All-American Soap Box Derby in St. Charles a family affair
Nearly three dozen racers from the suburbs and as far away as Indianapolis and Des Moines, Iowa, gathered at The Quad in St. Charles this weekend for the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby Association's indoor All-American Soap Box Derby.
Children ages 7 to 18 raced within three divisions of experience at the competition: Stock (novice), Super Stock (intermediate) and Masters/Scotty (advanced).
The 2014 Great Chicago Stock Car Champion, Claudia Witte of Naperville, was among the competitors. The 9-year-old is a third-generation soap box racer. Her grandfather, Jack Engelke of Naperville (also on the national board of directors for the All-American Soap Box Derby), and her mother, Jill Witte, raced as kids. Now Claudia and her younger sister, Meredith, 8, are carrying on the family tradition.
Claudia said she enjoys racing because it's fun. "I like how fast the car goes," she said.
But she also said that she likes it because she gets to meet a lot of people. She said when she's about to race, she feels both nervous and excited.
"You don't know how tough your opponent's going to be, but you're excited to get down the hill," Claudia said.
Claudia offered a few tips for beginners, like keeping your head down to resist wind drag and get familiar with the steering wheel.
"Lots of people zag across the track and that slows you down and costs you time," she said.
Stan Iglehart, race director of the Greater Chicago Soapbox Derby and the Geneva All-American Soapbox Derby for the past 10 years, raced as a kid growing up in Kentucky. His kids raced as well.
"I love it because it's the parent and the child that has to do this together. It is a lot of work, but I get a lot of joy out of doing it with my kids and seeing the parents here," he said.
The Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program which has run nationally since 1934. World Championship finals are held late July or early August at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. For more information, visit chicagosoapboxderby.org.