And They’re Off!

The Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby celebrated its 34th running this year, and their 10th running at Partin Park on Derby Hill. The weather was good on Friday for the SuperKidz races, but on Saturday we got a much needed rain that postponed the main races until Sunday. The sun was back out on Sunday for a perfect day of racing. The SuperKidz this year took place on Friday morning, while the three local races took place on Sunday. They also held the Run What Ya Brung on Friday evening. There were close to 40 cars this year 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 the winner will also get the chance to head to Akron, OH, for The All American Soap Box Derby. The winner of this year's SuperKidz race was Luke Parris.

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.

For the Local Races, each race between two divers is broken down into two trips down the hill. The racers switch lanes from the first to the second race, and the winner is decided by the time differential between the two races.

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.

There were a few familiar faces near the top of the leaderboard with Isaac Pickels winning for the third year in a row in a different division, and Weston Claxton, who came in 2nd place last year, moved to the top this race.

Stock

In the Stock Division Weston Claxton took the top spot to earn his trip to Akron. He defeated Chessley Horton for the title by a time differential of just .027 seconds. Horton took 2nd place for the third time in the past four years. Colton Reynolds came in 3rd place and Savnnah Montfort took 4th place. continued from page

Super Stock

In the Super Stock race, Sophia “Soso” August took the top honors in the Super Stock race. She took the win over Henry Warren, who was also 2nd place last year, by a time differential of .021 seconds. Third place went to Jansley Odom for the second year in a row as well, and 4th place for the second year in a row went to Bentlee Gardisser.

Masters

In the Masters Division, Isaac Pickels completed the hat trick as he took home his third Championship in a row. Two years ago he won Stock, last year he won Super Stock, and this year he claimed his Masters title. He won the race over Hunter Williamson, who came in 2nd place, by the smallest of margins, just .002 seconds on the time differential. Third place went to Noah Gordy, and Kylin Miller, who is also Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby, came in 4th place. World Championships

The greatest gravity racers in the world will come together at the world-famous Derby Downs Track in Akron, Ohio, July 11-18 for the 88th 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.