AKRON, Ohio (WJW) — A heat advisory, with temperatures in the 90s, did not put the brakes on an American institution Tuesday, as young gravity racers from across the globe began competing at Derby Downs during the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championships.
The derby held rally challenge races Tuesday, July 14, in Masters, Super Stock and Stock divisions, featuring some of the best young racers from as far away as Canada and Japan.
“This is the world championship. This is what you train for,” said Derby President and CEO Dennis Van Fossen Jr.
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“This is what we work in the garage for, is to race soap box derby on Saturday and hopefully get on stage at the Civic Theater on Saturday afternoon. And this is what we all do. It’s ‘this is the Super Bowl,’ and it’s ‘this is the Mecca’ here at Derby Downs,” said Van Fossen…