By: Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun
The Alpine Soap Box Derby ramped up for their second run on March 19, signing children ages 7-9 to race their own, handmade racer. The actual stock and superstock soapbox racers are kits that are purchased from soapboxracing.com. The racers are expected to build their own vehicles and that includes everything from the foundation up. The racers are actually wired for the steering and braking mechanisms, which offers students the chance to see rudimentary mechanics at work.
By: Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun
The Alpine Soap Box Derby ramped up for their second run on March 19, signing children ages 7-9 to race their own, handmade racer. The actual stock and superstock soapbox racers are kits that are purchased from soapboxracing.com. The racers are expected to build their own vehicles and that includes everything from the foundation up. The racers are actually wired for the steering and braking mechanisms, which offers students the chance to see rudimentary mechanics at work.
The March 19th event started at 9:00 a.m. and each entrant pays a $35. Fee. The races are held at the 1600 block of Alpine Boulevard, which is the perfect place to hold these races, as the slope offers a competitive edge to the gravity dependent racers. The excitement builds as the racers line up to begin, and when the brakes are off, the derby racers can reach speeds of up to 30 miles an hour.
The Derby has been growing in popularity since it’s comeback. It began with only three teams at that time.
The Derby’s Gravity Racing Challenge® STEM Team Competition began in 2010 when two Soap Box Derby® cars were placed into the National Inventors Hall of Fame School in Akron, Ohio. Twelve students built the cars and then competed in a race down the world famous Derby Downs Track. The event in Akron has grown to include more than 1,200 students and educators.
2010 – 2 teams
2011 – 9 teams
2012 – 65 teams
2013 – 90 teams
2014 – 120 teams in Akron
Satellite GRC races in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio were added
2015 – 132 teams in Akron
Satellite GRC races in Columbus, Port Clinton and Marysville, Ohio as well as Rochester, New York, Culpeper, Virginia and Macon, Georgia. were added
In 2011 Soap Box Derby Mini Cars were introduced into the Education Program. The cars are 1/13th scale replica cars of the Derby’s three divisions: Stock, Super Stock and Masters. Mini Cars are being used in classrooms and after school settings around the country.
Soap Box Derby Summer Camps were introduced in 2012 at the world famous Derby Downs Track. The Camps are designed for kids ages 9-12.
Promoting the S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math) initiative in education through gravity racing, the Gravity Racing Challenge® (GRC) STEM Team program is designed to provide K-12 educators and students with meaningful, project- and standards-based, intercurricular learning opportunities.
Educators are successfully implementing the GRC program in classrooms and after-school, summer or enrichment programs and clubs worldwide.
The sponsors of the Alpine Kiwanis Soap Box Derby includes: Viejas Resort and Casino, Newcars Inc., Barons Market, Postal Annex, Primary Residential, California Options Real Estate (Core), Online Bookkeeping, My Boys and Me Window Washing, LPL Financial, Comfort Keepers, Century 21, Kamps Propane, Alpine Garden and Gifts, California Bank & Trust, and ABNA.
For more information on the Alpine Kiwanis Soap Box Derby meets, visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/alpinekiwanissoapboxderby
