By Ryan-Alexander McLeod for the North Delta Reporter
Soap box racers perched on top of narrow rubber wheels rumbled down the 6th Avenue hill in Tsawwassen on June 22, for the rotary club Soap Box Derby.
A total of 36 youth racers came out for the fourth annual competition on Saturday, along with hundreds of friends, family and curious spectators.
The event featured soap box derby cars built by local high schools, including Delview Secondary, and raced by children between the ages of 9 and 12.
READ MORE: North Delta’s Delview Secondary celebrates 50 years
Carts entered into the race ranged from small and aerodynamic to large and creative.
Delview student submissions included a yellow submarine-inspired cart that played the Beatles song with the same title, as well as a hover car inspired by Star Wars, a “yabba dabba doo” Flintstones cart and a military jeep cart.
| Aikum Sandhu, who drove the Flintstones-inspired cart made by Delview Secondary School students at the Tsawwassen Rotary Club Soap Box Derby on June 22, outpaces two other racers. (Ryan McLeod photo) |
“You know if you hit someone you’ll just go flying,” said Nathan Stadnek, who raced in the yellow submarine cart.
Third place went to Callum Chow, who crashed early in the day, but was still able to complete some impressive heats in the official trials.
At the end, the final heat came down to Max Yang and Morgan McDonough.
Yang edged out McDonough to take home the cup, after the two raced neck and neck down the track, nearly nudging shoulders.
| From left at the Tsawwassen Rotary Club Soap Box Derby on June 22: Callum Chow, third place; Max Yang, first place; and Morgan McDonough, second place. (Ryan McLeod photo) |
McDonough’s father, actor Neal McDonough, was one of the family members in attendance.
“Soap box racing is such a nice slice of Americana and we had to come to Canada to get it,” he said.
| Actor Neal McDonough and his son Morgan share a moment before a race at the Tsawwassen Rotary Club Soap Box Derby on June 22. (Ryan McLeod photo) |
The best dressed award went to a mustachioed Ava Lock and the Quesava cart, and the award for the fastest single race went to the Delta Fire Department cart, driven by Jamie Dick.
| The Quesava cart and driver Ava Lock won the best dressed award at the Tsawwassen Rotary Club Soap Box Derby on June 22. (Ryan McLeod photo) |
The chair of the derby, Rick Lewall, said the event brought back memories.
“I was in a soap box race when I was growing up in Kerrisdale and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” Lewall said.
“What an experience for kids at this age to be able to participate and get to go fast down a big hill.”
| Jamie Dick, who drove the Delta Fire Department cart at the Tsawwassen Rotary Club Soap Box Derby on June 22, won the award for the fastest single race. (Ryan McLeod photo) |
READ MORE: Soap boxes race through Delta
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