NEXT CAPE FEAR SOAP BOX DERBY RACE: APRIL 29, 2023
OUR PURPOSE
To provide a positive sportsmanship experience for the children, parents and Kiwanis members with empahsis on the children. Raise funds for the Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear Foundaion to support youth of Greater Fayetteville, North Carolina.
HISTORY
It has been almost 50 years since a Soap Box Derby was held in Fayetteville, NC. From its inception in 1933, the Soap Box Derby allowed only boys to compete in the racing. That changed in 1971 when Sandra Sosa (age 11) of Fayetteville, NC was barred from racing because of her sex. After a legal battle to allow girls to compete, Sandra and two of her friends raced in Fayetteville's 1971 derby. Thereby becoming the first females to participate in a sanctioned Soap Box Derby.
THE RACE
The Derby will be held annually beginning April 2023, and the local winners of the Stock, Super Stock and Masters divisions will have the opportunity to participate in the All-American Soap Box Derby held in Akron, Ohio.
Our "donor car program" lends Stock and Super Stock racers at no expense to childern of Gold Star Families, disabled veteran families and economically in need families. A donation of $1,000 provides for one derby kit, wheels, axles, helmet and all entry costs for the race.
- Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear, Fayetteville, North Carolina.
A message from the All-American Soap Box Derby
The Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program which has run nationally since 1934. World Championship finals are held each July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio.
The idea of the Soap Box Derby grew out of a photographic assignment of Dayton, Ohio, newsman Myron Scott. He covered a race of boy-built cars in his home community and was so impressed with this event that he acquired a copyright for the idea and began development of a similar program on a national scale.
National Partners
