Racing champ loves competition

The teenager's racing career has made friends for her around the country.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Racing downhill nearly every weekend has paid off for 15-year-old Jenn Rodway.
Last weekend, Jenn captured first place in her division at the 2004 National Soap Box Derby in Muncie, Ind.
The NDR cars are similar to those used in the All-American Soap Box Derby.
"I love racing. It's competitive," said Jenn, daughter of James and Janet Rodway of Glenwood Avenue. Her father is the Liberty Township zoning inspector.
Jenn believes she's a better person because of her racing. "It builds character, and you learn how to win or lose," she said. "It builds confidence."
Jenn became interested in racing in 2000 when the All-American Soap Box Derby had a display of cars and other equipment at Southern Park Mall.
"I was hooked," Jenn said, noting that it was then that she and her father began building a car for the Youngstown race that hadn't been run for years.
"Everybody in Youngstown was clueless about building cars," Jenn said.
She placed fifth in the stock division for boys and girls. She captured the district stock championship in 2002 and became 2003 Greater Youngstown Soap Box Derby master champion in 2003.
She races for Team Zero Error in Sharon, Pa., which sponsors her car.
Other details
Jenn also races in rallies across the country. Her travels have taken her to Florida, Maine, Illinois, the Carolinas and Michigan.
She also races in regional championships in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.
She has made friends along the way, keeping in touch with them by phone or on the Internet.
Jenn says she prefers the NDR over the All-American competition.
She asserted that winning All-American races is basically luck because competitors must use wheels given to them and they use the same lane during the elimination. One lane is normally faster than the others.
In the NDR division she races, adjustments can be made to the car such as its shape and changes in mounts that hold the axles to increase speed.
Also, Jenn explained, NDR is an actual race with multiple heats using various lanes to achieve an average time.
Jenn said she'll race through 2005. She can because the age limit for NDR is 21. For All-Amercan, it's 18.
She also wants to pay more attention to her quarterhorse, Dallas. Jenn said she's fond of her horse and doesn't want to leave it alone for a week at a time.
Down the road, Jenn said she'll probably begin college at Youngstown State University with her goal to become a chiropractor.
yovich@vindy.com