The All-American Soap Box Derby headquarters in Akron, Ohio has granted the Kiwanis Club of the Cape Fear Foundation the license to develop and conduct local qualifying Soap Box Derby events in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Their chartered territory includes 44 North Carolina counties extending from Greensboro east to the coast and south, including Horry County (Myrtle Beach), SC. All children ages 7-18 living within these geographical areas may compete in official Soap Box Derby races in Fayetteville, with the winners qualifying for the national All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, held every July. ‘Eastern North Carolina’s inaugural Soap Box Derby event will be held in Fayetteville on April 29 at the Crown Coliseum as part of the 41st Fayetteville Dogwood Festival.
The Soap Box Derby was created in 1934 when the race cars were made of wood scraps. This 89-year-old tradition of competitive gravity racing will now be available to boys, girls, parents and teachers in public, private, and Christian schools for engaging and challenging classroom STEM projects.
In addition to having fun and enhancing education, Soap Box Derby programs define strong values and develop good character traits in young people. Soap Box Derby programs are also available to local community civic organizations on an “exclusive” basis for fun and effective fundraising projects. (Cubs Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Kiwanis, Exchange, Rotary and Lions clubs, etc.). The entire community rallies around and supports a Soap Box Derby project.
Derby cars are no longer made of scraps of wood but come in easy-to- assemble kits. According to Soap Box Derby Race Director Warren Hahn, the Cape Fear Kiwanis Club Foundation board is fully committed to the development and success of Soap Box Gravity Racing in Eastern North Carolina. They will provide information and guidance to all individuals, organizations, and businesses who want to see a Soap Box Derby racing youth development program in their community.
For more information about bringing Soap Box Derby racing to your county, community or organization or to register a child to participate in the upcoming Soap Box Derby event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on April 29, go online to capefear.soapboxderby.org or contact Warren Hahn, Race Director. thorncliff314@gmail.com: Text 910-988-6013, or Bill Bowman at 910-391-3859.
Until 1971, the Soap Box Derby allowed only boys to participate. That changed when an 11-year-old Sandra Sosa entered her car to race in the Fayetteville Soap Box Derby. Sosa won but was denied entry into the national All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, because she was a girl. Her family filed a lawsuit against the Derby officials and won. The victory was hers. North Carolina’s Sandra Sosa was among the first girls to race in a sanctioned All-American Soap Box Derby Race.
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