Salem gears up for Quakertown Super Kids Race
SALEM
The Quakertown Super Kids Race is getting ready to roll.
The race will be June 11 as part of a Super Kids Day in the city.
The event will begin at 9 a.m. with the Super Kids soapbox derby that will start at 231 S. Broadway Ave. in front of city hall.
The race is open to children between age 9 and 18 who have a physical or mental disability that would prevent them from participating in the All-American Soap Box Derby.
The participants must be registered by Saturday.
The race is free to participants. All costs are covered by sponsors. All racers must be pre-registered before Practice Day, which will be May 7. Racers who are pre- registered will receive an appointment time for their practice.
Janet Keene, the race director, said boundaries are not an issue when it comes to the competitors.
“We’ll take them from wherever they come from, as long as they show up,” Keene said. The competitors mostly come from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
So far, there are at least 22 competitors for this year’s event, which is up by six competitors from last year.
Under the program, a competitor rides beside the actual driver. Each competitor rides at least twice.
Keene said that the American Legion Riders from Columbiana built two new adult-sized cars this year because some of the competitors are 6 feet tall. The Salem Community Foundation paid for the work.
The day will continue with the Inaugural Phantom Auto Works car show that will be on Broadway Avenue between State Street and Pershing Street beginning at noon. Prizes will be given for Best Paint, Best Interior, Best Engine and Best Overall, and a People’s Choice prize will be awarded at 4 p.m. All proceeds from the car show will be donated to Toys for Tots.
The car show is by invitation only. For more information, call Wayne Hays at Phantom Auto Works at 330-337-8879.
The last event that day will be the Walk for Autism in Waterworth Memorial Park from 3 to 7 p.m.
Registration will begin at 3 p.m. Teams or individuals who have donations of $25 or more may participate. All monies collected will go toward the establishment of the Center for Promise. Kelly Jones, one of those involved in the event, said funds will help families whose members have special needs. Jennings said there is no facility in the area for children.
Refreshments will be available for purchase, and there will be entertainment.
For more information about the walk, contact Kimberly Sheets at 330-337-6193 or ksheets40@gmail.com, or Kelly Jennings at 330-271-9806.