MANSFIELD — Marissa Kinnamon’s birthday came early this year.
Kinnamon, who turns 12 next week, took first place in the super stock division of the North Central Ohio Soap Box Derby on Saturday.
A fourth-year racer, her primary strategy is to sit as far back in her car as possible and keep her head low to reduce the wind resistance.
“It’s fun, going down and the thrill,” said Kinnamon, a Bellville resident.
This year’s derby featured almost 40 racers, including Kinnamon and her brother, Christian.
Their mother, Hailey Honnicut, said it’s a day the family looks forward to every year.
“We have a blended family,” she said. “The kids were up at 5:30 this morning, not because I woke them up, but because they get so excited to watch Marissa and Christian race.”
Their stepfather, Brett Honnicut, built both vehicles. He and the kids’ father Ryan Kinnamon spent the day hauling them to the starting line.
Everyone beamed with pride when Marissa crossed the final finish line.
“She’s put in four years of practice, figuring out her lines, how to shift and keep straight,” Ryan said. “She’s improved every year.”
Carson Borror won the stock division, which included racers age 7 to 13.
This was Borror’s second year racing. He said he was nervous, especially towards the end of the day.
“I thought I was going to lose,” the 11-year-old Shelby resident said. “There’s a few tricks going down the hill.”
Borror said his strategy depends on the lane he’s in. It’s crucial to pass the pothole in the right lane and steer towards the sidewalk on the left.
Borror zipped down Main Street in a red vehicle decorated with characters from Godzilla franchise he drew on in permanent marker.
Kinnamon and Borror will both advance to the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship in July.
Longtime volunteers keep derby running
Layla van Harlingen, 13, was the runner-up in the super stock division. She won first place in the stock division last year.
“I feel happy because at the beginning, I was kind of like nervous,” Van Harlingen said. “I didn’t know how I was gonna do. I just looked at how other people did it and just built off of that.”
Layla’s mother Mandy said the derby brings together families, but also a larger community of racers and volunteers.
“When we first started, everyone was so helpful. So it’s nice when new people come in and we can kind of help them out and show them how to do things and give them tips like everyone else did to us,” she said.
One of those core community members is Denny Spangler, who has been volunteering since 1996.
“I won in ’66,” he said. “They lost their starter in ’96 and called me and said, ‘Hey, it’s been 30 years since you won. Why don’t you come back here 30th anniversary? I’ve been here ever since.”
Spangler said he comes back year after year because he enjoys the event and the volunteers he works alongside, including another longtime fixture, Mick Huber.
Huber spent all day at the starting line, wearing a fluffy pink hat with tails that ran down his chest. He’s also been volunteering at the Soap Box Derby for nearly three decades. His headgear has become a part of the local tradition.
One year, Huber wore an umbrella hat as sun protection. One of the racers asked if he could have it as a prize.
Since then, Huber has worn a different silly hat to each race. At the annual awards banquet, he draws a name to determine which racer gets to keep it.
“DNA and all,” he joked.
