The thrill on the hill

Derby sponsors have a special meaningfor the Kuebler clanof Berlin Center.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- It doesn't matter whether you're a first-time driver at the 2004 Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby, or the winner of Youngstown's first derby in 1934: Racing down that hill is a flat-out thrill.
"It was fast. It was fun," said Avery Gales, 11, of Youngstown, after his first-ever heat Saturday.
John A. Fraser, 86, on hand for the 70th anniversary of the 1934 Youngstown Soap Box Derby he won, drove an honorary heat down the derby track on Fifth Avenue between Arlington and Rayen avenues.
In his car in the starting ramp, Fraser was asked if he was ready. He just smiled and raised his right hand and twirled his index finger as if to say, "Let's get going." At the finish line he pumped his right fist in the air as he beat his competitor, Dan Medvec of Boardman.
"That was really fun. It took me back," Fraser said with a broad smile.
Saturday's derby featured 66 drivers in five categories -- Masters, Super Stock Suburban and Metro, and Stock Suburban and Metro -- the winners of which will compete at the All-American Soap Box Derby on July 31 at Akron's Derby Downs.
Family activity
The Soap Box Derby is a highly competitive race, but it is first and foremost a family activity, participants say.
"I like the time we spend together building the cars, and the idea of getting into the toolbox together," said Brian McCall, a Howland firefighter.
McCall's sons, Jacob, 9, of Mines Elementary, and Jimmy, 12, of Howland Middle School, raced Saturday.
The boys' grandfather, Don Simpson of Geneva, was one of their Pit Pals.
Pit Pals, usually parents, grandparents or adult friends, help change wheels and get the heavy cars to the starting ramp.
Tradition
The Kueblers of Berlin Center, Linda and William D. and their six children, are a family for whom the derby has become a tradition, and all of them were on Youngstown Derby Hill Saturday.
Lindsay, 17, a senior at Western Reserve High School, raced in the Masters Division; Stephen, 13, and Johanna, 12, both pupils at St. Christine School, Super Stock; and Derby rookie Haleigh, 10, also a pupil at St. Christine School, Stock.
The other Kuebler siblings, Matthew and William A., students at the University of Toledo, were Pit Pals along with their parents.
Like most derby families, the Kueblers try to get sponsors to help defray the cost of the car kits. In their case, their sponsors have special meaning.
Make-A-Wish
Lindsay picked the Make-A-Wish Foundation as her sponsor because her brother Matthew had a liver transplant some years ago and was the recipient of a Make-A-Wish vacation.
A near tragedy involving Lindsay is the reason Stat MedEvac is the sponsor for Johanna's car.
The day after finishing second in the Masters Division of the 2003 Youngstown Derby, Lindsay was involved in a car accident in which her neck was broken in two places.
She was flown by helicopter to the hospital by Stat MedEvac, which her mother, a nurse at St. Elizabeth Health Center, believes saved her daughter from permanent injury.
Lindsay came back from her injuries to play high school varsity softball and race in this year's derby.
Also because of Matthew's transplant, Stephen raced for LifeBanc, the federally designated, nonprofit organ procurement organization for Northeast Ohio.
Even Haleigh's sponsor, J & amp;W Crown Limousine Service, has special meaning to the Kueblers. In 2003, J & amp;W transported Lindsay and Johanna from Youngstown to Akron for the All-American Soap Box Derby.
"They arrived in style at Derby Downs," Linda said.
alcorn@vindy.com