The soap box derby tradition races through an American Fork family
Evan Williams, 12, of American Fork, prepares to race in the Steel Days Soap Box Derby on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in American Fork.
Caleb Williams, from American Fork, buckles his son's, Evan, helmet before the soap box derby race during Steel Days on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in American Fork.
Evan Williams, 12, from American Fork, makes his way up to "Farmers Tan", his family's soap box car, during the Steel Days Soap Box Derby on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in American Fork.
Evan Williams, 12, from American Fork, races during the Soap Box Derby on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in American Fork. Williams took 2nd in his field.
From left, Tyson Williams, 17, Evan Williams, 12, and Parker Williams load up their family's soap box car after competing in the Steel Days Soap Box Derby on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in American Fork.
Evan Williams, 12, and his father, Caleb Williams, from American Fork, prepare their soap box derby car before the Steel Days race on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in American Fork.
Evan Williams, 12, examines his soap box car before the derby during Steel Days on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in American Fork.
It’s the Pinewood Derby car you can ride.
Anyone who has ever carved out a Pinewood Derby car probably wished they could be riding in that little wooden car, screaming their way down that track. Utah County offers at least two opportunities to ride your own homemade racer in a soap box derby.
With names like Dirty Pigs and Death from Above, helmeted kids piloted their wood and metal derby cars Thursday evening down the hill just north of the American Fork Cemetery during the American Fork Steel Days Soap Box Derby. The racers were all hoping for speed as they headed down the starting ramp and onto the street.
“The funnest part is going down the ramp,” said Evan Williams, a 12-year-old racer from American Fork.
Only his helmeted head poked out of the car as he waited on the ramp for his next race Thursday night. He hit 25 mph on one of his runs, adding a smile to that face, because he loves “any car that goes fast.”
This is Evan’s third summer driving Farmer’s Tan, the Williams family’s soap box car. The family started participating in the derby in 2012 after building a car out of odds and ends in the garage that spring. That year, Evan’s oldest brother, Parker Williams, drove the bright orange car.
“That first year was super fun, but also kind of scary because we didn’t know if it was going to work or not,” Parker Williams, now 22, said.
Caleb Williams, the boys’ father, also remembers that first year.
“We had no idea how it would be, and we worried if the brakes would work. But they worked too well. Parker jammed on the brakes (at the end of the race) and he skidded across the road,” Caleb Williams said laughing.
Tyson Williams, now 17, took over from his older brother the next year, piloting the derby racer for the next three summers. Evan got his turn as his brothers grew too big to fit in the skinny racing car. His dad had to push the seat up a bit and add an extra block to the brake so Evan could reach the pedal.
“If I could fit, I’d still drive it,” Parker Williams said, looking at Farmers Tan.
Just a big kid himself, Caleb Williams said he is jealous his boys get to drive in the derby each year, but he loves what it’s becoming in American Fork. In the six years the Williams family have been coming, they’ve seen quite a variety of cars and drivers.
“I just love the tradition of it. It’s not a competition, it’s just fun,” Caleb Williams said, adding that he hopes more racers will join in years to come. “Whoever started this, I’d like to thank them. It’s a neat city tradition and I hope it keeps going.”
Those that missed this derby have another chance to get their speed on this summer. Payson will hold its own Soap Box Derby at 3 p.m. Sept. 1 as part of its Golden Onion Days city celebration. For more information visit https://paysonutah.org/events/golden-onion-days.
