History of Soap Box Derbies
All Soap Box Derby competitions start at the local race level.
It’s best to look for a sponsor to underwrite the cost of your racer.
According to the All-American Soap Box Derby there will be three racing division in most local and at the All-American competition.
The Masters division offers boys and girls, 10-17 an advanced class of race to try their creativity and design skills in.
Local race programs are sponsored by a mix of civic clubs, service organizations, and business firms.
1936 was a year of growth establishing the Derby as a national institution according to history.
In 1952 Soap Box Derby was maybe the most dramatic of them all and in 1957 for the 20th All-American a “guest race” was initiated to select the fastest foreign entry.
The celebration of the 25th All-American was a gala one.
Later hopes for the continuation of the Derby were growing darker when, on Nov. 24, 1975 a dramatic front-page headline read: “Barberton Company saves Soap Box Derby.”
One hundred seventy-three contestants for the All-American kept the race going in 1977 and the largest crowd in nine years, close to 15,000, watched 181 junior and senior contestants competed in the 45th All-American Derby in 1982.
“The All-American Soap Box Derby has traveled a long road, both uphill and down, since Myron Scott first photographed three boys and their engine-less racers,” reads the Derby’s website.
The All-American Rally Program started in 1986, sending three in each division to the All-American championships.
“The state of Connecticut made a sweep of the winners’ circles at the 50th All-American Soap Box Derby in 1987,” said Jeff Iula. “There were 163 champions that competed in the 50th all-American.”
One hundred sixty-three champions were represented in the 1991 All-American and there were 232 participants in the 1993 All-American with contestants from Canada, Germany, and the Philippines.
In March of 1995 the Derby’s first World Champion in 1934, Bob Turner, passed away.
Participating in the 61st All-American were 295 champions and 1999 was a year for firsts.
The 63rd All-American Soap Box was held on July 22, 2000 and the 64th on July 28, 2001.
