All Roads Lead to Akron for 480 Champions Competing in 67th All-American Soap Box Derby
AKRON, Ohio--July 21, 2004--The attention of the youth racing world will be directed at Akron next week as 480 youngsters compete at Derby Downs here in their gravity-powered cars in the All-American Soap Box Derby on Saturday, July 31.The Soap Box Derby program, whose title sponsor is Home Depot, is an official youth initiative of NASCAR, but these race cars do not have engines. Boys and girls between the ages of eight and 17 have earned the trip to Akron by winning local Soap Box Derby races in their home communities from 43 states, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and New Zealand.
Youngsters will compete for more than $50,000 in scholarship awards in three racing divisions. The Stock Car division is for novice entrants and features the smallest, simplest ready-to-assemble kits purchased from All-American Derby headquarters. Super Stock cars are similar, but larger to accommodate larger youngsters. Masters division cars are more complex and may be built with or without kits. Rounds of single-elimination heats will lead to a new All-American champion in each of the three racing divisions.
Festivities get under way with the welcoming ceremonies for all visiting Soap Box Derby participants on Monday, July 26, at Canal Park in downtown Akron, home of the Akron Aeros baseball team. During the week, boys and girls will be at Derby Downs for final technical inspections of their racers, weigh-ins and trial runs on the famous 989-foot-long track.
On Saturday, July 31, Derby Downs opening ceremonies are at 8:30 a.m. and racing begins at 9:30 a.m. Champions of the 67th All-American Soap Box Derby will be determined by 5:00 p.m. During the race, fans may monitor heat-by-heat results on the organization's website at www.aasbd.com.
"Again this year, we will have a record number of participants and we are preparing for an exciting Race Week," said Roy Hartz, chairman of the All-American Soap Box Derby organization. "The program continues to grow with the support of our title sponsor Home Depot and our marketing partner NASCAR."
Hartz said that in addition to Home Depot as title sponsor, there are six national sponsors of the program: Goodyear, Dodge, Toyota, Domino's Pizza, Cintas and POWERAde.
The first All-American Soap Box Derby was run in Dayton, Ohio, in 1934. The race moved to Akron the following year, where it has been held annually except for a four-year hiatus during World War II. Derby Downs, located in the southeast section of Akron adjacent to the Rubber Bowl and Akron Fulton Airport, was built in 1936.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Attached to this news release is contact information for local Soap Box Derby directors, who can arrange interviews with champions from local communities before Race Week.
2004 LOCAL RACE CITIES & RACE DIRECTOR INFORMATION Last Updated 7/9/04 (a) = New Race City DIRECTOR PHONE # REGION RACE DATE DIVISIONS RACE CITY STATE E-MAIL ALABAMA 7 3/20/04 S/SS Troy AL Nancy Brooks 334-566-4970 ALASKA nancy@sanderslead.com 1 6/12/04 S/SS/M Kodiak AK Steve Paulson 907-486-4750 spaulson@kodiak.k12.ak.us 1 6/12/04 S/SS/M Unalaska AK Matt Lightner 907-581-3248 derbydirect@yahoo.com ARIZONA 2 5/22/04 S/SS Superior(a) AZ John Kube 520-689-0100 jkube1@msn.com 2 5/15/04 S/SS/M Tucson AZ Phil Schultz 520-296-1808 PhilSoapBox@netzero.com ARKANSAS 6 7/3/04 S El Dorado AR Rudy Bright 870-863-7446 MrBright@amercable.com 6 6/12/04 S/SS Little Rock AR James Arbuckle 501-224-1893 ARBUCKLEJE@cts.com 6 6/5/04 S/SS Russellville AR George Wallace 479-967-7641 walfam@cox-internet.com CALIFORNIA 2 5/1/04 S/SS Coachella CA Lucia Moran Valley 760-564-3761 luciam@dc.rr.com 2 5/8/04 S/SS Industry CA Deputy Paul Wilms 626-664-4641 pawilms@lasd.org 2 5/29/04 S/SS/M La Canada CA Paul Westmoreland Flintridge/ 818-353-7039 Ventura pwestmor@aol.com 2 6/12/04 S/SS/M La Mesa CA Dennis Wilkes 619-469-7353 dwilkes1@cox.net 2 6/5-6/04 S/SS Oceanside CA Brian Graham 760-630-5158 RallyComish@aol.com 2 5/22-23/04 S/SS San CA Patrick Coyne Bernardino 909-875-5678 ASACampbell@aol.com 2 6/12/04 S/SS/M San Diego CA James Justus 619-239-2208 JWJustus@aol.com 1 6/13/04 S/SS/M Vallejo CA Forrest Jay 510-791-1782 Forrest1357@aol.com COLORADO 6 6/27/04 SS Colorado CO Glenn Scott Springs(a) 719-488-8808 kayglen@aol.com 6 6/12/04 S/SS Dillon CO Steve Corneillier 970-468-2767 stevec@vailresorts.com 6 6/19/04 SS Fort Collins CO Steve Vessey 970-493-8351 svessey@frii.com 6 5/15/04 SS Steamboat CO Michelle Petix Springs 970-736-2777 mpetix@springsips.com CONNECTICUT 3 6/12/04 S/SS/M Berlin CT Michael Munson 860-829-1001 McMunson43@aol.com 3 6/26/04 S/SS Bristol CT Marty Burke 203-877-9515 Martin_Burke@SBCGlobal.net 3 6/20/04 S/SS/M Danbury CT John Strand/Bruce Hunton 860-355-7760 strandfam@msn.com 3 5/8/04 S/SS/M Meriden CT Kevin Curry 203-238-1005 kcurry@danbys.com 3 5/16/04 SS Naugatuck CT Franklin Andrew 203-729-1243 pilotfire@sbcglobal.net DELAWARE 10 6/12/04 S/SS Wilmington DE Frederick Carlson 302-996-9130 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 9 6/19/04 S/SS/M Washington DC George Weissgerber 301-598-5001 gweissgerber@msn.com FLORIDA 7 5/22/04 S/SS/M Central FL Norm Perry 321-267-0168 nperry143@aol.com 7 6/12/04 S/SS Ft. FL Edward Sicher Lauderdale 954-522-7394 FLYSICH@aol.com 7 4/24/04 S/SS Jensen Beach FL Eileen Hunter 772-334-9996 eileencolton@aol.com 7 5/8/04 S Ocala(a) FL Drexel Collins 352-687-1736 7 6/12/04 S/SS Tallahassee(a)FL Jon Thomas 850-893-6048 JCThomas@ThomasPierce.com 7 5/22/04 S/SS Tampa FL Anthony Holbrook 813-251-1763 aholbrook626@aol.com GEORGIA 7 5/15/04 S/SS/M Augusta GA Charles Weathers 706-798-9466 7 5/15/04 S/SS Marietta(a) GA Devan Seabaugh 770-424-0487 devan.seabaugh@maas911.com 7 6/12/04 S/SS McDonough GA Robert Griffin 770-507-7597 bgryphon@aol.com 7 4/24/04 S Southeast GA Charles James (Lyons) 912-526-4665 IDAHO 1 5/15-16/04 SS Sun Valley ID Rick Dressell 208-788-6423 troutme@earthlink.net ILLINOIS 5 5/31/04 S/SS/M Chicago IL Tom August 773-767-7207 AugustFam5@aol.com 5 5/31/04 S Chicago IL Ralph Campagna Metro 773-533-3253 5 6/26/04 S McHenry IL James Marinangel 815-385-1301 jimm@mchenrysavings.com 5 6/5/04 S/SS Rantoul IL David Gass 217-893-1408 davidlgass@aol.com INDIANA 5 6/26/04 S/SS/M Anderson IN Greg Vannatta 765-649-7180 Yarekin@aol.com 5 6/26/04 S/SS/M Indianapolis IN Ford Wilson 317-259-7415 fordwilsonhome@aol.com 5 6/26/04 S/SS Kokomo(a) IN Alison Brantley 765-452-0055 5 6/19/04 S/SS/M Lafayette IN William Watkins 765-463-0557 glsbd@aol.com 5 5/22/04 S Michigan IN Johnny Stimley City(a) 219-861-0309 5 6/26/04 S/SS Northern IN Paul Zulich (Valparaiso) 219-462-5244 IOWA 4 6/19-20/04 S/SS Sioux City IA Chad Menefee 712-943-3139 Menefee@longlines.com KENTUCKY 8 6/26/04 S Ashland KY James Murphy 606-325-0253 8 5/22/04 S/SS/M Bowling KY Chris Barnett Green 270-777-9381 cbarnett_vs@yahoo.com 8 5/29/04 S/SS/M Georgetown KY Darlene Albin 502-867-4915 darlene_albin@msn.com 8 4/17/04 S/SS Hazard KY Cynthia Cory 606-378-7474 ccory1234@msn.com 8 6/5/04 S/SS Murray KY Hoyt Choate 270-435-4092 hoyt@agforest.com 8 6/12/04 S/SS/M Owensboro KY Jim Ivy 270-926-0010 Bivy@omuonline.net MAINE 12 6/19/04 S/SS/M Brewer ME David Vroom 207-945-3982 dvroom@mac.com 12 6/26/04 S/SS/M Camden ME Tracy Weed 207-785-3683 mmouse01@adelphia.net 12 6/26/04 S/SS Houlton ME Grady Tidd 207-532-6652 TiddRacing@ainop.com 12 6/12/04 S/SS Rumford ME Les Bell 207-364-3675 leslie05@localnet.com MARYLAND 9 6/6/04 S/SS Central MD Jim Hagan (Frederick) 301-831-6341 haganracing@aol.com 9 6/5/04 S/SS Federalsburg MD Danny Phillips 410-754-3054 9 6/12/04 S/SS Southern MD Chris Hayden (Leonardtown) 301-934-3659 CHRIS.HAYDEN@Veridian.com MASSACHUSETTS 12 5/15/04 S Haverhill MA Brian D'Ambrosio 603-642-8151 BDambrosio@systemsservices.com MICHIGAN 5 6/12/04 S/SS Buchanan(a) MI Reed Mann 269-695-4382 reed@netpenny.net 5 6/19/04 S/SS Detroit MI James Scotti Metro 248-753-8646 JamesBScotti@gm.com 5 6/12/04 S/SS Saginaw MI Vaughn Dietzel 989-790-7613 v_dietzel@hotmail.com MISSISSIPPI 7 TBA S/SS Meridian MS Danny Hill 601-737-4621 LindaCarolHill@aol.com 7 5/29/04 S/SS/M Moss Point MS Terry Busby 228-475-0757 TheBusbyHouse@aol.com MISSOURI 6 5/8/04 S Cape MO Tracey Glenn Girardeau 573-651-3061 tglenn@cityofcapegirardeau.org 6 6/20/04 S/SS/M Columbia MO Daniel Lindsey 573-474-3475 6 6/19/04 S/SS/M Kansas City MO Steve Yonker 816-737-1947 a_yonker@hotmail.com 6 6/13/04 S/SS/M St. Louis MO Joe Faber 314-963-1039 FaberJoe@aol.com NEBRASKA 4 6/5/04 S/SS/M North Platte NE Joe Hinman 308-534-9625 4 6/19/04 S/SS/M Omaha NE Steve Brand 402-734-5067 sbrand3@cox.net NEVADA 2 6/12-13/04 S/SS Las Vegas NV Jerry Gresko 702-435-2223 LVBJG2002@aol.com NEW HAMPSHIRE 12 6/20/04 S/SS/M New NH Bill Behan Hampshire 603-749-2294 State williambehan@comcast.net NEW JERSEY 10 6/12/04 S Camden NJ Henry Singleton 856-468-6444 10 6/12/04 S/SS New NJ Michael Blackwell Brunswick 732-296-8816 mblack942@aol.com NEW MEXICO 2 6/12/04 SS Clovis NM Larry Erwin 505-762-0302 larrye@3lefties.com 2 6/19/04 S/SS/M Rio Rancho NM Brenda Pankey 505-867-6833 bcp2161@yahoo.com NEW YORK 11 5/29/04 S/SS Auburn NY Steve Komanecky 315-253-5188 Skomanecky@aol.com 11 6/12/04 S/SS/M Buffalo NY Jacob Pearson 716-897-1708 Pearsonjacob@aol.com 3 6/12/04 S/SS/M Flushing NY Henry Foster Meadow 718-468-5144 HMF3@aol.com 11 6/5/04 S/SS/M Glens Falls NY William Brown 518-745-5506 wbrown3@nycap.rr.com 11 5/22/04 S/SS Jamestown NY John Williams 716-664-2508 debw_55@yahoo.com 3 5/16/04 S/SS/M Long Island NY Philip Franzese 631-399-4988 Phil.Franzese@LIPennysaver.com 11 6/19/04 S/SS/M Massena NY David Prashaw 315-769-5367 derbydaveny@yahoo.com 3 6/27/04 S/SS New Rochelle NY Richard Bongiorni 914-804-4541 RichBongiorni@aol.com 3 6/6/04 SS/M Pearl River NY Dan Smith 845-627-6623 DGS0331@optonline.net 3 6/13/04 S/SS Port Jervis NY Kelly Decker 845-856-6999 kdecker@citlink.net 11 6/5-6/04 S/SS/M Rochester NY Mark Scuderi East 585-266-8874 mscuderi@rochester.rr.com 11 6/5-6/04 S/SS Rochester NY Mark Scuderi West 585-266-8874 mscuderi@rochester.rr.com NORTH CAROLINA 9 6/12/04 S/SS Morganton NC Roy Sanders 828-438-4347 sanders@hci.net NORTH DAKOTA 4 6/11-12/04 S/SS Valley City ND Tim Kadrmas 701-845-4913 kadrmas@sendit.nodak.edu OHIO 8 6/13/04 S/SS Akron Metro OH Gary Endres 330-745-7427 8 6/12/04 S/SS/M Akron OH Gary Endres Suburban 330-745-7427 8 6/26/04 SS Chillicothe OH Dan Malone 740-779-6258 8 6/26/04 S/SS Cleveland OH Chris Dyer Metro 440-327-4063 CADyer@Earthlink.net 8 6/19/04 S/SS/M Cleveland OH Chris Dyer Suburban 440-327-4063 CADyer@Earthlink.net 8 6/12/04 S/SS/M Columbus OH Alan Howe 740-964-0306 Alan_Howe@hilton.com 8 6/26/04 S/SS/M Lancaster OH Tom Clark 740-653-2022 8 6/26/04 S/SS/M Lima OH Ron Smith 419-225-9912 rsmith@who.rr.com 8 6/13/04 S Martins OH Dan Jones Ferry 740-633-1830 mfchamber@aol.com 8 6/26/04 S/SS Medina OH Lane Manning 330-334-3027 LEIFENG@aol.com 8 6/26/04 S/SS North OH Chuck Ridenour Central 419-347-3565 (Mansfield) pamchuck622@earthlink.net 8 6/19/04 S/SS/M Northeast OH Edward Remmel (Conneaut) 440-594-5944 neosoapbox@suite224.net 8 6/19/04 S/SS/M North Summit OH Will Perlik 330-296-7337 NorthSummitSBD@aol.com 8 6/19/04 S/SS Portage OH Bob Sovil County 330-584-6235 PCSBD@netzero.com 8 6/27/04 S/SS/M Tuscarawas OH Tim Hiller County 330-343-9621 tuscsbd@aol.com 8 6/26-27/04 S/SS/M Wayne-Holmes OH Dennis Werntz County 330-683-2992 admouse@zoominternet.net 8 6/26-27/04 S/SS/M Youngstown OH Jim Postlethwait Metro 330-544-4564 JimP3859@zoominternet.net 8 6/26-27/04 S/SS Youngstown OH Jim Postlethwait Suburban 330-544-4564 JimP3859@zoominternet.net OREGON 1 6/20/04 S/SS Lincoln City OR Lindsey Johnson 541-994-7556 lindsey@wcn.net 1 6/13/04 S/SS/M Salem OR Roger Porter 503-769-6803 raptapamp@aol.com PENNSYLVANIA 10 6/26/04 S/SS/M Bucks County PA Don Lenox East 215-736-1307 soapboxderby@comcast.net 10 6/26/04 S Bucks County PA Don Lenox West 215-736-1307 soapboxderby@comcast.net 10 7/4/04 S/SS/M Conshohocken PA Mark Marine 610-825-9073 vze2fb7y@verizon.net 10 6/12/04 S/SS/M Erie PA Jerry Dobmeier 814-835-5103 DerbyFreak10@webtv.net 10 6/20/04 S/SS Lehigh PA Richard Wetzel Valley 610-966-2921 rjwetzel2@juno.com 10 6/20/04 S/SS McKeesport PA Charles Freyer 412-461-7832 BigChuck53@aol.com 10 5/22/04 S Media PA Bill Tyson 610-566-9073 bill.tyson@conocophillips.com 10 6/19/04 S/SS New Castle PA Mark Mroczynski 724-774-1762 mmroz@access995.com 10 6/19/04 S/SS/M Pottstown PA Brien Heisey 610-385-7002 10 6/5/04 S/SS Pottsville PA Robert Womer 570-628-5415 womersgarage@hotmail.com 10 6/5/04 S/SS Souderton PA Jeffrey Kehr 215-723-2621 thekehrs3@comcast.net 10 6/19/04 S Kingston/ PA Stephanie Jayne Wilkes-Barre(a) 570-779-9992 sjayne@jwtire.com 10 6/19/04 S/SS/M York PA Dennis Wilt 717-764-5632 RHODE ISLAND 12 5/15/04 S/SS Newport RI Bruce Wigton 401-423-1093 bewigton@aol.com SOUTH CAROLINA 7 6/12/04 S/SS/M Columbia SC Garry Moyer Midlands 803-513-0883 CMSBD@hotmail.com 7 6/12/04 S/SS Rock Hill SC Ken Myers 803-366-4060 KWMyers@Duke-Energy.com TENNESSEE 7 6/5/04 S/SS Athens TN Austin Fesmire 423-745-8876 afesmire@cityofathenstn.com 7 5/29/04 S/SS Clarksville(a)TN Chuck Padgett 931-552-7711 chuck@ebuckner.com 7 6/19/04 S/SS/M Cookeville TN Sgt. Mike Lee 931-526-2458 mlee@cookeville-tn.org 7 6/19/04 S/SS/M Maury County TN Bill Hileman 931-381-4901 hileman60@msn.com 7 6/5/04 S/SS Tullahoma TN Kurt Glick 931-455-7056 kglick@tullahoma-tn.com TEXAS 6 5/22-23/04 S/SS Beaumont TX Wayne Chesser 409-786-2271 thechessers@msn.com 6 5/15/04 SS Giddings(a) TX J.D. Fain 979-540-2029 JDFain@bluebon.net 6 6/12/04 S/SS Houston TX Craig Kress 713-871-1304 6 6/5/04 S/SS Sweetwater TX Weston Pyburn 325-235-4954 perfectcitytx@aol.com VERMONT 12 6/6/04 S/SS Burlington VT Kathy Sarvak 802-864-0656 SoapBoxDerbyVT@aol.com 12 6/8/04 S/SS Newport VT Dr. Normand Turcotte 802-334-2790 VIRGINIA 9 6/26/04 S/SS Culpeper VA Frankie Troilo 540-829-8712 ftroilo1@aol.com 9 6/12/04 S/SS/M Fredericks- VA Alvin Staples burg 540-786-5930 Derbyfink@aol.com 9 6/12/04 S/SS Richmond VA J.R. Downey 804-288-1350 JRDATAJD@yahoo.com 9 5/8/04 S/SS/M Waynesboro VA Don Layne Metro 540-943-5569 LayneDG@ntelos.net 9 5/8/04 S/SS Waynesboro VA Don Layne Suburban 540-943-5569 LayneDG@ntelos.net 9 5/22/04 S/SS Winchester(a)VA Frank Sublett 540-722-4989 subs@adelphia.net WASHINGTON 1 6/27/04 SS Silverdale WA Bill Wright 360-473-1160 1 6/5/04 S/SS Spokane WA Daniel Eagle 509-466-5131 eagled@icehouse.net WEST VIRGINIA 8 6/12/04 S/SS Huntington WV Scottie King 304-736-0012 Scottie4SP@aol.com 8 6/12/04 S/SS Martinsburg WV Ron Butts 304-267-4675 8 6/12/04 SS Ronceverte(a)WV Dan Withrow 304-645-6722 dwithrow@partnersincorphealth.com 8 6/19/04 S/SS/M South WV Charlie McCormick Charleston 304-344-1089 derbydad2001@yahoo.com WISCONSIN 5 6/12/04 S/SS Green Bay WI Cindy Hamlin 920-822-8425 chamlin@vuw4ins.com 5 6/26/04 S/SS/M Madison WI Denis Vogel 608-244-7187 dvogel@wheelerlaw.com 5 5/12/04 SS Osceola WI Jeff Nelson 715-248-7467 ballyhoo@pressenter.com 5 6/19/04 S/SS/M Racine WI Robert Krencisz, Jr. 262-884-8884 BLDVIL@wi.net INTERNATIONAL INT M Europe INT 6/20/04 S/SS/M Germany Juergen Sucksdorff 0049-030-8838830 kontakt@seifenkisten.de INT 5/5/04 SS Japan Noriko Yamamoto 81-463-80-3346 soapbox@jsbd.org INT 3/28/04 SS New Zealand Paul O'Brien (Auckland) 09-266-6797 paul.obrien@northshorecity.govt.nz S: Stock Division SS: Super Stock Division M: Masters Division