MANSFIELD, Ohio — Though the rain posed a threat to the North Central Ohio Soap Box Derby, racers were still able to cruise down the North Main Street hill on Saturday for the annual competition.
Off to a roughly three-hour delayed start because of inclement weather, the Soap Box Derby drew 24 participants this year. There were 12 participants in each division: stock and super stock.
The stock division is open to youth who are 7-13 years old and the super stock division includes those who are 10-18 years old.
The champion of each division will represent the North Central Ohio Soap Box Derby at the world championship All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron.
“I think [the Soap Box Derby] is absolutely great for kids,” said Brian Smith, North Central Ohio Soap Box Derby director.
Twelve of the racers who competed Saturday had never raced before, he said, adding that the oldest participant this year was 15 years old.
Before the race, Smith said participants met at Lexington Industrial Park for some practice runs. “And that’s about half the size of this hill [on North Main Street],” he said. The hill, which begins near Relax, It’s Just Coffee and ends close to the Bissman building, is about 750 feet long.
Jackson Carpenter, 12, of Mifflin, said part of his strategy involves trying to stay close to the curb. The five-year veteran said his favorite part of the day was, of course, racing, “and hanging out friends, too,” he said.
Local participant Antonio Restelli, 10, of Lucas, said he tries to “hit certain spots” when coming down the hill. He built his own car with his father and grandfather. The car is OSU-themed and has the image of Restelli’s face on the front of it. “I just thought it would be cool to have that,” he said of the design.
Smith, who competed in the Soap Box Derby when he was a child, commented, “When the opportunity is available to try Soap Box Derby, take advantage of it because it’s something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”
“When the opportunity is available to try Soap Box Derby, take advantage of it because it’s something you’ll remember for the rest of your life,” Brian Smith said.
