Soap Box Derby a Big Hit
It seems the 5th Annual Soap Box Derby at HarbourFest is popular with big kids too. A large crowd lined the upper end of Water Street in Pugwash to get close to the starting line.
People of all ages came to be part of the fun of car racing, even if the event is intended for the young. The racers have no engine, and sometimes questionable ability to stop, and they often need a lot of help from adults in the process.
The soap boxes came in all shapes and sizes, some sleek and others clearly made from scrounging around the yard. While you would expect the kids to build their own entries, some looked like Dad may have helped: nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
The soap boxes were pushed to the starting block atop a ramp made by Cunningham Construction. When the starter released the block, the carts let gravity propel them toward the finish, down the gentle slope of Water Street. Mass and aerodynamics seemed to separate the participants from the winners.
The races were conducted in four divisions:
The over 12 with official wheels division was won by A.J Cunningham of Pugwash. The runner-up was Nick Densmore of Stewiacke while third went to Jodey Densmore, also of Stewiacke.
In the over 12 with unofficial wheels, first was Chantelle Langille of Pugwash, followed by Riley Blackwell, also of the village.
In the truly "kids" divisions, the under 12 with official wheels went to Campbell Carson of Halifax, while second was Keegan Siddle of Pugwash, and Daniel Vandenburg of Truro.
The under 12 without official wheels was an all Pugwash winners' stand with Brodie Langille first, Riley Benjamin second, and Ty Kawenburg third.
What seems like a pretty simple event has become much more, and played to the obvious delight of onlookers, not to mention the racers themselves. People cheered and applauded as they stood in the heat of the noonday sun, perfect race day conditions.
However, many of the onlookers held a secret desire to take part, and race organizer Mike Cunningham gave them their chance. During the tabulation of the race results, Mike invited the adults to climb aboard and thirty responded with great enthusiasm.
While they went two by two, the heats were not timed nor judged. The one record of note was the run by Bob Messenger of Port Howe who, at 73, gained the distinction of being the oldest to take part in the derby. Others may have challenged him but found it too difficult to fit into the sleek racing machines.
Organizers plan a special adult division for next year's 6th annual meet. This could get interesting.