Downhill fun at the WANADA sponsored Greater Washington Soap Box Derby

Downhill fun at the WANADA sponsored Greater Washington Soap Box Derby

Thirty young racers from all around the region took part in the 66th Annual Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on Capitol Hill, last Saturday, June 19th. It was a beautiful sunny day for the gravity powered racers and produced winners in three categories who will now go on to represent the region at the national finals in Akron, Ohio.

Soap box racing began in the U.S. in 1934, when Myron E. Scott, a photographer for the Dayton Daily News, saw boys racing engineless cars down a hill and was inspired to hold a race and award the winner with a “loving cup.”

The first year, the race took place in Dayton, Ohio, and the following year the race was moved to Akron due to the city's numerous hills.

The inaugural Greater Washington Soap Box Derby was run on New Hampshire Avenue in 1938, and won by Norman Rocca who beat out 223 other racers. The greater Washington derby moved to Capitol Hill with the help of Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who, when he first came to Congress, WANADA recruited to obtain the required Congressional resolution to roll on Capitol Hill. Over the years, thousands of the region's young people have participated in the race. Greater Washington competitors have taken top honors at the national finals in the past.

The derby consists of dozens of drivers, both boys and girls, ranging in age from 8 to 17, divided into three divisions: stock, super stock, and masters. The local winner of each division automatically qualifies to compete with racers from around the world in the 70th All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio on July 26th.

WANADA congratulates this years winners; (From left to right) Texas Cobb in the Masters Division, Robert Schiller in the Super Stock Division and Brittany Sorli in the Stock Division.