The daylong event was sponsored by the Marietta Kiwanis Club on a 500-foot, sloped track in the parking lot of Marietta High School. Because the race is a local qualifier for the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, the winners will represent Cobb and Georgia in the national soap box race July 21-24.
Defending super stock champion Nolan Zeigler, 13, of Acworth, was excited to reach yesterday's top speed of 24 miles per hour in his soap box car he assembled. He competed last year in Akron but lost in his first heat.
"There are very good racers there," he said.
The Marietta race is one of the largest official All-American Derby events in the Southeast.
Racers between the ages of 8 and 17 competed in three racing divisions on Saturday, including stock, super stock and masters. The stock division is designed for younger drivers, ages 8 to 10. The super stock division is for more advanced drivers and the masters division offers drivers ages 10 to 17 an opportunity to use their creativity and design skills.
The weight limits for the latter two divisions, including both driver and car, were roughly 200 and 235 pounds respectively. The soapbox cars have only minimal steering to guide them.
Larry Ceminsky, a Kiwanis Club soap box committee member, said the derby teaches participants about leadership.
"It's primarily to develop interpersonal skills for young people and give them a positive experience about being responsible and focused on their activities," he said.
Boy Scout Troop 277 was scheduled to open the derby on Saturday before the singing of the national anthem. Barbecue was on the lunch menu and entertainment was provided for kids throughout the day. Admission to the event was free to the public.
Tiffani Stephenson, 10, of Marietta, competed in the stock division in her second consecutive derby. Her car was sponsored by the Marietta Police Department.
"I think it's intimidating and it's exciting; and I think it's good team work to get families closer together," said Stephenson of soap box racing.
Jennifer Dawes, Nolan Zeigler's mother, said putting together a soap box car kit is a lot of fun for the entire family. She said she competed in soap box racing when she was younger, as did her father, Larry MacDonald.
Soap Box racing started in 1933 in Dayton, Ohio, when boys racing homemade, engineless cars made from crates and other found materials caught the eye of an enterprising newspaper photographer, according to the All-American Derby. The race was moved to Akron in 1935.
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