With a rich tradition dating back to the 1930s, the North Central Ohio Soap Box has been fixture in downtown Mansfield. To celebrate the upcoming derby, we would like to share this short video clip from 1939. The clip was filmed and narrated by filmmaker and projectionist Harry DeLaney, for screening at the Ohio Theater as a news reel. Gene Kindinger was the first to cross the finish line.
This year, the gravity race is set for this Saturday and is open to participants aged 7 to 17 from 5 local counties: Richland, Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, and Morrow. Winners will move on to compete at the world championship All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron.
Clip info: Filmed by Harry Delaney. Soap Box Derby 1939 in Mansfield, Ohio.
