Racers Take On Derby Hill

The Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby celebrated its 33rd running this year, and their ninth running at Partin Park on the new Derby Hill. The weather was good on both Friday and Saturday for the races this year. The SuperKidz this year took place on Friday morning, while the three local races took place on Saturday. They also held the Run What Ya Brung on Friday evening. There were close to 40 cars that participated in the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby across the Stock, Super Stock, and Masters divisions.

The SuperKidz got to enjoy a day heading down the big hill. This division is made for special needs kids. They get the opportunity to ride down the hill in a tandem car with an experienced driver at the helm. There was a good turnout this year, and a winner was declared who will also get the chance to head to Akron, OH, for The All American Soap Box Derby.

The Run What Ya Brung was also back this year and ran on Friday night down Derby Hill. In this race, participants build their own contraptions and race them down the hill for bragging rights. There was also a block party and all involved had a great time on the night.

Local Race

This year there were again three different divisions that raced down the hill with the Stock, Super Stock and Masters all vying for their chance to head to Akron. There were close to 40 cars that took their turn on Derby Hill with three winners being declared to take on Akron.

Stock

In the Stock division, there were again familiar names near the top as two of last year's 3rd and 4th place finishers moved up to 1st and 2nd.

Janna Hutcheson took third place last year, but this time around she found herself on the top of the podium when the race was over, taking 1st place. Weston Claxton came in 4th place last year, but this year he battled against Hutcheson who took the win by a differential of .05 seconds. The 3rd place finisher was Addie Salter, 4th place went to Jaxon Kight, and 5th place was Jaylee Odom.

Super Stock

In Super Stock, Isaac Pickels, who won the Stock division last year, moved up and showed he can drive as he came away with 1st place. It was a great finals between Pickels and Henry Warren as the race was forced into a runoff. Jans-

Stock Winners – (L to R): 4th Jaxon Kight, 3rd Addie Salter, 1st Janna Hutcheson, and 2nd Weston Claxton.

Photo by Mike Branch

Super Stock Winners – (L to R): 4th Bentlee Gardisser, 3rd Jansley Odom, 1st Isaac Pickels, and 2nd Henry Warren.

Photo by Mike Branch

Masters Winners – (L to R): 4th Mario Rojas, 3rd Jackson Bryant, 1st Charles Conner, and 2nd Noah Gordy.

Photo by Mike Branch continued from page

ley Odom took 3rd place, Bentlee Gardisser was 4th, and Kennedy Clark took 5th place.

Masters

The top division is the Masters, and again it was a very close race to decide the winner. Charles Conner took the win over Noah Gordy by a differential of just .033 seconds. Jackson Bryant came in 3rd place, Mario Rojas finished in 4th, and Dougie McAlarney took fifth place.

The greatest gravity racers in the world will come together at the world-famous Derby Downs Track in Akron, Ohio, July 13-19 for the 87th running of the First-Energy All-American Soap Box Derby. Champs from around the world will reach speeds in excess of 30 m.p.h. as they race down the 989' track in hopes of earning the title of World Champion.