All-American Soap Box Derby

Festival Location: Akron, OH, USA

Festival State: Ohio Festivals

Festival Type(s): Bizarre Sports Events, Bizarre Festivals

By: © Nelson Taylor 2009

This classic sport has the power to take both participants and spectators back to simpler time in American history when little Johnny and little Sue put a milk crate on wheels and raced down a local hill instead of shooting each other.

Since 1934, kids of all ages have been making these hill-powered vehicles, pitting themselves against others in small towns across the nation. What started out as a hobby for many has grown into a competitive series, where kids race in local sanctioned events in order to qualify for the All-American Soap Box Derby, held every August in Akron.

This event attracts over 15,000 spectators and about 300 racers who come from such faraway places as Germany, Venezuela and the Philippines. Racers compete in three divisions. The Stock division is for first-time builders who create their cars from kits. The Super Stock division is for kids who want to build more advanced models. And the Masters division is the advanced class, where kids build crafts that look like mini dragsters without the motors.

The track in Akron is a 954-foot straight-away course that is on an 11% grade, allowing racers to reach speeds over 30 mph. While racers compete for free, there is a $5 spectator charge.