News1936 Soap Box Derby Racers Invited To Celebrate 80th Anniversary Of Akron's Derby Downs06.14.2016Cars Ready To Race In The 1936 All-American Soap Box Derby Officials of the Soap Box Derby are inviting any Soap Box Derby racers who competed at Derby Downs in August 1936, to be honored guests in pre-race ceremonies at the 79th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby on Saturday, July 16. “We will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of Derby Downs at this year’s event and we hope anyone who raced in the Akron local race or the third All-American Soap Box Derby in 1936, will help us commemorate this milestone,” said Joe Mazur, president and CEO of the Soap Box Derby. “We will recognize any returning 1936 champions on race day during opening ceremonies and invite them to ride in the parade,” Mazur said. Mazur explained that Derby Downs was built by the Works Progress Administration in the summer of 1936, on a site originally intended to be a ski run operated by the City of Akron. Derby Downs has been the permanent home of the Soap Box Derby championship finals for 77 of the event’s 79 years. The first race in 1934 was in Dayton, and the 1935 event was on Tallmadge Avenue in Akron. There was a four-year hiatus from Soap Box Derby racing during World War II. Any 1936 racers may contact (330) 733-8723, Extension 34, or email alumni@soapboxderby.org for more information. More than 450 boys and girls will be in Akron beginning Sunday, July 10, for a week of activities leading to the championship finals on Saturday, July 16.