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"There's No Substitute for Experience," Says Derby Director
March 1, 2009(La Mesa)--In the seventh year of its Soap Box Derby program, the Drew Ford and the Kiwanis Club of La Mesa will hold two days of Rally Races on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. The back-to-back races lead to the Annual La Mesa Soap Box Derby in late May. Winners of that contest are sent to the National Derby in Akron, Ohio, in July.
About 35 to 40 youngsters from cities throughout Southern California, Arizona and Nevada are expected to participate in the two days of racing down Junior High Drive adjacent to La Mesa Middle School. Nearby Highwood Park will be the staging area and picnic grounds. Being held in cooperation with the City of La Mesa, the rally races are designed to provide drivers with experience and garner points.
Youngsters ages 8 to 17 wishing to enter should contact La Mesa Kiwanis Derby Chairman Dennis Wilkes at 619-469-7353 or online at dwilkes1@cox.net for entry information.
"Each driver must participate in the building of his or her own racer from a kit ordered from Derby Headquarters in Akron," Wilkes said, adding that sponsors are being enlisted to underwrite the cost of the car kits for those unable to afford the price tag which starts at $650.
"Rally races are really important for kids who hope to go all the way to Akron," declared Wilkes. "Kids get familiar with the procedures and gain confidence. There's no substitute for experience."
Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. each day. Each day's derby is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and continue in single and double elimination brackets until about 5 p.m.
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