Soap Box Derby Eyes Tuolumne

The Northern California Soap Box Derby Club would like to move its annual competition from Vallejo to Tuolumne.

Mike Quinn, President of the Northern California Soap Box Derby Club, was Thursday’s KVML "Newsmaker of the Day".

The Club is made up of young racers from Fresno County all the way up to the Oregon border.

There are three racing divisions in most local derby competition. The Stock division is designed to give the first-time builder a learning experience. Boys and girls, 8 through 13 compete in simplified cars built from kits. The Super Stock Car division, ages 10 through 17, gives the competitor an opportunity to expand their knowledge and build a more advanced model. The Masters division offers boys and girls, 10 through 17, an advanced class of racer to try their creativity and design skills in. The winners go on to race in Akron, Ohio.

Quinn estimates that each annual race would bring anywhere from forty to fifty out-of-town families, who would spend an estimated $400 in the community. Annually, this could have a $20,000 economic impact in terms of new dollars spent in Tuolumne County.

Pine Street in Tuolumne City would be the new sight for the Derby. Pine street hasn’t been paved for over twenty years. In order for the derby to take place, it would have to be repaved.

The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors has approved matching half of the needed funds for repaving Pine Street, which is $12,500. An additional $12,500 is needed to be raised by both local community donations.

If enough money is raised, the repaving of Pine Street will take place in early Spring. The Soap Box Derby would be held on June 19th, in conjunction with the Tuolumne Lumber Jubilee.

More information can be found by looking at www.ncaasbd.com 

Donations can be sent to:

TC Soap Box Derby * ATTN: Deborah Russell * 2 South Green Street * Sonora, CA 95370

The KVML "Newsmaker of the Day" is heard each weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47am.

Written by mark@mlode.com