Notes About the 70th All American Soap Box Derby

In 2002, the All-American Soap Box Derby and NASCAR entered into a multiyear partnership in which the Soap Box Derby has become NASCAR’s Youth Initiative Program. Under terms of the agreement, the Derby organization and NASCAR are promoting one another’s programs and NASCAR is securing additional corporate sponsors for the Soap Box Derby.

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In May 2005, it was announced that Levi Strauss Signature brand has become the Derby program’s title sponsor – the event is now the All-American Soap Box Derby presented by Levi Strauss Signature. Launched in 2003, the brand was created exclusively for customers who shop in the mass channel. Levi Strauss Signature also is a sponsor partner of NASCAR. As part of the new alliance with the Soap Box Derby, current NASCAR Nextel Cup point leader Jimmie Johnson, who is Levi Strauss Signature brand’s spokesperson, is serving as the Soap Box Derby’s spokesperson. He is appearing in a broadcast and print campaign to promote participation in Soap Box Derby racing and will appear at Saturday’s race.

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As part of its sponsorship, Levi Strauss Signature also partnered with the Derby organization to recognize one Soap Box Derby family as “Levi Strauss Signature Family of the Year,” who represents all the core value of the Derby program. That family will be guests of Levi Strauss Signature in Akron and will be honored in ceremonies on Saturday.

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Over the past several years there have been significant improvements in the physical plant at Derby Downs. New in 2002 was the Firestone Starting Line Structure, funded in part by a grant from the Roger S. Firestone Foundation, and the Frank A. “Whitey” Wahl Pavilion, supported by a grant from the NEC World Series of Golf. Both new structures are near the top of the hill and they provide Race Day work areas. As of summer 2001, there is a new 10,000-square foot multi-purpose building on George Washington Boulevard stretching north from the Topside area. The new building is providing storage this week for the contestants’ race cars. Other times of the year, it is used for storage, assembly and shipping of racer components. The new building was funded by a $380,000-grant from Summit County. The old Topside building, built in 1947 remains standing for storage and work areas.

In 2000, work was completed on a new two-deck steel bridge over the finish line to replace the three-level bridge dating back to 1937. Summit County also funded the bridge, through a $250,000 contribution. The new structure provides space for race control, judging, record-keeping and for media covering the race.

These improvements follow a grandstands and track renovation completed in 1999. That project included new metal bleachers on both sides of the track, replacing 60-year-old wooden grandstands. The entire track was resurfaced with two layers of asphalt. The City of Akron contributed $1.3 million for the bleachers and track.

 

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Installation of the new bridge in 2000 necessitated moving the finish line 35 feet, seven inches past its former location. That means the official track is now 989 feet, four inches long, compared to its former length of 953 feet, nine inches. The previous time the track length changed was in 1971, when officials shortened it by some 20 feet at the top for safety reasons to slow the cars, as laydown designs became popular. Ed Myers of Conshohocken, Pa. set the track record for the previous length, in 1974. He finished third in the All-American, but had posted the fastest time earlier in the day at 27.10 seconds—a record that was never beaten in 25 subsequent years. Setting the fastest time in regulation Derby racing at the current track length was Hilary Pearson of Kansas City , a 2004 racer in the Masters division, at 28.24 seconds. Hilary went on to win the Masters championship.

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There have been 154 All-American Soap Box Derby champions since 1934, including one who won two titles. There have been 40 World Rally champions since that competition began in 1993. For the program’s first 38 years, there was only one racing division and hence only one champion. There now are six champions each year including the rally champs. Beginning in 1976, the program added the Junior division, which was renamed the Kit Car division in 1989 and became the Super Stock division in 1995. The Stock division was added in 1992. The only racer ever to win two All-American Soap Box Derby titles is Danielle DelFerraro of Akron, now 25 who won the Kit Car championship in 1993 and came back to take the Masters title in 1994.

 

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Until 1971, only boys competed in Soap Box Derby racing. Karren Stead of Lower Bucks County, PA., was the first girl to win an All-American Soap Box Derby. She was 11 when she won the 1975 race. There have been 21 female All-American champions, including two-time winner Danielle DelFerraro.