The first All-American soap box derby was run in Dayton, OH in 1934. The sport reached its all time popularity high in the 1950s and 1960s. Although both attendance and entries have tapered off in the past half century, the event continues to have fiercely loyal supporters today. A recent event in Hawley, PA drew an unusual entrant – a miniature funeral car, complete with a small coffin inside.
Originally, soap box derbies were open only to boys aged 11 to 15. The races gradually grew to include girls as well. Many races now have divisions that are open to younger racers, and a few unofficial races allow adults to race as well. The original rules called for the entrants to fully build the vehicles themselves, traditionally out of spare material such as orange crates and roller skate wheels. Today, the rules for most races have been modified to allow adults to assist with construction. This change is likely due to increasing concerns over the safety of children using power tools.
The soapbox derby cars of today tend to be surprisingly sophisticated. The rules vary from race to race, but generally require that the vehicles be entirely gravity propelled, with no motor or other enhancements. In 1973, 14 year old Jimmy Gronen of Boulder, CO was actually stripped of his national title when it was revealed that he had placed an electromagnet in the nose of his car. Most races also require that the vehicle have some sort of braking system for safety reasons.
Within the rules, however, designs vary dramatically. Unique and unusual themes are common. In this weekend’s Smokin’ Hawley 500, a racer entered a miniature funeral car, complete with a small coffin. What better way to train a new generation of funeral car enthusiasts? If you are in the market for a full-sized funeral car, we invite you to visit our convenient local dealership, where we will be happy to help you find the car that is best for you.