AKRON, Ohio (July 8, 2025) – Three hundred Soap Box Derby champions and their families and teams from the United States, Canada and Japan arrive in Akron Sunday, July 13. This starts a week of activities culminating in the 87th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby...
AKRON, Ohio (June 19, 2025) – The board of directors of International Soap Box Derby, Inc. (ISBD) has named two long-time volunteers to key interim management posts following the ISBD’s recent change in executive leadership. Dennis VanFossen Jr. will serve as the...
AKRON, Ohio (June 5, 2025) – The International Soap Box Derby recently announced the recipients of the 2025 Youth Volunteer Service Award – Keegan Altomare of Stow, Ohio; Alana Durica of Culpeper, Va.; and Jacob Hamm of Des Moines, Iowa. The award recognizes...
Changes do not impact the 2024/25 season, including the remaining 2025 local races, rallies or the World Championships in Akron on July 19. AKRON, Ohio – (June 6, 2025) – The International Soap Box Derby (ISBD) announces changes to master build plans and rules...
AKRON, Ohio (May 20, 2025) – The International Soapbox Derby announces their 2025 Hall of Fame inductees. They are Steve Geer of Uniontown, Ohio, Paul Bates of Culpeper, Va. and Alvin Staples of Fredricksburg, Va. The three long-time volunteers will be inducted into...
Leadership Ohio visited Derby Downs Friday, May 16, as a group of fellows took immersive experiences to a new level, racing down the hill in soap box cars The visit began with Scott Taylor, ISBD president and CEO, sharing the history of the organization, its impact...
The International Soap Box Derby’s May newsletter is out! Download PDF Important links you’ll need to access the information in the newsletter: Go to the Race Week Store to find: Legacy Registration and Payment Reserve Box Seats Purchase Champ...
Volunteers from Cleveland Clinic Akron General celebrated National Volunteer Appreciation Week at the International Soap Box Derby. On a beautiful, sunny spring day, 50 of the hospital system’s amazing team members enjoyed fellowship and food, as well as the...
Ukrainian-born Dasha Driscoll of Omaha, 14, combines her passion for Soap Box Derby racing with her desire to give back to her home country. As of March 10, she has raised nearly $100,000 for the country where she and her younger brother were born. Watch story here:...
15th Annual Gravity Racing Challenge STEM Team Competition – Over 60 Teams Currently Registered STEM Gravity Racing in Akron is underway! And it’s not too late for your school or group to join in the fun! Across northeast Ohio, schools, after-school...
Akron, Ohio (March 18, 2025) – The International Soap Box Derby is excited to be a part of the Kaulig Companies Chip In Fore Charity program presented by Fastenal. Any and all donations given to the ISBD, now through June 22 through the program, will receive an...
AKRON, Ohio (February 27, 2025)—Nominations are now open for the International Soap Box Derby’s Hall of Fame Class of 2025 and the President’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards. The deadline to nominate is Fri., March 28. “We look forward to this year’s election of...
Soap Box Derby has a new local race, built by STEAM The race is newly sanctioned, but the residents of Columbus, Ga. are no strangers to racing or the International Soap Box Derby’s STEM education programs. In fact, today, the nonprofit Let’s GROW STEAMx,...
Preparation for the International Soap Box Derby’s STEM Gravity Racing Challenge and Summer Camp in Akron, Ohio is underway! We are excited to share this information and invite you, your school or youth organization to participate in these fun, gravity-racing, STEM...
WAS THE NATION’S LONGEST-SERVING ACTIVE LOCAL RACE DIRECTOR Tim Hiller of New Philadelphia, Ohio, long-time volunteer race director of the Tuscarawas County Soap Box Derby, died on Thursday, December 26. He was inducted into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame...
By Linda Hubbell, Director of Education The International Soap Box Derby is impacting youth through STEM learning and gravity racing. We combine the two and bring our unique education programs into young people’s lives whether in the classroom, during...
AKRON, Ohio, July 19, 2024 — FirstEnergy Corp. extends its title sponsorship with The International Soap Box Derby (ISBD) for three years, running through 2027. The sponsorship continues a strong relationship between the two Akron-based institutions that began...
Calling All Sox Box Derby Lovers and Adventure Seekers 55+ Get ready to relive your glory days (or experience them for the very first time!) at Senior Day on Thursday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the International Soap Box Derby (ISBD) in Akron, Ohio. This...
Herman “Tex” Finsterwald II of Grand Blanc, Michigan, a 2006 inductee into the International Soap Box Derby (ISBD) Hall of Fame, died on Friday, July 12. He was 81. Tex’s long-time love of Soap Box Derby began when he raced as a child in Flint, Michigan in the 1950s....
Akron, Ohio – July 20, 2024 – More than 320 Soap Box Derby racers of all genders from across the country, Canada, and as far as Japan participated in today’s 86th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby held today, for the chance to win $36,000 in college...
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