a barbecue and the awarding of trophies to the five teams.

The final score was Quartz Hill in first place, the team from Norwalk in second place, the VIDA team was third, Lake Los Angeles placed fourth and Palmdale in fifth place.

Quartz Hill Town Councilman Jim Biddle was thrilled his team won the competition. ``I think it's great. It puts us on the map. I think it's absolutely great.''

Biddle said the Quartz Hill Town Council is considering sponsoring a soap box derby next year.

Sponsors for the competition were Creative Concepts, Tire Express, United Rentals, Coca Cola, Waste Management, Burgess Auto Body, Riders Choice, and Hemme Hay & Feed.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color in AV edition only) Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Loyace Mauldin zooms by during a practice run Sunday at the Antelope Valley Soapbox Rally.

(2 -- color in AV edition only) Kaysey Tardiff, 11, of the VIDA Jolly Green Giants team, is readied for a race Sunday in the Antelope Valley Soapbox Rally.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(3) Chris Roberts, right, gets a congratulatory high-five after winning his soap box derby heat.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer