John Evans John Evans, 79, grew up in Independence, Missouri and raced in the nearby Kansas City Soap BoxDerby for four years beginning in 1952. Evans won the local race when he was 14 in 1955 andcompeted in the All-American Soap Box Derby. He never lost his passion for the Soap Box Derby,joining the Kansas City Derby board in 1990, and continues to serve as a local advisor. Evans has beena regional director of the All-American Soap Box Derby since 2002, advising local race programs ineight states from Missouri north to North Dakota and west to Wyoming. His interest in racing was passeddown to daughter Megan who raced beginning in 1995. She was the world rally champion at the2002 All-American in the Super Stock division. Evans owns and develops commercial real estate.