INNISFAIL – For any soap box derby racer the power all comes from gravity.
Ever since the very first sanctioned soap box derby race was held in 1933, no engines of any kind have been allowed.
Whoever is the craftiest engineer and using the most basic of materials to get the racer down the hill first is declared as having created the fastest cart.
It’s that simple. But road and weather conditions help too.
That was the case on the morning of July 23 at the top of the 50th Street hill, a kilometre east of the Centennial Park entrance.
The weather was perfect, as was the downhill course, which had participants zoom-zooming to the finish line at a top speed of 24.5 kilometres an hour.
The Innisfail Soap Box Derby, an event created by the Innisfail Lions Club, was ready to go.
Eight-year-old Jared Braun was chomping at the bit to blast off the ramp with his father’s creation, one he named the Speed Machine.
The night before his dad Wade scrambled with his buddies to build his kid’s ultimate soap box cart. They used whatever lumber they could find, improvised here and there and by midnight had Jared’s Speed Machine read for action.
Ten hours later the Speed Machine was not the most elegant looking entry but it sure had plenty of zoom-zoom.
Jared was the clear winner of the first race at this year’s Innisfail Soap Box Derby.
“It went very fast and was actually very smooth,” said Jared.
As for dad, he was mighty proud.
“I was a little worried about the steering, but it looks like he figured it out. I'm pretty happy with the results,” said Wade.
This year’s event was the second annual Innisfail Soap Box Derby, with the first held in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the event in 2020 and 2021 but it gloriously returned on July 23.
“The late Lance Riley was instrumental in getting this off the ground back in 2019,” said Bob McKinnie, a member of the Innisfail Lions Club and lead organizer for this year’s soap box derby. “He largely spearheaded it. He was always into cars and motorcycles and stuff. This was kind of his thing. So, in his honor we'd like to continue it.”
The event attracted 37 paid entries in 2019. The 2022 Innisfail Soapbox Derby, which began a little late shortly before 10:30 a.m., bested that by five with 42.
The cost to enter was $20 per unit. Kids, who were broken up in different age groups, were eligible to get either a first, second or third-place ribbon every time they came down the hill.
Spectators could vote for a number of best cart entries.
Nolan Briggs won the trophy for Best Original soap box derby creation; Bryson MacPherson took home Best Home Built; Gavin Hutchinson claimed Most Colourful and the People’s Choice trophy went to Finn Turnquist.
There was a clear party-fun atmosphere to the event, which according to Innisfail RCMP and Innisfail community peace officers, attracted at least 150 spectators, participants and volunteers.
Many local businesses sponsored the Innisfail Soap Box Derby. There was music. The Innisfail Kinsmen hosted a morning pancake breakfast. The Rotary Club of Innisfail had a lunch time barbecue.
And if something went wrong citizens just pitched in to help, such as coming to the rescue when it was deemed a child’s cart had to have extra work done to make it safe to race.
“There were three for sure that weren’t safety compliant because they didn’t have sides to keep their feet in, and then another fellow was fixing one that had a wobbly wheel,” said McKinnie, who was grateful for all help that came that day to ensure the event’s success. “The kids had a blast. After talking to some of the family members there they were over the moon with their kids so excited and happy to be there.
“Hopefully we will have some people stepping up to help because with the majority of club members being 65 years plus there's lots of things that need to be done,” added McKinnie. “The end is in sight if we don't get some additional help.”
