Frequently Asked Questions
and "What a new race family wants to know".

1. WHAT ARE THE AGE LIMITS?  Any boy or girl who will be age 8 before June 21, 2008 and not 18 before July 26, 2008.   Contestants must be age 10 before June 21, 2008 to compete in the SUPER STOCK and MASTERS DIVISION.

2. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS? The Soap Box Derby operates with 3 race division classes. Some age restrictions seperate the divisions, but the truest divider is the weight and size of the driver. Also, the divisions have differing restrictions on how you are allowed to build and decorate the car.

STOCK DIVISION
The STOCK Division Car is designed for a child up to (approx.) 5’3” tall and 125 lbs.
Within a typical progression through divisions, most drivers at a young age start out in the STOCK Division. The STOCK Division generally has the most in-experienced drivers, yet there will be some drivers who may be racing for their 3rd or 4th year within this division. The STOCK Division car is designed to be the simplest to assemble. The kit includes all the parts for the car (except the wheels are sold seperately). The parts are pre-drilled and you do not need any fancy tools to put this car together. A power screwdriver/drill and a set of wrenches are the most used  tools. One item needed that is not a part of the kit is rubber cement or an adhesive to secure the foam around the cockpit. The STOCK Division car is NOT allowed to be painted. The current kits are available with the shell in White, Red, Blue and Black.
Available on-line, read through the rule book and construction plans to get a better idea of what is involved with building this car. http://www.aasbd.com/SBD_rules.htm

SUPER STOCK DIVISION
The SUPER STOCK Division Car is designed for a child up to (approx.) 6’0” tall and 150 lbs. This division usually contains more experienced drivers, yet it is not uncommon for a driver to start out in the SUPER STOCK Division and compete quite well. The SUPER STOCK Division car is designed to be simple to assemble, yet it gives some freedom with painting and decorating the shell. Just as with the Stock Division, the parts for the SUPER STOCK Division car are pre-drilled and you do not need any fancy tools to put this car together. A power screwdriver/drill and a set of wrenches are the most used  tools. One item needed that is not a part of the kit is rubber cement or an adhesive to secure the foam around the cockpit.
Available on-line, read through the rule book and construction plans to get a better idea of what is involved with building this car. http://www.aasbd.com/SBD_rules.htm

MASTER DIVISION
The MASTER Division Car is designed for a child up to (approx.) 6’0” tall and 155 lbs. This division usually contains the most experienced drivers, yet it is not uncommon for a driver to start out in the MASTER Division and compete. The MASTER Division car is the most difficult to assemble. While custom built cars are currently permissible, the All-American is phasing them out, so that by 2006 all MASTER cars will be built from a kit that will require an adherence to the use of common parts and assembly style. The assembly of the MASTER car kit requires quite a bit more time and involves more extensive effort in body work and mechanics.
Available on-line, read through the rule book and construction plans to get a better idea of what is involved with building this car. http://www.aasbd.com/SBD_rules.htm

3. HOW MUCH DOES EVERYTHING COST?
Starting with the cost of the car.
BRAND NEW -  A new STOCK or SUPER STOCK car kit costs from $415 to $440 depending on the style. The wheels are an additional $100. The MASTER car kit costs $585 and plan on more expenses for body materials and paint.
USED - A used car usually costs about half of the new price kit, but this is a price that is negotiated between the seller and the buyer.

ENTRY FEE - All participants in the Wayne-Holmes Soap Box Derby pay an entry fee of $120.
Sorry, but there is not a multi-child discount.

4. HOW DOES EVERYONE PAY FOR ALL THIS?
Paying for the Soap Box Derby experience depends on what you are comfortable with.  We are blessed to be in a supportive community that has witnessed over the past 54 years the benefits of such a great youth program. Many of our race families will ask a local company, business or professional to sponsor the car and/or entry fee. Most families determine what they can afford to contribute to cover the costs and then work to find a sponsor or multiple sponsors to help with the rest. If you have trouble finding a sponsor, ask a local derby official, we often have ideas of companies or businesses that have been sponsors in the past and are usually willing to help again.

5. WHAT CAN A CAR SPONSOR EXPECT?
First and foremost the sponsor is helping to support a great youth program that introduces kids to a new experience that involves building a car and taking pride in competing with that car in an event that not only promotes fun and excitement, but also promotes craftsmenship, patients, concentration and sportmanship. Normally, your car sponsor will have their company name or logo placed on both sides of the derby car. The car and driver are also featured in a special publication distributed with The Daily Record newspaper, that recognizes each of the drivers and their sponsors. Race track announcers also recognize individual car sponsors as the drivers are competing throughout the day. Many race families also offer to provide the finished car (after the races) for the sponsor to put on display or racers will participate in local parades to be recognized for their accomplishment and to give some added exposure to the car sponsor.
Most of all every sponsor should receive a Thank You. Give them some pictures of the car in action. Some sponsors will ask the kids to write a report on their experience and what they learned.

6. HOW MUCH SHOULD A PARENT DO FOR THEIR KID?
Be there, help, guide, but don't do it all for them. It's hard, but the best experience a kid can get from building their race car comes from actually building it. The Soap Box Derby program was designed as a parent-child program.  A parent/guardian or adult is expected to help in the construction of the car. The adult must not build the car for the child, but share this experience by being there and giving help only if and when needed.  This program is meant to be an enjoyable learning experience for both adult and child, and provide them with the opportunity to develop mutual respect and trust, and demonstrate the importance of individual pride and sportsmanship.
Read the assembly instructions (they can sound complicated), explain them to your child, let them learn from the process.

7. WHAT IF WE BUY A USED CAR?
There are some used cars available from past race families and this is often a great way of reducing the expense involved. There are two important things to remember when buying a used car.
1. Some of the greatest benefits of this program occur in learning from building your car. If you buy a used car, you must disassemble it. Submit a photo taken of the driver with the disassembled car or have a derby official witness the rebuild process. Don't cheat yourself out of the best part of the program, working with your child to build their own car.
2. All cars must meet the rules and regulations for the current racing year. Parts may need replaced with improved or safer versions. Configurations on the assembly may need to be changed. For the current national rules or to find out what you may need to change, check with the derby director or on-line at: http://www.aasbd.com/SBD_rules.htm

8. WHAT IS THE PRE-INSPECTION CLINIC IN APRIL?
Refer to the derby calendar for the most up-to-date information on locations and times.
The hope is that you have started construction on your derby racer by mid April and are at a point where you may have questions or may need advice on how to complete the assembly. This pre-inspection clinic allows the local derby officials to check your progress and to check if your assembly is proceeding within the rules and guidelines. This pre-inspection reduces the chance for any safety problems or re-work needed when the car is brought for the trial runs that occur in May. Even if your car kit is still in the box, bring it to the pre-inspection, so that local derby officials can jumpstart your building process with some hints, tips and advice.

9. I NEED HELP!   WHAT CAN I DO?   WHO CAN I CALL?
The Wayne-Holmes Soap Box Derby Association is full of individuals and families that have been helping others to race for many, many years. While our competition comes down to a championship race, it is not uncommon to see opposing families helping each other during all phases of our events. So don't hesitate to call the derby director, a member of the board of trustees or another race family, if they can't help you, they most often will point you toward someone who can.
Also, The internet is full of information on Soap Box Derby racing, additional hints, tips and advice may be available on-line, but be sure that any advice you receive or download meets with the current rules.

10. HOW DO I GET MY SPONSORS NAME OR LOGO ON THE CAR?
There are many options and ways for you to chose from but, the Wayne-Holmes Soap Box Derby has been blessed with 51 years of help and support from FOUGHT SIGN in Wooster. For many years they hand painted names and logos on cars, today it is done with adhesive plastic material. Either way it is a lot of work.
Take the shell off your car and take it to: FOUGHT SIGN  514 E. South St., Wooster    (330) 262-5901
You don't need an appointment, but you will need to leave the car shell there for a couple of days. You will need to supply them with the information on what you want on your car. Be sure to check the illustration in the construction plans for an explanation on where you can put local sponsor logos and what areas need to be left available for national sponsors and car numbers. Most drivers will have their name, a nickname or a car name placed behind the cockpit toward the back corner of the car. This service is at no charge to the individual car owners unless the extent of the design or work exceeds the normal agreement that we have with Fought Sign. If this is the case, they may charge you for the extra materials, so be sure to ask. It is also important not to wait until the last minute to take your car shell to be lettered. As soon as you have your car ready, paint done and sponsor take the shell in. We appreciate the work that Fought Sign does, so we want to avoid a huge line of cars in their garage.

11. WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT AT TRIAL RUNS?
The trial runs are held on Benden Drive on the Northeast side of Wooster. Benden Drive is an corporate/office street that runs to the east off of Akron Rd. (which is 585). We actually use the road right out in front of Technigraphics. The trial runs start at 2pm and we will go until 5pm. Weather Permitting.
When you arrive with your derby car, realize that our starting line will be toward the top of the hill by Noble Drive. Parking is available at Technigraphics. No parking is available at the bottom of the hill, so drivers will need to pull their car back to the top of the hill in between sets of runs or after they are finished for the day.
This trial hill is a gentle slope that gives drivers a chance to learn and practice their driving technique.

Before your driver takes a trip down the hill:
1. a parent/guardian will need to fill out an official entry form which will be signed by both the driver and a parent/guardian.
2. New drivers will also need to provide the derby with a copy of their birth certificate.
3. A safety inspection will be made to make sure brake cables and steering cables are assembled proper and tight. If any safety issue is found, corrections will need to be made before the car is allowed down the hill.
4. Parents and drivers will be asked to fill out a card that gives publicity information for the newspaper, including parent names, school, grade, hometown...
5. INSPECTION TIMES - A sign up sheet will be available to register for a day and time slot to have your car run through final inspections & weigh-in at the beginning of race week. (So bring along your calendar / ball schedule )
You can schedule an inspection time via E-mail.
Check the INSPECTION SCHEDULE ON-LINE

Drivers will form a single file line at the top of the hill as each driver will run the hill solo. (No actual racing)  As each driver reaches the starting line, they will be asked to demonstrate their ability to brake the car, they will be given driving instructions for the trial hill and once they have a clear track with approval from the finish line, the driver will be allowed to run his/her car down the hill.
As the car reaches the finish line, trackside helpers will yell "BRAKE" to instruct the driver on when to stop. Once the car is stopped the driver and trackside help will move the car off the road into the grass side areas.
After all drivers have a chance to run the hill once, the drivers will be allowed to bring their cars back to the top of the on the road. This is people power, pull the car, push the car, carry the car. It is advisable to have some rope, a cart, or other device to aid you in bringing the car back to the top of the hill. It is advisable to NOT drag the car through the grass back to the top.
Drivers must complete at least one run down the hill. After that, drivers may continue to take additional runs on the hill or they are free to leave.

12. WHAT IS THE DERBY PICNIC?
The Wayne-Holmes Soap Box Derby Association in cooperation with the Derby Parent's Association host a picnic gathering usually at the beginning of June, before our local race event. Derby racers and families bring a covered dish to share and we spend the afternoon eating, playing games, getting to know each other and swapping hints & advice on derby racing. It's a great opportunity for the young racers to make new friends and for parent's and families too.
Check the Derby Calendar for details on this year's Picnic.

13. WHAT HAPPENS ON IMPOUND DAY?
On the Saturday before our local race (5:00pm - 7:00pm) all cars must be delivered to our impound and inspection location. (Triway Jr. High) The cars will be left there for the entire week, until they are released after elimination from competition.  As race families arrive at Triway Jr. High and work to unload their derby racer, there are several stations that each driver must go through. There may be some waiting in line if you hit a time when a lot of drivers arrive. You should allow 1 hour for the entire impound process.
- Vote for the Queen
The Queen candidates have a table set up for the drivers to cast their ballot and they may have a friendship/good luck gift for the drivers.
- Photo for the Daily Record Tabloid
Each driver must have their photo taken with their car to be used in the Daily Record Publication that features all of our drivers, their sponsors and the race information.
- Optional Photo for Purchase
A local photography studio is available to take pictures for buttons / photo packages / plaques....These are purchased seperately and are not included in any of the derby fees.
- Derby Officials / Secretary
Derby officials and the Derby Secretary will be on hand to answer any questions and to confirm that all paperwork has been completed and to collect any outstanding fees or charges.
-Park Your Car In Impound Area
After your done with photos, you take your car down the ramp into the gymnasium. Derby officials will be on hand to instruct you as to where to park your car. At this time you can cover your car with a sheet or plastic cover. This is not the time to be doing any additional work on your car. After your car has been parked, you will be expected to leave it and leave the impound area. This is meant to avoid congestion and reduce the risk of any accidents with the cars.
YOUR DONE UNTIL YOUR INSPECTION TIME.

14. HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR AN INSPECTION TIME?
Everyone has a couple of opportunities to sign up for an inspection time that best meets their schedule. Please be sure to compare your schedules for baseball, church, scout or other activities.  Sign-up for inspection times is on a first-come, first-served basis.
1 - You can schedule an inspection time via E-mail after you check the INSPECTION SCHEDULE ON-LINE.
2 - You can sign up for an inspection time at the Trail Runs.

15. WHAT HAPPENS DURING INSPECTIONS?
- First, you should plan to arrive at Triway Jr. High at least 10-15 minutes before your scheduled inspection time.
- If you need to do any final alignments or adjustments, these must be done before your scheduled inspection time.
- Bring along any tools that you may need to work on your car.
- You should uncover your car and remove all the screws from the shell.
- When it is your time for inspection, roll or carry your car out of the impound area and let the inspector for your division know that you are there and ready. PLEASE BE PATIENT!   Our Inspectors are usually working with multiple cars during the same time slot or they may be checking on cars that have adjustments or corrections being made.
- When your car is on the inspection table, the inspector will check over your car to be sure that it meets all the current rules for construction, safety, measurements and sponsorship logos. The inspector will use a check-list that you can find in the back pages of your division construction manual (be sure your looking at the current year rules). If the inspector finds anything that needs adjusted or changed, you will need to make those changes immediately.  If you are asked to make changes, you will probably be asked to move your car off the inspection table while you work on your adjustments.
- After you complete the actual inspection you will need to put your shell back on your car and have your car weighed for total weight, driver weight and tail weight. (See FAQ #16 for details on weights.)
- After you have completed the final weight measurements for your car, you will be asked to place your car back into the impound area and cover it. NO MORE WORK CAN BE DONE after the inspection is complete and the final weight has been measured. This means NO work on alignments, waxing, spindle adjustments, etc....

16. HOW DO YOU MEASURE WEIGHT DURING INSPECTIONS?
There are several important measurements:
1. Total Weight - The total weight of the car with Z-glas wheels and the driver with helmet. It is highly recommended that the driver wear the same style of clothes and shoes for the weight measurements as they will be wearing on race day.
                         Stock Division - 200 lbs.             Super Stock Division - 230 lbs.           Masters Division - 255 lbs.
2. Driver Weight - The weight of the driver.
3. Tail Weight - With the driver in the car positioned in proper & true racing posture, the measurement of the tail weight cannot be more then 15 pounds tail heavy. That means the measurement from the rear wheels cannot exceed:
                         Stock Division - 107.5 lbs.         Super Stock Division - 122.5 lbs.         Masters Division - 135 lbs.
The process of getting weighed on the scales, getting weighed for tail weight, making adjustments and doing it all over again and again, can take some time. PLEASE BE PATIENT!   Everyone is trying to adjust the total weight to the maximum allowed and at the same time, they are effecting their tail weight. This often times means going on & off the scales several times. Be sure to have extra weights and small adjustment weights readily available for those final tweaks of the total and tail weight. If a long line forms at the scales area, please allow plenty of room for the cars to move on & off the scales and please be considerate of everyone waiting in line.
After you have declared your final weight and the tail weight has been taken, those numbers will be written on a sticker and placed on your car. On the day of the race, the driver will be weighed again, and adjustments may need to be made to the weight in the car, if the drivers weight has changed.

17. WHO WILL I RACE AGAINST?
Each race division will run its own double elimination race tournament. The selection process for who will run in each heat and what lane they will first race in, is completed at the Derby Open House on the Thursday before race weekend.
The Heat and Lane Drawings are a random drawing of names from a hat. Heat brackets are filled in numerical order, including any bye race heats. The only reason a selected name is returned to the hat for a new selection, is if the second selected racer for a first round heat creates a competition between siblings.

18. HOW DOES THE RACE BRACKETS WORK?
Each race division is run on a DOUBLE ELIMINATION TIMER SWAP. You will race a competitor in one lane, then go back to topside, switch lanes, and race the same car again. With the difference in time determining the winner of that heat. The winner continues on, in the winners bracket, and the loser goes to the losers bracket. After a second loss the car and driver are eliminated from further competition. The winner of the losers bracket will go on to race the winner of the winners bracket to determine our champion.

19. WHAT WHEELS WILL WE RACE ON?
Z-Glas Race wheels for racing competition will be supplied by the race families. Your wheels are to be marked with your name so they will not get misplaced. You will also mark the wheels with a small arrow, so the direction of rotation is correct. Racers will not necessarily be racing on their own set of wheels. Race wheel sets will be issued by the Derby trustees through a systematic wheel distribution within each racing division. Race wheels will follow a progressive format, in which wheels will progress from race to race with the last driver to use them. If a race family cannot supply a complete set of good wheels, the local derby will supply them wheels from the existing wheel bank. All wheels will be uniformly inspected, cleaned and lubricated by the board of local derby officials before race day. Wheels or wheel sets that are judged to be unsafe or appear to be altered will be rejected and replaced with a set from the local wheel bank. All wheels must be secured with a pin clip only!
    If for any reason a wheel is damaged due to an obvious or reported collision, accident or mishandling by a racing contestant. That contestants race family will be liable for compensation or equal replacement of the damaged wheel set. Requests for compensation should be handled between the effected race families and only brought to the Derby Director or Board of Trustees for clarification or mediation.
    From the experience of the local derby association, race wheels should be stored in a dry area where they will not be subjected to fluctuations between hot and cold temperatures.

20. HOW DOES THIS RACE TRACK GET BUILT?
WITH YOUR HELP!!!   On Friday before our race, the pavement of State Route 226 gets turned into a race track. Volunteers of all ages are needed, with all skill levels useful throughout the day.

21. WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT ON RACE DAY?
On the race day for your division, you need to plan on being at Triway Jr. High by 8:00am for the driver's meeting and race day weigh-in.   Drivers will be given instructions from derby officials. Parent's and families can use this time to move to the trackside and can get comfortable for a great day of racing. On Race Day, drivers must stay with their race car at all times unless they are instructed to do otherwise. Drivers must get permission to leave the pit area, and no parent is allowed in the pit area or runout area, unless they are an officially recognized track worker. Parents that are serving as Track Help must restrain from handling or giving preference to their child's derby racer. Drivers & Track Help will be provided with lunch, also cold water drinks will be available.
As the racing begins, racers will be lined up for their races with help from track officials.  As each car is moved onto the starting ramps, a group of track officials and past racers will work with each driver, to get them into their car and make sure that they and their car are ready. Each race begins as the official starter drops the gates and releases the cars. Contestants must drive their cars carefully and obey all safety rules. If the driver or his/her car interferes with the other racer going down the hill, he/she will be disqualified from that heat by the judges. Drivers should avoid crossing over the line separating the two lanes. If a contestant drives his/her car completely over the lane separation line, including all four wheels, that driver will be deemed out of control and disqualified from that phase and the heat.
As the race cars cross the finish line, track officials will yell the "brake" command for each driver. Drivers should apply their brake with full force on the brake pedal and not let off until the car stops.  Track officials may instruct the drivers further on where to bring the car to a final stop. A time difference for each phase of a heat will be announced automatically by the timer system.  After the first phase of a heat, track officials under the supervisor of each driver, will swap all 4 wheels between the competing cars. It is the drivers responsibility to be sure wheels are swapped and pins & washers are replaced according to their liking. The cars will be returned to the topside of the track on a trailer and the drivers will ride inside a truck or van.
Once returned to the topside, competing racers will be lined up in the opposite lanes for the completion of the second phase of a heat. Drivers will race the same competitor a second time after changing wheels and lanes. After both cars cross the finish line a second time, the timer system will automatically announce the time difference for that phase and after calculations are complete the finish line judges will provide the final time difference and winner of the heat.
Racing will continue throughout the day using this racing format. When the field of racers is reduced to the final eight contestants, the total weight for each finalist will be checked and adjustments made if necessary.
Depending on the cooperation of the weather and the number of racers involved, the championship races will complete sometime between 3:00 and 5:00. An awards ceremony immediately follows the completion of each days races.

22. WHERE DO WE WATCH THE RACE FROM?
Along the trackside on State Route 226, space is available on the west side for race families to set up chairs and tents for watching all the racing events. On the east side is a personal residence, in which the owners have been quite gracious, in allowing our audience to sit on their lawn and along their hillside. No matter where you are, please be considerate with your trash and leave the area as you found it.

23. WHAT DO THE WINNERS RECEIVE?
Each Champion of the STOCK, SUPER STOCK, and the MASTERS, win the right to race in the ALL-AMERICAN SOAP BOX DERBY held in Akron, OH. This includes a week of activities in Akron before the race and many other events. Each champ also receives a Large Championship Trophy. Trophies are also presented to 2nd-4th places and to 5th-8th places. Special Awards are given out for Best Construction, Best Paint, Best Construction (Masters Div.), Originality in Decoration ( Superstock and Stock).

24. WHAT DO ALL RACERS GET?
Each derby contestant will receive a participation plaque and their Soap Box Derby T-Shirt, along with memories that will last a lifetime.

25. HOW CAN PARENTS HELP WITH THE RACE?
Help is needed throughout our entire racing event. Please consider that if your child is racing on Saturday, then come out and help with the race on Sunday or vice versa. Help is needed on Friday for the construction of the track and a lot of help is needed after the races on Sunday to convert the race track back into a highway. Throughout the rest of the year, the Board of Trustees is always looking for interested volunteers to help plan and coordinate our local race.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns
contact the Derby Director or a member of the Board of Trustees
for answers or clarifications.