Tag: maine soap box derby racing

Roll ’em, The Maine State Soap Box Derby Car Race Is In June.

There is nothing like watching an eight year old, brand new Maine soap box derby racer.

That is timid, standing close to Mom, Dad, whoever helped the driver build their stock car. That goes through the tech inspection, the weigh in and is ready for the maiden voyage. The practice run on a very big engineered hill.
Final Heat For Maine Super Stock Soap Box Derby 1st & 2nd Place.

The Derby Hill in Houlton Maine looks big, is if you are an adult.

Consider the reaction when you are just a tad over three or four feet tall. And there is a chill in the air surrounding, following you. That was not there before arriving at the race course called fear. Just not so sure.

Prepared the kit derby car for the day’s big race which is the next day, always a Saturday. And on Friday, for the trial runs, the helmet carried. Lugged around for the pictures, the car exam check off of the long list of safety items that can not be forgotten. But still timid moving over for not so bold. Questioning if this about to happen was such a hot idea.

Because safety is the number one concern of everyone that works, puts on the annual Maine State Soapbox Derby Race in Houlton Maine each June.

Since 1996, when there were five soap box derby race site venues in Maine, boys and girls have known the “thrill of the hill”.

And before the break in that downhill action, Maine is full of an older generation remember trips to Bangor Maine years ago. To have the same set of wheels, but everything riding on them built with the imagination and the budget, whatever materials were available to each driver and construction team.
Living In A Small Maine Town, Folks, Families Are Connected, Close.

The original soap box derby racing event held in Akron Ohio since 1934 has been the World Series of national down hill match ups. To three at a time go through the wave after wave of derby car heat launches. To determine a top winner, all the places for what is called the All American Soap Box Derby Race.

That nervous, not so sure this was the smartest idea feeling young first time down hill soap box derby racer goes very quiet.

When they get out of the kid carrier topside. The one towing the trailer of derby cars and the drivers that spill out like ants at a picnic. And car and driver get inline behind the staging area at the launch. Slowly moving forward to have their derby car rolled, to slide into the steel rails in lane one or two.

Check their helmet to make sure it is tight, sitting on their head with hair tucked under for the best visibility. No obstructions or distractions. To seeing the long, fast, airport grade paved course that drops before them. Think of being an eight year old in that position for the first time down that kind of long, fast hill. In a brand new car worked on for hours but never tested until this very moment in time. Gulp.

In this slide show image display of one by one events. That advance in the carousel that flash a glimpse of the small Maine town driver childhood. That has the support of the entire village. In derby racing, all their other events too. Because small Maine towns are connection intimately. Have to be because not enough people to have it any other way.
Instilling In Kids Early On The Right Stuff To Succeed. To Contribute For The Greater Good.

The last pair of racers for the trial runs on tech day, the Friday before the big Maine race tomorrow get a green light.

The launch lever is pushed forward to release and off they go. Wheels rumbling, each car picking up speed as the drivers hang up, get low and pray.

Racing faster toward the bottom of the hill where volunteers are ready to assist. Hollering “BRAKE” as the drivers cross the white painted row of lines signalling to the driver you are out of runway, pull back on the reins. Or better yet, push hard on the plunger brake with the rubber pad. To stop the car, hop out and smile ear to ear. And whip off the helmet as you turn around and look up that very big hill you just conquered.

Now it is your turn back on the top of the hill for real. Not just watching, but ready to race. In the gates, sneaking a peak toward the driver and their flashy car in the other race lane on Derby Hill’s topside. And being walked through the check your brake, helmet okay, make sure your steering wheel is straight not cock eyed to the side.

You are all alone and ready to roll.

Looking down the double barrel lane of a high powered gravity derby car race track. And just stare with a look of terror, and little like the same feeling inside on a roller coaster ride. Where there is a point of no return. Just like going over an approaching waterfalls but this time, you are ready.

Have been coached, know what to expect, drilled and trained. But. Still. Scared happens and floods the inside of the driver who have never actually ridden down this long historic hill. As one of the rights of passage of a Maine child who is nurtured by the community of race fans cheering them on.

The 180 degree change from scared on the top of Derby Hill to wow, speechless but flooded with release of any anxiety at the bottom.

That transformation, segue into years of spirited soap box derby racing is something to behold.

An amazing program to be involved with which I found out as a past derby director of the local race. The one in Houlton Maine venue the largest in the country five years running. Consider being a derby car sponsor. Helping a driver build a car. To be able to participate in a Maine soap box derby race to know the “Thrill of the Hill”.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

January 8, 2015
Houlton Maine State Race Site For Soap Box Derby Downhill Fun.

The 19th local soap box derby race for the Northern Maine area is this weekend.

Today stock and super stock cars are inspected for safety and rule compliance for fair competitive racing. Drivers, especially new ones are given race instructions. What to expect for the big race Saturday is discussed one on one as the cars are checked over.

Trial runs for first time drivers also help ease the derby car racing jitters.

The Coke Car In Lane Two.
Butterflies, nervousness quickly disappears by the time the driver and car are released from the gates Topside. To when members of the zoo crew shout “BRAKE” at the bottom finish line. As the pair cross over, run through the electronic timer area.

There used to be five soap box derby race locals in Maine.

Houlton Maine is the lone wolf now. It’s 19th year for a race is due to a couple factors. After earning the largest soap box derby race city award five years straight, the momentum continues. From days of close to 200 cars loaded into the starting gates, the interest to continue the tradition has not died off.

Building our own race hill and avoiding the cumbersome, manpower hungry job of taking over a public street. Setting up and the tear down to restore a neighborhood location is one big logistically feat.

By having our own engineered Derby Hill, the running a race is simplified. The program does not suffer burn out from worn out committee members developing hernias with all the lugging, tugging, racing to make the race happen year after year.

Built specifically for running a smooth, safe Maine soap box derby race.

With easy set up, tear down. Storage of race equipment, materials in a specially built garage Topside in the staging area of the derby race in the Shiretown of Aroostook County each June. And for rally races in spring and fall on the same asphalt lanes.

So concentrating on just the soap box derby race itself details get all the attention when you have a hill idling.

Not lugging barriers off site, setting up detours around a public street course. Everything transported to the chosen hill in a small Maine town. That cross country caravan of resources and time consumption is delightfully missing.

That major effort is all removed, thankfully gone. When your hill is waiting, always ready to go go go. With a little preliminary house keeping that can be done with a small team of seasoned derby committee members.
Try A Slice Of Maine, Explore, Discover Vacationland. Watch A ME Soap Box Derby Race!

Race winners are decided by individual times in heats A and B.

Where lane 1 and 2 drivers work hard to get to the bottom of the hill first. The driver with the fastest, best time in averaging two heats where drivers swap lanes and wheels, is the winner. Advances from that race bracket up the ladder to the next pairing.

With the eventual winner of the local Maine state soap box derby racing getting to head to Akron, Ohio. For the All American Soap Box Derby world series of downhill kit car racing. A national tradition since 1934. Right up there with hot dogs, baseball, Chevrolet.

The Houlton Maine soap box derby race started with a spark from watching one held on a hill in Camden Maine.

Their race program funded with seed money, $20,000 from MBNA, the credit card financial company during it’s hay day in Maine. Soon soap box derby car race locals in Camden, Houlton, South Portand, Rumford and Brewer Maine were rolling. Good luck to all racers in the big state race in Houlton Maine this weekend. Learn more about the Houlton Maine derby race.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

June 13, 2014
Hey How Did The Maine Soap Box Derby Race Turn Out ?

A few weekends back the Maine State Soap Box Derby race was run in Houlton ME.

And how did it turn out? Rather than tell you about it, what about taking you there, showing you the highlights with a quick video?

VIDEO | 2013 Maine State Soap Box Derby Race

Learn more about the Maine State Soap Box Derby Racing Program. The Thrill Of The Hill for boys and girls ages 8 to 17 that want to get behind the wheel of a car. And not wait until they are 16 to do it either. Visit the link to learn more about the going into the big race in June that creates a set of winners to advance to the All American World Series of derby racing the end of July in Akron Ohio. More information on soap box derby racing.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

July 3, 2013
Soap Box Derby State Race In Maine This Saturday In Aroostook County.

The Largest Race Five Years In A Row, Houlton Maine’s Soap Box Derby.

Houlton Maine is the location of the state soap box derby race this weekend.

The weather forecast is for sunshine, blue skies. The specially engineered Derby Hill at Community Park in Houlton Maine gets set up tonight for tech day on Friday. Safety checks and trial runs happen tomorrow. The 18th race of the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby is on Saturday, June 22nd.

Besides the build from a kit cars, the boys and girls between the ages of eight and seventeen, what else does it take to run a soap box derby race? Finding a public roadway hill that can be closed to traffic or a track smooth enough to hold the race is key.

But sponsors to finance the trophies, to underwrite the cost of building a launch ramp at the top of the hill, finish line are part of the soap box derby race puzzle.

So is water, food, bathroom facilities. Safety cones, bales of hay, and trailers to return the cars to the top of the hill for heat launches are needed too. A heat is a computer generated program to match racers up for “A” and “B” race phases. Wheels swapped after the “A” phase, lanes swapped for the “B” phase hill rerun. With the shorter, overall time average of two runs down the hill declaring the winner. That advances the driver and car through the heat sheet brackets. To determine the top eight derby car race finishers in up to three categories.

Each soap box derby division has a weight limit total for the helmet wearing driver and his or her car. The weight is the “engine” because gravity is your friend. Combined with finding the shortest, fastest “line” to the finish at the bottom of the designated derby hill. Lubricants, wax, building a car that is balanced, tracking straight and removing all forms of resistance to make it roll faster than the one in the other lane is key. Over and over. The youngest drivers have the heaviest weighted Maine soap box derby cars to lift, load, unload too.

Stock, super stock and master car divisions are the three flavors of soap box derby racing.

The three field of racers help a family keep everyone interested. Behind the wheel of their own car in this competitive down hill gravity NASCAR like racing sport. In addition, derby race volunteers to run the tech day car inspections for safety assurance and a fun race are needed. So are car loaders at the bottom of the hill and “topside” to load the launches for paired runs down the hill.

Loaner SUV’s required with adult drivers to deliver the young, excited racers to the top of the hill. To keep them paired with their cars on the rear loaded trailers hauled behind. Makes the race going smoothly when car and driver are kept together. To end the race on time without confusion or missing drivers, empty cars waiting to run under the sun. Or in the rain, whatever the weather. That’s part of the derby racing experience in Maine.

Timers to keep track of heat phase results, a position called “Dottie” to apply stickers to the nose end of cars are all vital volunteer positions. To running a soap box derby race. To help sort out, streamline who is paired with who on the top of the hill heats. An announcer to keep the race moving along before cloudy weather can cause a race delay is important. And to relay the electronic eye finish line results of each phase of the derby car race heat. So the fans, family, friends and support teams know the score. Of what just happened.

The derby heat sheet brackets of single or double elimination is slowly filled out.

As winners in each race bracket advance across the page to the eventual winner of your local derby race. With that trophy held high champ going on to represent the local derby race city in the World Series of derby racing, The All American running in Akron Ohio.

Planning the party afterwards, pictures of the racers to remember the family fun sporting event all part of the derby local race.

Publicity to keep the program going strong as kids grow up and go through the ranks of the derby car divisions is important too. To assure a new crop of brand new racers to continue and help the program grow. Ordering derby cars, having a fresh supply of parts and keeping current on racing rules and regulations is another vital job someone has to sign on for, to shepherd too.

Watch, Listen, See How A Local Maine Soap Box Derby Race Goes Together From Start To Finish Videos.

If you live in Maine, have or are a boy or girl ages eight to seventeen and would like to experience the “thrill of the hill”, to be part of the state race in Houlton, please email me at the link below. I will personally see that you get everything you need to be part of next year’s Maine State Soap Box Derby Race. The derby program has been a lot of fun, hard work but a memorable experience for my family.

I hope you can get, catch “Derby Fever” from the sound of rumbling wheels.

And witness the neat individual flavor of the car and driver members of a local soap box derby race. The big 76th race of the All American Soap Box Derby is July 27th and is streamed online to watch, hear how your local derby winner does on the big three lane historic hill in Akron Ohio. The derby race in Houlton Maine like the one in Akron is specially designed to set up quickly, to avoid the inconvenience and extra work taking over a public highway presents. And that can “burn out” the crew of volunteers needed to run a soap box derby race.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

June 20, 2013
Maine Soap Box Derby Car Tech Day Sunny, Fun.

ME Soap Box Derby Tech Day This Past Weekend, Big State Race June 23rd In Houlton ME

Saturday’s Maine Soap Box Derby Tech Day was picture perfect weather wise with blue skies, sunshine, a slight breeze.

The sixteen annual tech day for the Maine Soap Box Derby went smoothly and a big group of second grade, eight year olds made the event extra special.

I am so lucky to have the privledge to help brand new racers. The ones with butterflies, nervousness because of the sheer size of Derby Hill, an engineer race track. But with walking them down the hill, patience, after the first run, that never raced, not so sure driver is a whole new cat. And from there on out, it’s the parents that are nervous, the kids that become some kind of excited.

Three of six race cars I am lucky to be sheperding this year for derby racers are new racers with no experience.

But those are the most fun to work with. One, Anna Hogan, top left in image is cute as a button. And her older sister Lauren was a great little racer that grew up through the ranks. Improving year after year. Making the trophy round and sticking with the challenge, learning curve.

Watch A Maine Soap Box Derby Race Video.

The 16th annual Maine Soap Box Derby State Race Is June 23rd in Houlton Maine.

If you have nothing penciled in on the date, love the excitement of youth spirited racing, plan to take in the Maine Soap Box Derby. For a memorable event, bring your cameras, lawn chair, and enjoy the day outside.

Listening, watching and enjoying friendly competitive down hill gravity kit car racing. Stock, superstock, master cars are divisions for different ages in the 8 – 17 year brackets. For five years in a row, the Houlton Maine soap box derby race was the largest in the nation.

The sixty six volunteer Maine Soap Box Derby adult workers that show up, put on, work the race rain or shine each year are the spark. And the look on new and veteran racer’s faces as they come down the derby hill makes it all so worthwhile to stay involved in the program. Maine, the entire villiage raises your kids.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

May 21, 2012
Maine State Soap Box Derby Race In Houlton ME Video

The weather was wet, the enthusiasm of the Maine State Soap Box Derby Racers hot in Houlton ME’s 2011 running.

Tech day to make sure all the stock and superstock cars were safely put together by driver and his or her support team happened Friday. The video background sound from the hail on the Millar Civic Center roof is loud at some points as it pours cats and dogs outside. Watch the Maine 2011 soap box derby video.

Super stock car winner Frankie White of Houlton and stock car winner Chris Bruen of Hampden will both be heading to Akron Ohio for the 74th All American Soap Box Derby Race In Akron Ohio July 23, 2011. The Northern Maine venue is the only state race venue in Vacationland.

Soap box derby racers learn the “thrill of the hill” on Derby Hill, a specially engineered course carefully built to eliminate the many man hours taken to set up a race track on a neighborhood public street. And then tear it down, this year it would have been in the pouring rain.

If you are looking for a very worthwhile family event to participate in and volunteer for, you will be hard pressed to find anything better than Maine soap box derby racing program.

Initially started in 1934 the program has been a spirited, competitive family racing event across the nation. Now racers from around the world take part.

We met two race directors from St John New Brunswick Canada Saturday who came to watch our 16th event. The run a corporate derby race where each car is bought, built and the drive just shows up. The two winning division derby cars were in Houlton Maine to be delivered to Akron Ohio with Marty Sullivan, Derby All American District 10 director taking them back to New Hampshire. To help get them on their way to the big race next month in Akron Ohio.

One of the neat components of derby racing is the entire family from 8 to 17 can be at the event, competing in it. Good sportsmanship is emphasized and there are no losers of heats run during the Maine soap box derby events. The race is a double elimination event so many chances to work your way up the brackets of the heat sheet as a particpant.

Each car like the kid driving them have different personalities.

Like Nascar, with sponsors, many sponsors. And instead of exhaust fumes and deafening motor high rpm, the driver has to harness gravity and negotiate the faster way from the top of the hill to the finish line.

Our Northern Maine race is known as the Wayne Miller Memorial, in honor of a Houlton Maine racer who back in the 1960’s built a car, and like many locals headed to Bangor Maine for the state race. Wayne’s enthusiasm as a soap box derby car builder and racer is the backbone spirit, essense of the program we work hard to foster in Aroostook County. Maine, family first.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

June 20, 2011