The Hottest Race on Capitol Hill

The Hottest Race on Capitol Hill

There are a lot of hot races on Capitol Hill this election year, but the most important one for an enterprising group of young go-cart racers, 8 to 17 years old, was last Sundayês 67th running of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

Despite a one-day delay due to a large political demonstration on Saturday, and run under the threat of thundershowers (that held off), spectators gathered to cheer on the kids as they charged down a quarter-mile course on Constitution Avenue in their motorless, hand-built, brilliantly decorated racers that can hit 30 mph. At the finish, itês often a matter of a split second that determines the winners.

This year, for the first time in Washingtonês history, two brothers raced for top honors in the Super Stock Division, and a sister and brother raced for the winnerês circle in the Masters Division. Here are the results:

Stock: Car 93, Amanda O’Mara, 11, Severna Park, MD.

Super Stock: Car 4, Brian Danahy, 15, Rockville, MD.

Masters: Car 313, Courtney Rayle, 16, Mechanicsville, MD.

These division winners are now eligible to compete for scholarships and prizes at the 71st All-American Soap Box Derby next month in Akron, Ohio, an event called –the greatest amateur racing event in the world.” Last year, in another first for Washington, Kacie Rader of Mechanicsville, MD took top honors in the Masters Division in Akron. Now 18 and ineligible to race, Kacie was on hand to cheer on the new racers.

As The Washington Post pointed out in an article on the race that made the front page of the June 23 Metro section, –the Washington area now ranks third in the nation in the racing series, in terms of prizes won.”

WANADA has been a proud sponsor of this great American tradition for the past 27 years. It was moved to Capitol Hill 18 years ago, thanks to an Act of Congress obtained by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who, at WANADAês behest, got the approval to use Constitution Avenue. It takes another Act of Congress each year, to continue to use –the Hill,” now heavily protected since 9/11, which Rep. Hoyer is pleased to sponsor.

Our hardiest congratulations go to our 2008 winners and sponsors. For full photo coverage of the 2008 Greater Washington Soap Box Derby visit the website, www.dcsoapboxderby.org.