Post by Gene on Oct 13, 2014 11:27:31 GMT -6
1930’s vintage antique soap box derby race car. This car was hand made before there were kits. In the beginning of the Soap Box Derby Racing, the derby cars were only allowed to be hand made by the young racer and was not to cost more than $10.
Myron Scott was a journalist who came up with the idea of the "Soap Box Derby." He had
been reporting on a race that only allowed "home-built" race cars in Dayton Ohio. He then
copyrighted the idea and helped spread the idea nationally. The first "All-American Soap
Box Derby" was held in Dayton in 1934, but moved to Akron in 1935 for a more challenging
terrain. The sport was so popular that a permanent track called the "Derby Downs" was
built in Akron in 1936. Derby Downs was built in a city park near the Akron Municipal
Airport and the Goodyear Air Dock, where the blimps Macon and Akron were housed. A
1600-foot cement-paved raceway was constructed with three ten-foot lanes. The distance
the cars would actually travel was 1175 feet.
The Rules
In 1937, a few new rules came into play. The age limits were changed from 6-16 to 9-15 years, and prior winners could no longer compete. Also, no car could cost more than $10 and adult involvement was strictly prohibited. Today's rules are a little more complicated.
Myron Scott was a journalist who came up with the idea of the "Soap Box Derby." He had
been reporting on a race that only allowed "home-built" race cars in Dayton Ohio. He then
copyrighted the idea and helped spread the idea nationally. The first "All-American Soap
Box Derby" was held in Dayton in 1934, but moved to Akron in 1935 for a more challenging
terrain. The sport was so popular that a permanent track called the "Derby Downs" was
built in Akron in 1936. Derby Downs was built in a city park near the Akron Municipal
Airport and the Goodyear Air Dock, where the blimps Macon and Akron were housed. A
1600-foot cement-paved raceway was constructed with three ten-foot lanes. The distance
the cars would actually travel was 1175 feet.
The Rules
In 1937, a few new rules came into play. The age limits were changed from 6-16 to 9-15 years, and prior winners could no longer compete. Also, no car could cost more than $10 and adult involvement was strictly prohibited. Today's rules are a little more complicated.
