Marietta Soap Box Derby

Race Day is FINALLY Here!

The premier youth and family oriented racing program in the United States returns to Marietta when the Soap Box Derby races into town on Saturday, June 14, 2008.  More than 50 youth will compete in their gravity-powered racing cars for a chance to represent Marietta and the State of Georgia at the 71st All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio in July.

Once again the Kiwanis Club of Marietta, with several Cobb County businesses, will join forces to host this event – one of the largest official All-American Soap Box Derby events in the Southeast.  The Marietta race is one of 450 races held across the U.S. and overseas where participants compete in one of three divisions: Stock, Super Stock and Masters.

The derby has been referred to as “the greatest amateur racing event in the world” and this year’s local race will take place at Marietta High School, located at 1171 Whitlock Ave., SW, Marietta, Georgia.  The track is approximately 600 feet in length and cars are started on ramps.  In this race, kids compete in a double elimination series of drag races in their hand-built, gravity-powered race cars.  In competition, yimes are recorded electronically with speeds reaching upwards of 30 miles per hour and kids winning or losing by thousandths of a second.  Racing begins promptly at 9 a.m. and will continue to mid-afternoon.

Within the three divisions, the Stock division is mainly for beginners aged 8 to 12 who build simplified, open cockpit cars from kits.  Racers in the Super Stock division build larger, open cockpit cars made from more complicated kits.  Competitors within the Masters division build a more sophisticated, enclosed cockpit car from a kit.  Racers in both the Super Stock and Masters divisions range between the ages of 10 and 17.

This year will see the introduction of “Derby Village ” featuring a kids’ area for younger attendees, as well as various family-oriented local businesses offering discounts and giveaways to all of those in attendance.  The event is free for spectators and there will be concessions available for purchase throughout the day.  It is highly suggested that spectators bring sunscreen and chairs to the event.

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Pictures:  See our races and racers in action.