Warren Nead, 14, of Des Moines, Iowa competes in the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby racing event Saturday at the former Sam’s Club in Batavia.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
The vacant former Sam's Club store came to life for a day as 50 kids competed in the All-American Soap Box Derby races Saturday in Batavia.
Charlie Larson, 10, of Bloomington (his car is marked for his previous home in Iowa) descends the ramp during the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby racing event Saturday at the former Sam’s Club in Batavia.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Girls and boys age 7 and up competed during the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby racing event Saturday at the former Sam’s Club in Batavia.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Trophies were awarded to the top eight finishers, whose ultimate goal was to be among the 300-400 kids from 12 regional contests who would be invited to the World Championships in Akron, Ohio in July, said race Director Stan Iglehart of the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby Association.
Ireland Cook, 11, of Valparaiso, Indiana, competes during the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby racing event Saturday at the former Sam’s Club in Batavia.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Powered by gravity, cars in glossy, decorative paint schemes descended an incline in pairs and quietly rolled at the speed of a sprinter in a foot race. Drivers ducked down in their cockpits to lower their center of gravity, sitting just high enough to peer over the front of their cars as they sped toward the finish line.
A soap box racer, sans wheels and decorated in a “Flying Tiger” paint scheme reminiscent of World War II fighter aircraft, rests atop sawhorses between races during the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby racing event Saturday at the former Sam’s Club in Batavia.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Trophies await distribution to the winners of the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby racing event Saturday at the former Sam’s Club in Batavia.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
The All-American Soap Box Derby Race has been around since 1934, Iglehart said.