Bring your bathtub or whatever to the soap box derby
Scoutmaster John Bass and assistant scoutmaster Drew Draney, right, position their team's firetruck car on the starting ramp at the Steel Days soapbox derby in American Fork on Thursday, July 17, 2014. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Dallin Colton, Emilio Schouten and Dakota Harward help push Bryton Matheson and their car, The Beast, back to the starting line at the Steel Days soapbox derby in American Fork on Thursday, July 17, 2014. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Bryton Matheson, 12, pilots The Beast down the starting track while racing at the Steel Days soapbox derby in American Fork on Thursday, July 17, 2014. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Bryton Matheson, 12, pilots The Beast to the starting line at the Steel Days soapbox derby in American Fork on Thursday, July 17, 2014. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Harden Smith, of Troop 708, races his team's firetruck car at the Steel Days soapbox derby in American Fork on Thursday, July 17, 2014. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Kids and adults who have the wish to be like a kid are invited to the fifth annual Soap Box derby held in conjunction with American Fork’s Steel Days celebration.
It will be Tuesday, July 7, with racing beginning at 6:30 p.m. on a course on 740 North, on the north side of the city cemetery.
“It is getting more and more popular,” chairman Randy Spafford said.
He has a goal to continue to grow the event.
“I really want to get the two high schools’ engineering departments working on this,” he said.
For the racers and those watching, fun is the objective. But there is a side benefit. Prizes will be awarded for the fastest car, judges’ choice and people’s choice. The winner of the judges’ choice will receive $100; the other two awards will each provide $50 to the winners.
Despite some rain on race day in previous years, the race has been held, Spafford said.
“We started out with seven or eight cars,” he said. “It was pretty small. Because of two or three guys in the community, we have grown and stayed constant around 15 contestants. I am happy with it.”
Contestants must be at least 8 years old, but there is no upper age limit.
“Once kids have run down, others can go,” Spafford said. “I don’t care if it is a bathtub on wheels.”
There are some guidelines, however. While the race is not affiliated with the All-American Soap Box Derby, certain restrictions are in force.
Cars may be made of any material. Any metal elements of the frame that extend beyond the wheels should be properly blunted to prevent piercing in the event of a crash.
The cars will be towed up the ramp after each race, so they need to have tow hooks for the strap. The race is run in heats to determine the winner.
The vehicle must have ground clearance between 3 and 60 inches. The seat must be 3-16 inches above the road surface; the length between 72 and 96 inches and the wheelbase 48-72 inches.
Brakes must be able to completely stop the tires and hand brakes are discouraged. Steering must be positively controlled and the driver must be able to steer with one hand. Foot steering is not allowed. All drivers must wear an approved helmet. Bicycle helmets are not permitted. Cars should have full floors and there should not be sharp projections, loose parts or edges that might be safety hazards.
“The objective of this event is to provide fun for everyone regardless of resources,” the rules state. “To that end the rules strive to provide maximum safety and fair competition with the fewest requirements possible.”
Registration costs $10 per participant and should be done at the American Fork Fitness Center, 454 N. Center Street.
Complete instructions are available on the Steel Days link at afcity.org.