Pre-race inspections begin for annual Soap Box Derby

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The ninth annual Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby pre-race inspections kick off today, with race action beginning Saturday morning.

This year, 45 racers are registered to participate in the derby, up from last year’s 36 racers. Eighteen of this year’s drivers are rookies.

Derby director Andy Bowell said among the returning drivers is 17-year-old Alexandria Terrigno.

“We have this girl who is a ninth-year racer, and we’ll probably never see that again,” he said. “This will be Alexandria’s last year because of age requirements.”

Anyone between the ages of 8 and 17 is eligible to participate in the derby in one of three racing divisions. Once a driver wins one division, he or she cannot compete in that division again.

The registration form lists stock racers between the ages of 8 and 13, super stock between 10 and 17 and masters between 10 and 17. Bowell said usually the stock group stays between 8 and 10 years old, and guidelines for racing in the masters depend upon how well a driver has done in past races.

“It all depends on what [the racer] has won and raced in before,” Bowell said. “Say someone is 10 and has won stock, but is too old to go back to stock, then he or she can jump up to masters.”

The winners of each division will qualify to race in the All-American Soap Box Derby Championships on July 26 in Akron.

Final inspection of cars will run from 4:30 to 9 p.m. today and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday by appointment only in the Youngstown State University parking deck near Walnut Street.

The actual derby race begins tentatively at 9 a.m. Saturday on Fifth Avenue between Arlington Road and Rayen Avenue.

For more information, contact Bowell at (330) 442-7498.