All Roads Lead to Akron for 480 Champions Competing in 67th All-American Soap Box Derby
AKRON, Ohio--July 21, 2004--The attention of the youth racing world will be directed at Akron next week as 480 youngsters compete at Derby Downs here in their gravity-powered cars in the All-American Soap Box Derby on Saturday, July 31.The Soap Box Derby program, whose title sponsor is Home Depot, is an official youth initiative of NASCAR, but these race cars do not have engines. Boys and girls between the ages of eight and 17 have earned the trip to Akron by winning local Soap Box Derby races in their home communities from 43 states, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and New Zealand.
Youngsters will compete for more than $50,000 in scholarship awards in three racing divisions. The Stock Car division is for novice entrants and features the smallest, simplest ready-to-assemble kits purchased from All-American Derby headquarters. Super Stock cars are similar, but larger to accommodate larger youngsters. Masters division cars are more complex and may be built with or without kits. Rounds of single-elimination heats will lead to a new All-American champion in each of the three racing divisions.
Festivities get under way with the welcoming ceremonies for all visiting Soap Box Derby participants on Monday, July 26, at Canal Park in downtown Akron, home of the Akron Aeros baseball team. During the week, boys and girls will be at Derby Downs for final technical inspections of their racers, weigh-ins and trial runs on the famous 989-foot-long track.
On Saturday, July 31, Derby Downs opening ceremonies are at 8:30 a.m. and racing begins at 9:30 a.m. Champions of the 67th All-American Soap Box Derby will be determined by 5:00 p.m. During the race, fans may monitor heat-by-heat results on the organization's website at www.aasbd.com.
"Again this year, we will have a record number of participants and we are preparing for an exciting Race Week," said Roy Hartz, chairman of the All-American Soap Box Derby organization. "The program continues to grow with the support of our title sponsor Home Depot and our marketing partner NASCAR."
Hartz said that in addition to Home Depot as title sponsor, there are six national sponsors of the program: Goodyear, Dodge, Toyota, Domino's Pizza, Cintas and POWERAde.
The first All-American Soap Box Derby was run in Dayton, Ohio, in 1934. The race moved to Akron the following year, where it has been held annually except for a four-year hiatus during World War II. Derby Downs, located in the southeast section of Akron adjacent to the Rubber Bowl and Akron Fulton Airport, was built in 1936.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Attached to this news release is contact information for local Soap Box Derby directors, who can arrange interviews with champions from local communities before Race Week.
2004 LOCAL RACE CITIES & RACE DIRECTOR INFORMATION
Last Updated 7/9/04
(a) = New Race City DIRECTOR
PHONE #
REGION RACE DATE DIVISIONS RACE CITY STATE E-MAIL
ALABAMA
7 3/20/04 S/SS Troy AL Nancy Brooks
334-566-4970
ALASKA nancy@sanderslead.com
1 6/12/04 S/SS/M Kodiak AK Steve Paulson
907-486-4750
spaulson@kodiak.k12.ak.us
1 6/12/04 S/SS/M Unalaska AK Matt Lightner
907-581-3248
derbydirect@yahoo.com
ARIZONA
2 5/22/04 S/SS Superior(a) AZ John Kube
520-689-0100
jkube1@msn.com
2 5/15/04 S/SS/M Tucson AZ Phil Schultz
520-296-1808
PhilSoapBox@netzero.com
ARKANSAS
6 7/3/04 S El Dorado AR Rudy Bright
870-863-7446
MrBright@amercable.com
6 6/12/04 S/SS Little Rock AR James Arbuckle
501-224-1893
ARBUCKLEJE@cts.com
6 6/5/04 S/SS Russellville AR George Wallace
479-967-7641
walfam@cox-internet.com
CALIFORNIA
2 5/1/04 S/SS Coachella CA Lucia Moran
Valley 760-564-3761
luciam@dc.rr.com
2 5/8/04 S/SS Industry CA Deputy Paul Wilms
626-664-4641
pawilms@lasd.org
2 5/29/04 S/SS/M La Canada CA Paul Westmoreland
Flintridge/ 818-353-7039
Ventura pwestmor@aol.com
2 6/12/04 S/SS/M La Mesa CA Dennis Wilkes
619-469-7353
dwilkes1@cox.net
2 6/5-6/04 S/SS Oceanside CA Brian Graham
760-630-5158
RallyComish@aol.com
2 5/22-23/04 S/SS San CA Patrick Coyne
Bernardino 909-875-5678
ASACampbell@aol.com
2 6/12/04 S/SS/M San Diego CA James Justus
619-239-2208
JWJustus@aol.com
1 6/13/04 S/SS/M Vallejo CA Forrest Jay
510-791-1782
Forrest1357@aol.com
COLORADO
6 6/27/04 SS Colorado CO Glenn Scott
Springs(a) 719-488-8808
kayglen@aol.com
6 6/12/04 S/SS Dillon CO Steve Corneillier
970-468-2767
stevec@vailresorts.com
6 6/19/04 SS Fort Collins CO Steve Vessey
970-493-8351
svessey@frii.com
6 5/15/04 SS Steamboat CO Michelle Petix
Springs 970-736-2777
mpetix@springsips.com
CONNECTICUT
3 6/12/04 S/SS/M Berlin CT Michael Munson
860-829-1001
McMunson43@aol.com
3 6/26/04 S/SS Bristol CT Marty Burke
203-877-9515
Martin_Burke@SBCGlobal.net
3 6/20/04 S/SS/M Danbury CT
John Strand/Bruce Hunton
860-355-7760
strandfam@msn.com
3 5/8/04 S/SS/M Meriden CT Kevin Curry
203-238-1005
kcurry@danbys.com
3 5/16/04 SS Naugatuck CT Franklin Andrew
203-729-1243
pilotfire@sbcglobal.net
DELAWARE
10 6/12/04 S/SS Wilmington DE Frederick Carlson
302-996-9130
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
9 6/19/04 S/SS/M Washington DC George Weissgerber
301-598-5001
gweissgerber@msn.com
FLORIDA
7 5/22/04 S/SS/M Central FL Norm Perry
321-267-0168
nperry143@aol.com
7 6/12/04 S/SS Ft. FL Edward Sicher
Lauderdale 954-522-7394
FLYSICH@aol.com
7 4/24/04 S/SS Jensen Beach FL Eileen Hunter
772-334-9996
eileencolton@aol.com
7 5/8/04 S Ocala(a) FL Drexel Collins
352-687-1736
7 6/12/04 S/SS Tallahassee(a)FL Jon Thomas
850-893-6048
JCThomas@ThomasPierce.com
7 5/22/04 S/SS Tampa FL Anthony Holbrook
813-251-1763
aholbrook626@aol.com
GEORGIA
7 5/15/04 S/SS/M Augusta GA Charles Weathers
706-798-9466
7 5/15/04 S/SS Marietta(a) GA Devan Seabaugh
770-424-0487
devan.seabaugh@maas911.com
7 6/12/04 S/SS McDonough GA Robert Griffin
770-507-7597
bgryphon@aol.com
7 4/24/04 S Southeast GA Charles James
(Lyons) 912-526-4665
IDAHO
1 5/15-16/04 SS Sun Valley ID Rick Dressell
208-788-6423
troutme@earthlink.net
ILLINOIS
5 5/31/04 S/SS/M Chicago IL Tom August
773-767-7207
AugustFam5@aol.com
5 5/31/04 S Chicago IL Ralph Campagna
Metro 773-533-3253
5 6/26/04 S McHenry IL James Marinangel
815-385-1301
jimm@mchenrysavings.com
5 6/5/04 S/SS Rantoul IL David Gass
217-893-1408
davidlgass@aol.com
INDIANA
5 6/26/04 S/SS/M Anderson IN Greg Vannatta
765-649-7180
Yarekin@aol.com
5 6/26/04 S/SS/M Indianapolis IN Ford Wilson
317-259-7415
fordwilsonhome@aol.com
5 6/26/04 S/SS Kokomo(a) IN Alison Brantley
765-452-0055
5 6/19/04 S/SS/M Lafayette IN William Watkins
765-463-0557
glsbd@aol.com
5 5/22/04 S Michigan IN Johnny Stimley
City(a) 219-861-0309
5 6/26/04 S/SS Northern IN Paul Zulich
(Valparaiso) 219-462-5244
IOWA
4 6/19-20/04 S/SS Sioux City IA Chad Menefee
712-943-3139
Menefee@longlines.com
KENTUCKY
8 6/26/04 S Ashland KY James Murphy
606-325-0253
8 5/22/04 S/SS/M Bowling KY Chris Barnett
Green 270-777-9381
cbarnett_vs@yahoo.com
8 5/29/04 S/SS/M Georgetown KY Darlene Albin
502-867-4915
darlene_albin@msn.com
8 4/17/04 S/SS Hazard KY Cynthia Cory
606-378-7474
ccory1234@msn.com
8 6/5/04 S/SS Murray KY Hoyt Choate
270-435-4092
hoyt@agforest.com
8 6/12/04 S/SS/M Owensboro KY Jim Ivy
270-926-0010
Bivy@omuonline.net
MAINE
12 6/19/04 S/SS/M Brewer ME David Vroom
207-945-3982
dvroom@mac.com
12 6/26/04 S/SS/M Camden ME Tracy Weed
207-785-3683
mmouse01@adelphia.net
12 6/26/04 S/SS Houlton ME Grady Tidd
207-532-6652
TiddRacing@ainop.com
12 6/12/04 S/SS Rumford ME Les Bell
207-364-3675
leslie05@localnet.com
MARYLAND
9 6/6/04 S/SS Central MD Jim Hagan
(Frederick) 301-831-6341
haganracing@aol.com
9 6/5/04 S/SS Federalsburg MD Danny Phillips
410-754-3054
9 6/12/04 S/SS Southern MD Chris Hayden
(Leonardtown) 301-934-3659
CHRIS.HAYDEN@Veridian.com
MASSACHUSETTS
12 5/15/04 S Haverhill MA Brian D'Ambrosio
603-642-8151
BDambrosio@systemsservices.com
MICHIGAN
5 6/12/04 S/SS Buchanan(a) MI Reed Mann
269-695-4382
reed@netpenny.net
5 6/19/04 S/SS Detroit MI James Scotti
Metro 248-753-8646
JamesBScotti@gm.com
5 6/12/04 S/SS Saginaw MI Vaughn Dietzel
989-790-7613
v_dietzel@hotmail.com
MISSISSIPPI
7 TBA S/SS Meridian MS Danny Hill
601-737-4621
LindaCarolHill@aol.com
7 5/29/04 S/SS/M Moss Point MS Terry Busby
228-475-0757
TheBusbyHouse@aol.com
MISSOURI
6 5/8/04 S Cape MO Tracey Glenn
Girardeau 573-651-3061
tglenn@cityofcapegirardeau.org
6 6/20/04 S/SS/M Columbia MO Daniel Lindsey
573-474-3475
6 6/19/04 S/SS/M Kansas City MO Steve Yonker
816-737-1947
a_yonker@hotmail.com
6 6/13/04 S/SS/M St. Louis MO Joe Faber
314-963-1039
FaberJoe@aol.com
NEBRASKA
4 6/5/04 S/SS/M North Platte NE Joe Hinman
308-534-9625
4 6/19/04 S/SS/M Omaha NE Steve Brand
402-734-5067
sbrand3@cox.net
NEVADA
2 6/12-13/04 S/SS Las Vegas NV Jerry Gresko
702-435-2223
LVBJG2002@aol.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE
12 6/20/04 S/SS/M New NH Bill Behan
Hampshire 603-749-2294
State williambehan@comcast.net
NEW JERSEY
10 6/12/04 S Camden NJ Henry Singleton
856-468-6444
10 6/12/04 S/SS New NJ Michael Blackwell
Brunswick 732-296-8816
mblack942@aol.com
NEW MEXICO
2 6/12/04 SS Clovis NM Larry Erwin
505-762-0302
larrye@3lefties.com
2 6/19/04 S/SS/M Rio Rancho NM Brenda Pankey
505-867-6833
bcp2161@yahoo.com
NEW YORK
11 5/29/04 S/SS Auburn NY Steve Komanecky
315-253-5188
Skomanecky@aol.com
11 6/12/04 S/SS/M Buffalo NY Jacob Pearson
716-897-1708
Pearsonjacob@aol.com
3 6/12/04 S/SS/M Flushing NY Henry Foster
Meadow 718-468-5144
HMF3@aol.com
11 6/5/04 S/SS/M Glens Falls NY William Brown
518-745-5506
wbrown3@nycap.rr.com
11 5/22/04 S/SS Jamestown NY John Williams
716-664-2508
debw_55@yahoo.com
3 5/16/04 S/SS/M Long Island NY Philip Franzese
631-399-4988
Phil.Franzese@LIPennysaver.com
11 6/19/04 S/SS/M Massena NY David Prashaw
315-769-5367
derbydaveny@yahoo.com
3 6/27/04 S/SS New Rochelle NY Richard Bongiorni
914-804-4541
RichBongiorni@aol.com
3 6/6/04 SS/M Pearl River NY Dan Smith
845-627-6623
DGS0331@optonline.net
3 6/13/04 S/SS Port Jervis NY Kelly Decker
845-856-6999
kdecker@citlink.net
11 6/5-6/04 S/SS/M Rochester NY Mark Scuderi
East 585-266-8874
mscuderi@rochester.rr.com
11 6/5-6/04 S/SS Rochester NY Mark Scuderi
West 585-266-8874
mscuderi@rochester.rr.com
NORTH CAROLINA
9 6/12/04 S/SS Morganton NC Roy Sanders
828-438-4347
sanders@hci.net
NORTH DAKOTA
4 6/11-12/04 S/SS Valley City ND Tim Kadrmas
701-845-4913
kadrmas@sendit.nodak.edu
OHIO
8 6/13/04 S/SS Akron Metro OH Gary Endres
330-745-7427
8 6/12/04 S/SS/M Akron OH Gary Endres
Suburban 330-745-7427
8 6/26/04 SS Chillicothe OH Dan Malone
740-779-6258
8 6/26/04 S/SS Cleveland OH Chris Dyer
Metro 440-327-4063
CADyer@Earthlink.net
8 6/19/04 S/SS/M Cleveland OH Chris Dyer
Suburban 440-327-4063
CADyer@Earthlink.net
8 6/12/04 S/SS/M Columbus OH Alan Howe
740-964-0306
Alan_Howe@hilton.com
8 6/26/04 S/SS/M Lancaster OH Tom Clark
740-653-2022
8 6/26/04 S/SS/M Lima OH Ron Smith
419-225-9912
rsmith@who.rr.com
8 6/13/04 S Martins OH Dan Jones
Ferry 740-633-1830
mfchamber@aol.com
8 6/26/04 S/SS Medina OH Lane Manning
330-334-3027
LEIFENG@aol.com
8 6/26/04 S/SS North OH Chuck Ridenour
Central 419-347-3565
(Mansfield) pamchuck622@earthlink.net
8 6/19/04 S/SS/M Northeast OH Edward Remmel
(Conneaut) 440-594-5944
neosoapbox@suite224.net
8 6/19/04 S/SS/M North Summit OH Will Perlik
330-296-7337
NorthSummitSBD@aol.com
8 6/19/04 S/SS Portage OH Bob Sovil
County 330-584-6235
PCSBD@netzero.com
8 6/27/04 S/SS/M Tuscarawas OH Tim Hiller
County 330-343-9621
tuscsbd@aol.com
8 6/26-27/04 S/SS/M Wayne-Holmes OH Dennis Werntz
County 330-683-2992
admouse@zoominternet.net
8 6/26-27/04 S/SS/M Youngstown OH Jim Postlethwait
Metro 330-544-4564
JimP3859@zoominternet.net
8 6/26-27/04 S/SS Youngstown OH Jim Postlethwait
Suburban 330-544-4564
JimP3859@zoominternet.net
OREGON
1 6/20/04 S/SS Lincoln City OR Lindsey Johnson
541-994-7556
lindsey@wcn.net
1 6/13/04 S/SS/M Salem OR Roger Porter
503-769-6803
raptapamp@aol.com
PENNSYLVANIA
10 6/26/04 S/SS/M Bucks County PA Don Lenox
East 215-736-1307
soapboxderby@comcast.net
10 6/26/04 S Bucks County PA Don Lenox
West 215-736-1307
soapboxderby@comcast.net
10 7/4/04 S/SS/M Conshohocken PA Mark Marine
610-825-9073
vze2fb7y@verizon.net
10 6/12/04 S/SS/M Erie PA Jerry Dobmeier
814-835-5103
DerbyFreak10@webtv.net
10 6/20/04 S/SS Lehigh PA Richard Wetzel
Valley 610-966-2921
rjwetzel2@juno.com
10 6/20/04 S/SS McKeesport PA Charles Freyer
412-461-7832
BigChuck53@aol.com
10 5/22/04 S Media PA Bill Tyson
610-566-9073
bill.tyson@conocophillips.com
10 6/19/04 S/SS New Castle PA Mark Mroczynski
724-774-1762
mmroz@access995.com
10 6/19/04 S/SS/M Pottstown PA Brien Heisey
610-385-7002
10 6/5/04 S/SS Pottsville PA Robert Womer
570-628-5415
womersgarage@hotmail.com
10 6/5/04 S/SS Souderton PA Jeffrey Kehr
215-723-2621
thekehrs3@comcast.net
10 6/19/04 S Kingston/ PA Stephanie Jayne
Wilkes-Barre(a) 570-779-9992
sjayne@jwtire.com
10 6/19/04 S/SS/M York PA Dennis Wilt
717-764-5632
RHODE ISLAND
12 5/15/04 S/SS Newport RI Bruce Wigton
401-423-1093
bewigton@aol.com
SOUTH CAROLINA
7 6/12/04 S/SS/M Columbia SC Garry Moyer
Midlands 803-513-0883
CMSBD@hotmail.com
7 6/12/04 S/SS Rock Hill SC Ken Myers
803-366-4060
KWMyers@Duke-Energy.com
TENNESSEE
7 6/5/04 S/SS Athens TN Austin Fesmire
423-745-8876
afesmire@cityofathenstn.com
7 5/29/04 S/SS Clarksville(a)TN Chuck Padgett
931-552-7711
chuck@ebuckner.com
7 6/19/04 S/SS/M Cookeville TN Sgt. Mike Lee
931-526-2458
mlee@cookeville-tn.org
7 6/19/04 S/SS/M Maury County TN Bill Hileman
931-381-4901
hileman60@msn.com
7 6/5/04 S/SS Tullahoma TN Kurt Glick
931-455-7056
kglick@tullahoma-tn.com
TEXAS
6 5/22-23/04 S/SS Beaumont TX Wayne Chesser
409-786-2271
thechessers@msn.com
6 5/15/04 SS Giddings(a) TX J.D. Fain
979-540-2029
JDFain@bluebon.net
6 6/12/04 S/SS Houston TX Craig Kress
713-871-1304
6 6/5/04 S/SS Sweetwater TX Weston Pyburn
325-235-4954
perfectcitytx@aol.com
VERMONT
12 6/6/04 S/SS Burlington VT Kathy Sarvak
802-864-0656
SoapBoxDerbyVT@aol.com
12 6/8/04 S/SS Newport VT Dr. Normand Turcotte
802-334-2790
VIRGINIA
9 6/26/04 S/SS Culpeper VA Frankie Troilo
540-829-8712
ftroilo1@aol.com
9 6/12/04 S/SS/M Fredericks- VA Alvin Staples
burg 540-786-5930
Derbyfink@aol.com
9 6/12/04 S/SS Richmond VA J.R. Downey
804-288-1350
JRDATAJD@yahoo.com
9 5/8/04 S/SS/M Waynesboro VA Don Layne
Metro 540-943-5569
LayneDG@ntelos.net
9 5/8/04 S/SS Waynesboro VA Don Layne
Suburban 540-943-5569
LayneDG@ntelos.net
9 5/22/04 S/SS Winchester(a)VA Frank Sublett
540-722-4989
subs@adelphia.net
WASHINGTON
1 6/27/04 SS Silverdale WA Bill Wright
360-473-1160
1 6/5/04 S/SS Spokane WA Daniel Eagle
509-466-5131
eagled@icehouse.net
WEST VIRGINIA
8 6/12/04 S/SS Huntington WV Scottie King
304-736-0012
Scottie4SP@aol.com
8 6/12/04 S/SS Martinsburg WV Ron Butts
304-267-4675
8 6/12/04 SS Ronceverte(a)WV Dan Withrow
304-645-6722
dwithrow@partnersincorphealth.com
8 6/19/04 S/SS/M South WV Charlie McCormick
Charleston 304-344-1089
derbydad2001@yahoo.com
WISCONSIN
5 6/12/04 S/SS Green Bay WI Cindy Hamlin
920-822-8425
chamlin@vuw4ins.com
5 6/26/04 S/SS/M Madison WI Denis Vogel
608-244-7187
dvogel@wheelerlaw.com
5 5/12/04 SS Osceola WI Jeff Nelson
715-248-7467
ballyhoo@pressenter.com
5 6/19/04 S/SS/M Racine WI Robert Krencisz, Jr.
262-884-8884
BLDVIL@wi.net
INTERNATIONAL
INT M Europe
INT 6/20/04 S/SS/M Germany Juergen Sucksdorff
0049-030-8838830
kontakt@seifenkisten.de
INT 5/5/04 SS Japan Noriko Yamamoto
81-463-80-3346
soapbox@jsbd.org
INT 3/28/04 SS New Zealand Paul O'Brien
(Auckland) 09-266-6797
paul.obrien@northshorecity.govt.nz
S: Stock Division SS: Super Stock Division M: Masters Division