Canfield racer sets speed record

Photo

Jamie Berndt of Canfield set the new world record in the ultimate speed division during Saturday's Soapbox Derby Championship in Akron. Wednesday July 29, 2009 Lisa-Ann Ishihara

By Elise Franco

Jamie Berndt’s racing team spent a year testing 17 rubber formulas to find the best one for her Soap Box Derby car.

CANFIELD — Jamie Berndt turned a fun neighborhood activity into 10 years of setting goals and breaking records.

Berndt, 20, of Canfield, competed in her last race July 25 at the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, where she set the world record for the ultimate-speed division.

“We tried to break the record last year, and we set out this year with that as our goal,” she said. “It was such a great feeling. It’s what everyone sets out to do.”

Berndt said she raced down the hill at 39 mph in 26.92 seconds. Not only did she set the world record, but she clinched the fastest times in her other two heats.

Her father, Dave Berndt, said the average racer goes about 20 miles per hour.

He said though Jamie kept her cool throughout the race, her team from Zero Error Racing and her family could hardly contain themselves after realizing she’d secured the title.

“I think we were all standing there shaking the first time she went down the hill,” he said. “We looked up at the time board, and that’s when we knew she broke the record. We all went crazy.”

The ultimate-speed division allows drivers age 16 to 19 to compete in a race much less-restricted than the other divisions, according to the 2009 All-American Soap Box Derby rules.

Dave Berndt said the only regulations put on her car were that the car was 96 inches long, 21‚Ñ4 inches off the ground and weighed 300 pounds with the driver inside.

He said the team spent the better part of a year choosing the right materials for the car and conducting test run after test run to ensure the best quality and result.

“We tested 17 different rubber formulas before finding the one we used on the wheels,” Dave Brendt said. “It took a year to come up with the formula.”

He said the wheel development was expensive but effective, and others are taking notice.

“We’ve gotten calls from people wanting to buy the wheels from her car,” he said. “But we had legal papers drawn up to protect the rubber formula because of the time and money that went into developing it.”

The body of the car was made from carbon fiber, Jamie Brendt said. The mold of the car was made to fit so snug around her body that she had to get into the car sideways, one leg at a time. Once inside, she was lying on her back covered up to her neck.

Her father said most cars in the division are made from wood and fiberglass. He said of the 22 registered racers, only two or three were made from carbon fiber.

“Hers was definitely the strongest car in the race,” he said.

Jamie Brendt didn’t make it to the top overnight, though.

The Youngstown State University student said she began racing in local Soap Box derbies when she was 9 and fell in love with the sport.

“It’s really fun to be able to build something myself,” she said. “It’s a thrill to go down that hill as fast as I am going without an engine.”

She began in the stock division, where the car model is basic and built from a kit.

In 2001, she become the first female to win the Stock Division in the Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby. She later went on to win the local Super Stock division in 2004 and the local Masters Rally division in 2006.

Dave said sharing racing with daughter was a bonding experience the pair may not have had otherwise.

“After doing the first car, I saw how much she enjoyed it,” he said. “For a father, it’s harder to get close to a daughter than to a son. I think we’re much closer because of the racing.”

Jamie said she turned 20 the day after the race, allowing her one more chance to break the record and one more chance to compete in a sport she’s known for most of her childhood.

“I’m sad because it was fun to do, but I’m proud of what I accomplished,” she said. “It’s a good accomplishment for the last time I could race.”

Now that her run as a racer is over, she said she wants to focus on college and playing on the YSU golf team. She said she’d like to stay involved in Soap Box events, as well. She recently participated in the Super Kids Race.

“I just recently raced in a division for physically and mentally challenged kids,” she said. “You’re driving the car, and they sit next to you.”

Because this race doesn’t have age specifications, Jamie said she’d like to do it again.

“As long as you can fit in the car, you can race,” she said. “I think I’ll probably participate again.”

efranco@vindy.com

Winner’s Circle

Jamie Berndt has placed in many races in her 10 years with the Soap Box Derby. Most recently, Berndt set a new record in the ultimate-speed division at the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron. Her team from Zero Error Racing spent a year putting together the winning car, which sped down the hill July 25 at 39 miles per hour in 26.92 seconds.

Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby

2001: Stock Division winner.

2004: Super Stock Division winner.

2006: Masters Rally Division winner.

All-American Soap Box Derby

2005: Stock Rally Division, second place.

2007: Masters Division, third place.

2008: Ultimate Speed Division, fifth place.

2009: Ultimate Speed Division, winner.

Source: Dave and Jamie Berndt,

Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby.