Soap Box Derby draws scores of entrants
Entrants competed in three divisions.
MINERAL RIDGE — More than 60 children and teenagers some from as far away as New York competed over the weekend in a rally race by the Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby.
Competitors, ages 8 to 17, faced off in three divisions each on Saturday and Sunday, said Andy Bowell, GYASBD board president. Each day was a separate race.
In the stock car division, both car and competitor are limited to a total weight of 200 pounds. Bowell said a stock car is a basic car.
The stock car winner in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races was James Fell of Bay Village, Ohio.
Entrants in the super stock category cannot exceed 230 pounds including car and driver. The cars are more rounded in the super stock category. Matt Mroczynski of Beaver, Pa., took first place in Saturday’s event, and his sister, Marissa Mroczynski, also of Beaver, Pa., finished first in Sunday’s race.
The masters division consists of sleek cars in which drivers must lie down and view out of a small opening.
“It’s like a rocket on wheels,” Bowell said.
The total weight limit for both car and driver in the masters division is 250 pounds.
Teela Gajewski of Buffalo, N.Y., took first place in that division both days.
Bowell said this year’s participation was down slightly from previous years when more than 40 entrants have shown up to compete each day. A race in Wooster the same weekend coupled with forecasted rain on Sunday contributed to the lower number, he said.
Wooster also debuted a new track this year.
“Our hope is to build a permanent track in the Youngstown area in the next year or two,” Bowell said.
The GYASBD race for local competitors is set for June 21 on Fifth Avenue, Youngstown. Call (330) 717-8661 or (330) 442-7498 or visit www.gyasbd.com for more information.