Looking for a fun, hands-on activity that helps your kids develop confidence, engineering skills, and leadership? Soap Box Derby might be just the thing — and it’s been creating fast memories for nearly a century.
🧰 What Is Soap Box Derby?
Soap Box Derby is a nonprofit youth racing organization founded in 1934, with the mission of fostering education and leadership through gravity-powered racing. Kids design, build, and race cars down a hill — no engines, just momentum, creativity, and science.
More than just a sport, it’s a learning experience that introduces kids to physics, aerodynamics, and design principles, all while building confidence and teamwork.
🏁 Meet Roanoke’s Star City Soap Box Derby
Roanoke has a rich history with Soap Box Derby, dating all the way back to 1936. After a short pause in the early 2000s, the local chapter — Star City Soap Box Derby— has been back in action at Walrond Park since 2011.
At the heart of the organization is Brianna Waldron, a third-generation racer who started competing at age 8. Her grandfather and his brothers raced in the ’50s and ’60s, followed by her dad. After aging out, Briana stepped into a leadership role and now helps other kids experience the same joy and learning she grew up with…