Next Race:
Summer in the City AA Rally
August 14 - 15, 2010
Come Race With Us
The Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program, which has run nationally since 1934 and in Salem Oregon since 1952. From it’s beginning six decades ago, Salem Soap Box Derby has been teaching kids basic skills of workmanship and craftsmanship, the satisfaction of perseverance, the thrill of competition, the pride of tradition and most importantly, the spirit of sportsmanship in a fun family environment.
The Soap Box Derby . . .
- is a community event to bring family, business
and community together for a day of fun,
exciting competition.
- a family project for kids 8 to 17 years of age.
- an opportunity for a child to build and race their
own race car. - a unique program that encourages close adult-youth activities while building and racing a car.
- reinforces the importance of setting and completing goals while developing traits such as self-confidence, perseverance, craftsmanship, leadership and sportsmanship, while building a gravity race car.
Across the United States and around the world, family time is spent together building and racing Soap Box Derby cars, culminating each July in the annual World Championship race in Akron Ohio. Lifelong bonds are developed as the "Derby Experience" is shared from driver to driver, town to town, state to state. The Soap Box Derby is a program that will provide cherished memories that will be enjoyed for a lifetime, by kids of all ages.
Salem has the only dedicated Soap Box Derby racetrack on the West Coast.
Located in beautiful Bush Pasture Park, racers come from all over
the
West to compete with us. Propelled solely by gravity these cars can reach speeds up to 30mph.
Girls and Boys aged 8 – 17 are eligible to race.
Racers are divided into three divisions, Stock for ages 8 – 13, Super Stock for ages 10 – 17 and masters for ages 10 – 17. Car kits can be purchased through the All American Soap Box Derby. The Salem SBD Association has cars available for lease or rent and can assist in finding a pre-owned car. We also hold trial days, practice days, and car building clinics and to help new racers get started.
In addition to the Annual Championship Race, Salem Soap Box Derby presents a series of rally races. Rally drivers accumulate points over the course of the season, with the top points earners qualifying to race at the World Championships in the Rally Division.
