Sunday, June 21, 2009

2009 Greater Washington Soap Box Derby

This Saturday was the 68th running of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. These stock car races began in Dayton, Ohio in 1934 and soon became hugely popular events. Crowds are much smaller now, but they shouldn't be. The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby is a fun event to attend.

Maybe you've heard about or seen pinewood derby. Soap box derby is way bigger and better. Soap box derby cars aren't as innovative as DC's legendary Idiotarod carts. But many soap box derby cars have much better paint jobs, and they're much faster on the downhills. Also, soap box derby is a more inter-generational event. Whole families participate in various ways in the races. Many fathers were there helping, encouraging, and having fun with their kids. And unlike some parents at kids' basketballs games, parents at this event did not scream abuse at hardworking, dedicated officials.



As soon as business revenue from the Ode Street Tribune gets large enough, we plan to sponsor a world-class soap box derby race down 14'th Street and across Meade St. Using a specially constructed ramp, the cars will finish right in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial. It'll be bigger than the race on Capitol Hill. And we're gonna call it the Greater Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

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