Soap Box Derby 2018 in Harrisonburg, Virginia

Each year, the Rockingham Rotary Club sponsors the Harrisonburg All-American Soap Box Derby to bring science, technology, and math lessons to young racers ranging in ages from 7 – 21.

Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby

The Soap Box Derby is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to build knowledge and character, and to create meaningful experiences through collaboration and fair and honest competition. The core values learned from this event include: leadership, family engagement, honesty, integrity, perseverance, innovation, entrepreneurship, teamwork, collaboration, and sportsmanship.

There are three classes of racers: stock, super stock, and masters. The winners of each division from Harrisonburg will have the opportunity to move on to Akron, Ohio. Soap Box Derby champions from around the world come together in Akron each year to compete in the First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship at the world-famous Derby Downs Track.

The day of the race, set up started at 5 am with a few dedicated Rotarians and friends.

The Adult Soap Box Cars are ready for the celebrity race.

Race day t-shirts are handed out with sponsors on the back. We rely heavily on sponsors to make this event financially viable.

Matt starts the race day safety meeting with drivers. We work hard to make sure everyone has fun, but most important is safety.

The parade of drivers to their cars.

Drivers ready for the race day picture with all the cars lined up in the pit.

This year we added a Super Kids race so that kids that cannot drive a car can partner with another driver to race. Our Super Kids sponsor, Harmony Square Dairy Queen will help make it possible for our champion to travel to Akron.

Our track has a curve making it unique. Most Soap Box Derby tracks are straight.

Sophie in the CW Flyer sponsored by Herr & Co. Suter Engineering, and Gaines Group Architects (dad).

Of course Sophie’s car is #girlpowered

On the ramps ready to race.

We added a banner at the start finish line to highlight our sponsors.

Heading down the hill. Our Rotary Club supports Boys and Girls Club by providing cars.

The kids support one another and help everyone have a great time.

Everyone has a great time! I mean everyone, even the out of shape volunteers.

The finish line: the goal to get there first for each driver, but if you do it is simply the start of something else. The kids showed incredible sportsmanship that day. Each encouraged the other to do even better. This is why we do it. This is the heart of Rotary Club of Rockingham County (Virginia) This is service above self.