Soapbox speedsters
The annual soapbox derby in Pugwash is a hit with young and old alike as drivers match skills and machines against their competition
It’s called Water Street, but to some enthusiastic soapbox racers, it was more like Daytona or Monaco.
Several dozen racers took to the street in Pugwash Sunday in the HarbourFest soapbox derby with participants of all age driving a variety of vehicle, some they designed and built themselves.
“There’s really nothing like it,” defending soapbox champion A.J. Cunningham said. “You spend a lot of time getting your soapbox ready for this and then all you can do is wait to go. After that, you just wing it and hope for the best.”
Cunningham has competed in all the soapbox derbies and has also raced in other events in Moncton. While it doesn’t have the speed of NASCAR of the F1 circuit, it’s not without its challenges.
“The biggest thing is to keep it straight and to make yourself as small as possible,” he said.
Cunningham’s friend, Cam Purdy, was in his first race. He admitted to being talked into it by friends, but after just one run he was hooked.
“It was fun,” Purdy said. Mike Cunningham came up with the idea of a soapbox derby during the first HarbourFest. While the festival with its nautical theme is something that would attract more adults, he wanted to do something for the younger crowd. He remembered seeing soapbox racing several years ago and thought it would work in Pugwash with a long stretch of Water Street
blocked off to accommodate the event.
“A bunch of us were sitting around talking and I suggested having a soapbox derby for the kids,” he said. “I know when I grew up that’s all we wanted to do, have a soapbox derby. Since I’m too old I thought it would be great to have one for the kids. I thought if you get the kids out, the adults will come out too.”
Cunningham, who owns his own construction company in Pugwash, got to work with his crew and designed and built their own ramp.
And the derby has become popular, judging by the number of people lining the street to watch the event and cheer on participants – some of whom came from as far as Brookfield
and Halifax to take part.
“They’re loving it,” Cunningham said. “There have been times we’ve had 400 or 500 people here.”
Even Nick Densmore from the schooner Katie Belle which was in the village as part of the tall ships festival, got into the act.
“It’s the second time I’ve done it. I’m always up for an adventure,” said Densmore. “All you do is point it straight and try not to steer. You don’t want to crash.”
While some of the participants built their own carts, Cunningham has built four to be used.
Safety is also paramount as each racer is required to wear a helmet and each of the vehicles must have working brakes and a means by which to steer.