Soap Box Derby Brings Back Go-Cart Memories

It's sure changed a lot in its 74 years.

The All-American Soap Box Derby doesn't involve soap boxes anymore. The race cars are made from kits, and each car must meet very specific standards.

But it's still all-american, and it still gives kids an opportunity to have good, clean fun.

I had fun too.

The Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation Commission, primary sponsor of Saturday's (6/14/08) local derby, invited me to serve as announcer for the event.

It was my first time being part of a soap box derby in any role.

Let me tell you, folks, this event was a big deal.

After a long absence, Spartanburg County held an All-American Soap Box Derby competition last year, and this year, it was a sanctioned event, meaning the winner goes to the national finals in Akron, Ohio. Preparation for the local event was meticulous, under the watchful eyes of a national soap box derby official. Many rules had to be followed to a "t."

Seeing the ten young drivers compete was a terrific experience.

In each heat (more than 20), the cars took off down the hill from a starting chute, two cars at a time. As the chutes' handle was pulled to send the cars on their way, I would call out over the public address system, "And they'rrrrrrrre off!"

Parents, friends and fans cheered as the racers rolled down Asheville Highway to the finish line at Cleveland Park.

The winner was Jessica Pettit, a 10-year-old student at Cowpens Middle School.

She won fair and square. But the victory must've been a little on the bittersweet side. The final racer she had to beat was her 8-year-old brother, John Mark Pettit.

And one of the ten racers (I don't recall which one) had a way-too-close encounter with a safety barrier near the bottom of the hill.

The cars have a steering mechanism, but on one heat, a car still crashed into a bale of hay.

No one hurt, no harm done.

But it brought back an early 1960s memory from my childhood.

My dad would build go-carts for my older brother and me, using an engine and wheels from a lawnmower, some metal tubing welded together for the frame, and a metal soft drink sign for the floor. We would ride around the farm, dodging trees and clothesline poles.

One night we went to a dirt racetrack with bigger, faster go-carts. I don't remember how old I was, probably younger than ten. I got behind the wheel of a go-cart, and off I went.

I did a couple of laps around the track, and I guess I thought I was hot stuff.

Keep in mind this was in the days before many safety precautions were taken. No helmets. No seatbelts. No soft barriers.

Just a wooden fence.

On one lap, I was waving to my mom and dad.

Waving... and not watching where I was going.

I crashed into a fence, and the go-cart overturned.

People rushed to me, but it wasn't necessary. The only thing hurt was my pride. But it was hurt badly enough that I still remember the incident quite well all these years later.

Yes, I've been in a go-cart since... but I keep my eyes on the road!

Fast-forward about 45 years. The soap box derby takes numerous safety precautions.

Wish Jessica Pettit and her family the best of luck as they go to the national soap box derby finals July 26.

They'll have a lot of company. The finals include about 500 racers, not just from the United States, but from five other nations as well.

This is one event where going downhill is a good thing.