The Soap Box Derby Page

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A soap box racer in the 'Scottie' class.

The Catagories

Until 1999, Juniors could use a kit car but seniors were expected to build there own car from scratch. This discouraged seniors from participating, so a new category was introduced- the Scottie Special. It uses a a four-piece fiberglass shell, molded by Monarch Plastic Inc. but there is plenty of scope for customisation,

So what do you need to race in a soap box derby? Well, you need a car. You will need a place to practice, You need nerves of steel and if you want to race in a big official event you will need to qualify in a local heats.

Soap Box Derby Rules

There are a lot of rules and it is worth finding what they are before you get down to the fun stuff. For the nationally organised races they come from the All-American Soap Box Derby (AASBD). The rules are designed to make sure you build your own soapbox car, that it is the right size for you and that it is safe to drive. None of us like rules but these rules have meant that thousands of great, fast cars get built every year and a great tradition continues,

The catagories are Stock, Super Stock, Masters and Scottie Special. They all have different requirements so it is worth working out which is best for you.

The AASBD have ways of checking you really did make your car, so reading what they have to say is vital if you want to enter an official race.

There are plenty of locally organised 'Gravity Grand Prix's' or Derby's which have their own rules. Normally these are pretty close to the rules from the AASBD.

Examples of Soap Box Racers

Stock Car for ages 8 to 13 (for shorter drivers).

Super Stock Car 10 to 17, for taller racers up to 6 feet.

Scottie Masters Car.

Build a Soap Box Derby Car

A lot of sites online have kits for making a soap box derby car. There is a list of suppliers at the bottom of the page. A kit can save a lot of time but you can go ahead and make your own from scratch if you want to. Just remember to be aware of the full specifications for the race category you want to enter.

The video below gives a good idea of what it takes to build a car with plywood. The most important thing to notice is that the car is made from 2 inch by 4 inch timbers and half inch plywood. The car must have a steering mechanism- ropes are not enough. The wheels must be no bigger than 12 inches in diameter and nowadays are usually nylon wheels reinforced with fiberglass.

Also no nails! Nails wouldn't stand up to the rattling and shocks of a race so bolts are required throughout the car.

Hardwood axle trees are also recommended- softwood can split.

Buiding a Soap Box Derby Racer in Plywood

Good and bad ways of steering a Soap Box Derby car. Click for full size.

Types of Steering System

One of the most important features of a soap box derby car is the steering system. Some steering systems are downright dangerous and will never be allowed in an official race. Steering with the feet or a rope attached to the axle gives very little conrol at speed and could mean you end up in a ditch!

If you click up the image to the right you can see some of the safe and not so safe ways of steering a soap box car.

Brakes

The rules only allow for a single drag brake. This means a piece of wood that you pull on and that slows you down by dragging on the ground.

How Dangerous is a Soap Box Derby?

Mostly the competitors walk away with as many arms and legs as they started with!

In fact, very few people ever get hurt even though speeds of up to 35 miles an hour are common. A good helmet and a seat belt are absolutely required and every car is given a safety inspection before each of its races.

Remember to follow the same safety rules when you are practicing and also never use a public highway. A truck driver would probably never see you and would never even know he had turned your car to match wood!

When Crashes are Fun

Some people love the spills in a soap box derby more than the race itself. Crashes and piles ups are best left to the pros, though. Enjoy a few bent wheels and punctured egos in the video below...

How Long Have there been Soap Box Derbies?

Kids were using all kinds of home made machines to roll down hills for a long time before the official Soap Box Derby. It got big in 1933 when Myron "Scottie" Scot- a newspaper photographer- persuaded his paper to sponsor an event. The Dayton Daily News, sponsored the first serious competition in Dayton, Ohio. 362 competitors and 40,000 spectators showed up!

A couple of years later corporate sponsorship appeared and the race moved to Akron.

The video of the 1935 All American Soap Box Derby, below, shows you just how popular the sport was in only its first year at the new venue.

The All American Soap Box Derby Today

Nowadays, there is an international flavor to the big world championship race held every July in Akron. Competitors come from all over the globe to participate and the AASBD is administered by Akron-based International Soap Box Derby Inc.

How serious is the competition? Well, some of these cars get run through a wind tunnel to refine the aerodynamics. That seems pretty serious to me...

Watch some fan footage. below. of last years meeting.