In preparation for the Chattanooga area All-American Soap Box Derby race being held at the track behind Redoubt Soccer Complex May 14, local kids are invited to a test run April 23.When Signal Mountain resident Michael Stewart was a child growing up in Akron, Ohio, home of the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship, he inherited his father’s love for Soap Box Derby racing. The sport involves racing in an unpowered car aided by gravity alone.
“It’s a good, easy family sport to be involved in,” said his wife Kristy Stewart, who along with their Derby-racing daughter spends a lot of time at the track. “The kids learn a lot about sportsmanship and engineering concepts, and I like that the girls get just as competitive as the boys.”
There were races in Chattanooga as Derby racing increased in popularity back in the ’70s and ’80s, Michael Stewart said, but they had fizzled out by the time he arrived. In 2008 he decided to bring the All-American Soap Box Derby back to Chattanooga, holding races behind Redoubt and sending numerous qualifiers to the championship over the past eight years. He said 35-40 kids typically participate each year.
Racers are divided into Stock division for ages 7-13 and Super Stock division for ages 9-18, with cars in the Super Stock division being slightly larger. Participants can either purchase a kit from AASD and build their own car, or borrow one of the club cars that are already put together.
The local race will be held at the Redoubt track May 14 beginning at 8:30 a.m., and the winners of the Stock and Super Stock divisions have the opportunity to compete at the championship in Ohio in July, said Kristy Stewart.