Field is Set for 2024 Columbus Soap Box Derby Championships on June 8th
Celebrating the 79th Columbus Derby Championship
Racing Begins at 9:30am
June 5, 2024 – Columbus, Ohio –
Columbus Soap Box Derby, Inc. announced today details of its championship race scheduled for June 8th on Derby Hill in Big Run Park. 30 entries will compete in three divisions – Stock, Superstock, and Masters. Each division champion will represent the Columbus area in the All-American Championships on July 20th in Akron.
“We were thrilled to partner with COSI and offer derby car test drives as part of their recent SciFest celebration, the largest STEM event in Ohio,” said Dan Kirk, Director of the Columbus Derby and 1988 champion. “Many of our rookie drivers entered our June 8th championship participated in the COSI Scifest test drives. Our theme this year is “Gravity Powered Racing” to emphasize the unique skills that all derby drivers and their families learn.”
“COSI is proud to be a part of the Columbus Soap Box Derby Championship Race! The hands-on nature of soap box racing is a perfect way to demonstrate amazing, unique applications of science learning in the real world for kids and adults alike,” said Alan Goss, Director of Festivals and Special Events at COSI. “The need for future STEAM learners is immense, and by collaborating with great partners like this, we can continue to engage, inspire, and transform lives and communities across Ohio and beyond.”
“Masheter Ford is proud to the title sponsor for the Columbus Soap Box Derby once again”, said Bob Masheter, President, Dick Masheter Ford, Inc. “Technical skills are critical for our youth and derby competitions are a great and fun way to learn those skills. Good luck to all this year’s participants”
This year’s field features one World Champion, the #1 ranked rally champion in the country, four All-Americans, fourteen rookies, and competitors from Columbus, Delaware, Dublin, Grandview, Granville, Hilliard, Mt. Vernon, New Albany, Powell, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, and Worthington. Adding to the rich family tradition, three competitors are 4th generation, two are 3rd generation, and three are 2nd generation.
In addition to Masheter Ford, race day sponsors are Loeb Electric, Roehrenbeck Electric, Tim Landers Photography, and Zach’s Truck Body & Paint. Car sponsors this year include At Your Service Cleaners, Brothers Masonry, Capital Industrial Group, Evening Kiwanis of Delaware, Grace Tire, Hous Foundation, Huntington National Bank, I Am Boundless, Kona’s Loving Paws, KM Medical Aesthetics, Loeb Electric, Mauser Packing Solutions, Moo Moo Car Wash, Ohio Eastern Express, Roehrenbeck Electric, Riverside Green Neighborhood Assoc, SMS Ice Cream Truck, TechCon Solutions, and Unity Community Center of Delaware.
Racing begins at 9:30am. Champions will be announced on Facebook and Instagram. Admission is free and the public is invited to cheer on the competitors. Racing occurs on Derby Hill in Big Run Park, 4201 Clime Road. Commemorative t-shirts can be purchased by emailing columbus@soapboxderby.org.
About Columbus Soap Box Derby, Inc.
Columbus Soap Box Derby, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that operates the Columbus Soap Box Derby. Find us on the web at https://columbus.soapboxderby.org. Follow us on Facebook at “Columbus Soap Box Derby” and on Instagram as @columbussoapbox_derby. Contact us at columbus@soapboxderby.org . History and pictures of Columbus past champions are at https://columbus.soapboxderby.org/history/.
Want to give derby racing a try? Contact columbus@soapboxderby.org to learn how anyone age 7-17 can take a test drive!
Columbus Soap Box Derby Contact:
Bill Forquer, 614 404 9697, columbus@soapboxderby.org
# # #