MENTORS HELP GET RACERS ROLLING.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Young racers will steer gravity-powered cars down a hill in west Palmdale for the third year in a row despite budget cuts that disbanded the Sheriff's Department unit that sponsored the races.

Volunteers are expected to help out the youngsters this year in the Antelope Valley Soap Box Team Rally, which was started in 2001 to help acquaint more youngsters with sheriff's deputies.

``Blending the kids that are doing well in youth organizations with kids that have had trouble in their past makes a good example for everyone,'' said Danny Brooks, a derby volunteer this year.

The effort began in 2000 in Lake Los Angeles with deputies helping five youngsters make a soapbox derby car to enter in a Carson race. The following year Palmdale and Lancaster deputies expanded the program into the Soap Box Team Rally, with its own Palmdale race course. Last year's race drew drew 27 teams of five youngsters each.

``(T)hey get exposed to firefighters and police and other professionals that can show what the future can hold as far as goals, and that's always good for the kids to see for themselves. ... It also lets them know that we care about them,'' said sheriff's Sgt. Brian Hawksley, the last officer of the Antelope Valley Community Oriented Policing Services unit, whose deputies sponsored earlier races.

The April 26 race will run down Avenue N-8 between Rancho Vista Boulevard and 45th Street West. An awards ceremony and barbecue lunch follow at George Lane Park in Quartz Hill.

Some teams will be sponsored by the Sheriff's Department and others represent local schools and Scout units.

Because of the Sheriff's Department cutbacks, schools that got help from deputies in previous years must put together their own teams and find mentors to lead them, Hawksley said.

``We're still looking at working at the same schools we were working with before, but we're looking for volunteers at the schools,'' said Hawksley.

Firefighters at Fire Station 84 in Quartz Hill, for example, have volunteered to work with Joe Walker Middle School's team.

``The mentors are only there to help them tech(wise) or give them the tools to put them together,'' said Brooks, who works for the FAA at a radar station near Boron. ``We want to see the kids active in the participation of putting the cars together, learning how to drive, learning the aspects of soap box racing.''

While the first Soap Box Derby cars decades ago really were made from wooden boxes, cars today are built from standard kits.

Last year's cars were kept by their sponsors and will be taken apart for reassembly by the new teams, organizers said. New teams will have to purchase a car kit that costs approximately $570.

The winning teams from Palmdale can race at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's annual Soap Box Derby in Carson. At least one car each from the Lancaster and Palmdale sheriff's stations will attend, but Hawksley is hoping to take more. Each team must have a sheriff's deputy mentor accompanying them, so it is dependent on how many deputies will be able to volunteer their time, he said.

Winners from the county competition can compete in the national derby in Akron, Ohio.

Registration is $75 a team and includes T-shirts for the five team members and the barbecue for them and their mentors. Registrations will be accepted until April 11 and can be done online at www.avsbtra.com.

For more information call Brooks at home at [phone], work [phone], or cell phone [phone] or leave a message for Hawksley at the Quartz Hill sheriff's substation at [phone].

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Sheriff's Sgt. Brian Hawksley tries out an adult size soap box racer. Next to him are the stock and super stock soap box cars.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer