Winning in a Soap Box Derby car usually depends on the wheels, the condition of the track or how low the driver crouches to improve aerodynamics.
In the race between Alex Richardson, 11, of Naperville, and Brittany Harkins, 9, of Wilmette, luck may have intervened, too.
“She touched my good luck charm before the race,” said Brittany about losing to Alex recently. “That’s the only reason she won.”
About 40 derby drivers between the ages of 8 and 16 gathered on Frontenac Road to determine who would advance to the national derby finals in Akron, Ohio.
Winners were Steven Czmiel, 12, of Naperville; Jacob Packard, 10, of Woodstock; Tommy Aldis, 13, of Downers Grove; and Keshun Henderson, 10, of Chicago.
The Naperville race is one of 20 in the Midwest region that will send winners to Akron in the last week of July, said Jerry Reif, regional director based in Saginaw, Mich.
How many each local race sends depends on types of cars and number of classes, he said.
Most youngsters start with the stock division with cars that come packaged in kits for assembly. As they grow, they can race in slightly larger cars in the super stock or masters division.
Austin Richardson, 8, of Naperville, received his derby car kit for Christmas. His father, Greg Richardson, wanted to get his children involved in one of his favorite activities.
“I was a Soap Box Derby racer 40 years ago,” he said.
Each driver had at least four opportunities to race. Each raced against the same car twice, switching wheels on their cars and lanes on the track for the second race.
The time difference between the two cars for both finishes are calculated to determine the winner of that pairing.
One bracket in the Naperville races was composed of children from the Off The Street Club in Chicago.
Michael Downer, 15, and Joseph Winsley, 10, both of Chicago, worked on their cars all winter.
They had no problem describing what they love about Soap Box Derby races.
“I like going down the hill,” said Downer.
“I like going down the hill too,” said Winsley. “It’s just so much fun.”
