DOWNHILL RACERS

Soap Box Derby contestants take on Wilson Street

Racers took on the challenging Wilson Street hill Saturday, June 15, as the 25th Annual Soap Box Derby returned.

The competition, which takes place every year in Pottstown on the third Saturday in June, kicked off on Wilson Street bright and early Saturday morning as eager drivers raced to make it to the top of their division.

The Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program that has run nationally since 1934, according to the Soap Box Derby website. The Pottstown Soap Box Derby is sponsored by the Pottstown AMBUCS and first began in 1994.

But there’s more to the annual Pottstown tradition than just the races themselves, according to the organizers. For many, the annual event is a way for friends and families to come together as part of a long held tradition.

“We do have very many racers that just keep coming back, generations of racers. We had the older kids racing and now their younger brothers and sisters are racing so it’s a tradition that’s been ongoing forever. The kids who come back year after year get their friends

involved so we get a crop of new kids every year and they start coming back,” said Ginny McKain, assistant director of the races.

The Soap Box Derby races hold a special place for McKain as well who said her family has its own traditions related to the races.

“My kids have been well done racing for quite some time but it’s a longstanding tradition that we just can’t seem to let die. My kids are both here helping out today and my husband who was a past director passed away almost three years ago and we promised him we’d keep it going,” said McKain.

During the competition, drivers are paired up by a random draw and then race against each other. The races are timed and the difference in time gets the racer through on the winner side. After a driver loses once they get put over to the consolation side. A driver has to lose twice to be eliminated and all the racers are guaranteed at least four runs down the hill.

Ultimately three drivers, one from each division, are sent out to Akron, Ohio to represent Pottstown in the race there.

Winners who will be representing Pottstown this year include Tito Vidal for the stock division, Jada Soley for the masters division and Hannah Harmanos for the superstock division. Anyone between the ages of 7 and 18 who is interested in racing can contact pottstownderby@gmail.com to sign up for next year’s race.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Racers had a blast Saturday as they raced Soap Box cars down Wilson Street for a shot at going to Akron, Ohio, to represent Pottstown.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Kids zoomed down Wilson Street Saturday as they competed for top ranks in their divisions.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Jada Soley, Hanna Harmanos and Tito Vidal pose with their trophies and cars after coming in first in their divisions Saturday at the Pottstown Soap Box Derby.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Jada Soley is awarded a trophy for finishing first in the masters division of the Pottstown Soap Box Derby Saturday.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Family and friends celebrated their drivers’ successes with cheers and hugs Saturday as the Soap Box Derby races came to a close.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Racers drove down Wilson Street for the top spots in stock, superstock and masters divisions of the Pottstown Soap Box Derby.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP All eyes were on the finish line Saturday during the 25th Annual Pottstown Soap Box Derby.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Hannah Harmanos is awarded a trophy Saturday for finishing first in the superstock division of the Pottstown Soap Box Derby.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Drivers focused on the finish line as they raced down Wilson Street Saturday.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Tito Vidal is awarded a trophy for finishing first in the stock division in Pottstown’s Soap Box Derby Saturday.