Young racers are all geared up

By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Freddie Seitz has been gearing up for the big race, rolling his Soap Box Derby car down the hill in his driveway countless times.
This is the first year Freddie, 9, is old enough to participate. It's also the first time a deaf child has entered the Youngstown race.
The Poland boy became interested in the Soap Box Derby after seeing some of the cars on display at a mall a few years ago -- he already was a NASCAR racing fan. (Jeff Gordon is his favorite NASCAR driver.)
Freddie entered the Super Kids Classic Soap Box Derby for the Handicapped in Columbiana County last year, said his mom, Rose Seitz.
The Super Kids Classic is sponsored by the VFW York Drexler Post 5532 in Washingtonville, Vietnam Veterans of America Columbiana County Chapter 40 and Columbiana American Legion Post 290. It is open to children ages 9 through 16 who may not be able to participate in other Soap Box Derby races because of a disability, said Jack Guy, commander of American Legion Post 290. Some of the participants, he added, may even use the services of ghost drivers who ride along and help maneuver the cars.
This year, Freddie, who had a great time racing in the Super Kids Classic couldn't wait to race other boys and girls for a chance to compete in the All American Soap Box Derby, a national race in Akron, later this summer. "Deaf children can do everything other children can do except hear," his mother said, interpreting Freddie's sign language.
With encouragement and help from his grandpa, Bob Beck, and dad, Fred Seitz, Freddie spent a month building his soap box racer from an official All-American Soap Box Derby kit.
The Mahoning Valley Old Car Club is Freddie's sponsor.
Let the races begin
Boys and girls ages 9 to 16 are eligible to compete in the All-American, said Joe O'Neill Jr., co-director of Youngstown's Soap Box Derby.
Winners in the metro, suburban and super stock divisions of the Third Annual Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby will advance to the national race. A Youngstown area rally racer, who competes in rally races held across the country earning points for every race run, will also advance to the race in Akron.
More than 80 youngsters from the tri-county area are expected to compete in the third annual Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby this Saturday and Sunday.
Racing will begin each day around 9 a.m. on Fifth Avenue near the Youngstown State University campus.
Last year, O'Neill added, all four winners from the Youngstown area were girls. Girls have been allowed to compete in the Soap Box Derby since 1971; the first girl to win the All-American in Akron was 11-year-old Karen Snead from Morrisville, Pa. She won the race in 1975 with a photo-finish victory.
Billed as the greatest amateur youth racing event in the world, the All-American Soap Box Derby started in 1934 in Dayton and attracted boys from 34 cities its first year. It was sponsored by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors and the Dayton Daily News, which spearheaded the project. A year later, the race moved to Akron where a permanent track, Derby Downs, was built. This year, the All-American Soap Box Derby race will be held July 27.
kubik@vindy.com