SPEED DEMON DYNASTIES 3RD GENERATION HEADS TO DERBY.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE - Fifty years ago, Anthony Bertolino and Ollie Brower were kids, competing in soap box derbies.

In 1972, their children, Anthony Bertolino II and Roni Brower, competed against each other - and Roni won.

Today, the grandchildren - Toni Bertolino, 12; Anthony Bertolino III, 11, both of Van Nuys; and Brower's grandson, Eric Fenzke, 14, of Thousand Oaks - will fly to Akron, Ohio, to compete against more than 400 other racers in next Saturday's 65th annual All-American Soap Box Derby.

``It's like a tradition in the family,'' said Anthony Bertolino Sr., 60, who took second in San Diego in the regional soap box derby in 1952.

Anthony Bertolino II said derby racing gives his children a chance to learn about winning - and losing.

``They've done both,'' said the 41-year-old former racer. ``Every time they go, they see their friends, and we have to try and pry them away. It's unbelievable.''

Roni Fenzke, 41, can't be torn away from the sport, either.

``My dad never won and I never won. The people who seem to be continuing with it were never the big winners,'' Fenzke said. ``It's the thrill of still trying to get that top prize.''

Competing had another benefit for her: ``My dad taught me how to use a lot of tools so I'm able to do a lot of stuff around the house. It gives you independence; you don't have to hire contractors for everything.''

Toni and Anthony III both took first place in their classes Memorial Day weekend at the third annual All-American Soap Box Derby in La Canada Flintridge.

For Toni, the victory is particularly sweet because this was her rookie season; her brother came in second in the regional competition last year.

``I didn't think I was going to win,'' she said, wonderment in her voice.

Toni races in the Super Stock Class, and her brother in the Stock Class. Eric, who was the 2000 National All-American Soap Box Derby rally champion, took first in the Masters Class.

In the Masters Class, the cars are designed so the racer reclines. Stock and Super Stock cars require the racers to sit upright, although they hunch down so only their eyes peer over the top of the cars.

Once one child becomes involved, the siblings often follow. Anthony Bertolino II's younger brother, Darren, was the Los Angeles regional champion in 1980. Eric also has two siblings, Dustin, 17, and Danica, 11, both of whom have raced. And Toni and Anthony III have a younger brother, Dylan, 7, who will race next year.

What Eric, who's partial to Dodge Vipers, likes best about the sport is ``getting a thrill out of winning and racing, and hanging out with my friends.''

The Bertolino siblings, on the other hand, are partial to convertibles, although Toni also admits a fondness for minivans.

The soap box derby began in 1933, when an enterprising Dayton Daily News reporter spotted three boys racing homemade cars down a steep brick street, according to the All-American Soap Box Derby Web site. Although there's no record of a car made out of an actual soap box, there were cars made of orange crates.

Today's cars are plastic shells with wooden bottoms assembled from kits. Like the early racers, they have brakes and a simple steering system. Toni's car boasts a sleek, candy-apple metallic red paint job, a donation from an uncle, Stephen Cognata, who just happens to work for Moiser Restoration in Inglewood.

``At La Canada, they were doing 40 mph,'' Anthony Sr. said. ``That's pretty fast when you're only 3 inches off the ground.''

But when Toni and Anthony III were asked what they think about when they're racing along at that speed, they instantly answered in unison: ``Winning.''

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Photo:

Three generations of Bertolinos show off race cars. In front, from left, are Anthony III and Toni, who will race in Akron. In back are Anthony Sr., Dylan, and Anthony II. Dylan looks forward to racing. Dad and grandpa already have had their fun.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer