Akron Set to Welcome 390 Champions for the 64th All-American Soap Box Derby.Sports Editors/Derby Racing Writers & Columnists AKRON, Ohio--(BW SportsWire)--July 23, 2001 More than 390 boys and girls boys and girls mercurialisannua. from throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and from the Philippines, Germany and Japan are arriving in Akron today to compete in the 64th All-American Soap Box Derby The Soap Box Derby also called coaster car race[1] is a youth soapbox car racing program which has been run nationally since 1934. World Championship finals are held each July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. on Saturday, July 28, at Derby Downs Derby Downs, in Akron, Ohio, has been the home track of the All American Soap Box Derby since it was built as a Works Progress Administration project in the late 1930s. The three-lane asphalt track starts near the top of George Washington Boulevard and drops in a straight line down here. Beginning today, at 9:00 a.m., each of the youngsters will receive a police escort to the Derby welcoming ceremonies on the campus of the University of Akron Enrollment in fall 2006 was 23,539 students.[1] The school offers more than 200 undergraduate degrees [2] and 100 graduate degrees [3]. The University's best-known program is its College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, which is located in a . The boys and girls will spend the week at a suburban youth camp and will be at Derby Downs for safety checks of their racers, as well as trial runs down the famous track. The youngsters have earned the right to compete here by wining local Soap Box Derby races in their home communities. "Our field of more than 390 local champions is a record, and is evidence of the recent growth in popularity and participation in the youth racing program," said Roy Hartz, chairman of the Soap Box Derby organization. Race Day activities on Saturday, July 28, begin at 10:00 a.m. with opening ceremonies and the celebrity Oil Can Trophy Race. The first official heat of Derby racing will be at 11:30. The day's racing events should conclude by 4:00 p.m. There are three divisions in Soap Box Derby racing. The Stock Car category features ready-to-assemble race cars similar to ready-to-assemble furniture Ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture, also known as "knock-down furniture" or "flat packs", is furniture supplied as a kit of flat parts and fasteners to be assembled, usually by the end user, with simple tools. ; the Super Stock cars are similar but larger, and the Masters division cars are the sleeker, more sophisticated cars. Derby contestants are nine to 16 years old. The youngsters will be competing for a share of more than $50,000 in college scholarships. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is the national title sponsor of the All-American Soap Box Derby. |
|
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion