Derby turns Soap Lake street into a raceway

SOAP LAKE — Most of the time, the police take a dim view of young people racing cars through the middle of town. But in Soap Lake on Saturday, the cops were helping them do it.

“We've had really great turnout, supporters and kids doing it every year,” said Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox, who was supervising the Soap Box Derby from the finish line.  “Every year, we try to add a couple of cars and get more kids involved.”

The race, sponsored by the SLPD as part of Soap Lake’s annual Suds ‘N Sun festival, begins at the top of the small hill in front of the Soap Lake Library and finishes up about 1,000 feet away at Main Avenue and Canna Street, where the city has helpfully painted a checkered flag pattern on the street. The cars are ingeniously designed: drivers steer with a T-shaped foot assembly next to a brake pedal. Drivers coast two-by-two down the hill, a drop of about 20 feet, and then officers load the cars on a trailer and haul them back up to the starting line.

The derby was revived about four years ago after being on hiatus for a number of years, Cox said.

“When we originally started, we were able to locate eight cars that were out there,” he said. “And then we have bought a couple of cars. When we put in for tourism fund money (that) gives us some extra so we can add a car every year.”

This year there were 11 drivers participating, Cox said. There’s no age limit as such; it’s more limited by size. The weight of each driver and car combined has to work out to 160 pounds, and the cars are weighted as necessary to get to that point. That way no kid starts off at an advantage, Cox explained.

“Yesterday we went and picked out our car at the police station, and they weighted each car,” said Amie Fortner, whose 10-year-old daughter, Isla, had just finished a practice run. “They have for four scales, (one) for each tire, then the kid has to sit in.”

Each driver gets a medal, and there are plaques for first, second and third places, Cox said. Plus, of course, bragging rights.

At some soap box derbies, the drivers build their own cars, and Cox said that might be a possibility down the road.

“Hopefully, we'll get back to the point where we can order kits and they put them together,” Cox said. “We haven't gotten to that point. We’re just trying to get more interest in it right now.”

Joel Martin may be reached via email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.

    Two drivers get ready to roll at the Soap Lake Suds ‘N Sun Soap Box Derby Saturday. The derby began at the top of the hill on East Main Avenue by the library and finished up at Canna Street about 1,000 feet away.